Obituaries

Beverly Wellman Ryan, 90, of Wichita Falls, Texas died Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Wichita Falls.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Citizens Cemetery, in Clarendon with Rev. Lance Wood, officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Beverly went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, April 29, 2018. Beverly was born in Graham, Texas on December 21, 1927, to James and Opal Wellman. Beverly finished high school in Dumas, Texas in 1945. She called Valley View her true school as she spent the 3rd grade through her junior year at Valley View. After graduation she enrolled in business school, from there she enrolled at Texas Tech. After leaving Tech she was a bookkeeper at Lea County State Bank and also bookkeeper for Lea County Treasurer office of Lovington, New Mexico. In 1950 she met and married John (Bud) Ryan. Beverly loved traveling in their R.V., gardening, dancing and infrequent trips to Las Vegas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Billie Robinson and Gloria Seabury; and brother, James Wellman, III.

Survivors include her son John Ryan, III; daughter, Donna Sue Ryan; sister, Donna Taigen of California, and her grandson, Justin Taylor; and numerous niece and nephews. Her children were her pride and joy.

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John Fraser III, 85, of Groom died Friday, April 20, 2018, in Amarillo.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2018, in the First United Methodist Church in Groom with Rev. Todd Dyess, officiating.

Burial will be in Groom Cemetery in Groom.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

John was born December 25, 1932, in Clarendon to Walter K. and Ruth McDowell Fraser. He married Patricia Jo “Patsy” Helm on December 28, 1953, in Tucumcari, New Mexico. He was a US Army veteran. He was a farmer/rancher and worked for Funk Seed Company where he sold irrigation pipe and farm supplies. He could fix anything. He loved hunting, his family, and his friends. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Groom.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Margie Frederiksen; and 2 grandchildren, T.J. Miller and Anthony Joseph Fraser.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Patsy Fraser of Groom; 2 sons, Randy Fraser and wife Cindy of Bosque Farms, New Mexico and Walter Fraser of Amarillo; 2 daughters, Cindy Miller and husband Wesley of Stratford and Tricia Carson and husband Anthony of Booker; a brother, Clifford Fraser of Groom; a sister in law, Judy Frederiksen of Howardwick, a brother in law, Gaylen Frederiksen, a sister in law, Barbara Fraser; 9 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, his dog, Murphy, and his coffee drinking buddies.

The family request memorials be sent to the Groom Ambulance Service, PO Box 127, Groom, TX 79039 or the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 489, Groom, TX 79039.

Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com

Wayne Leonard Copelin, Sr., 76, of Clarendon died April 2, 2018 in Clarendon.

A Celebration of Life for Wayne will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at Blake and Erin Osburn’s home at 1021 S. Faker Street. Inurnment will be at a later date in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. Cremation& Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Wayne was born May 29, 1941, in Pomona, California to Lloyd and Joy Loomis Copelin. He married Joan Earlene Sabroe on June 13, 1959, in Reno, Nevada. He had been a salesman prior to his retirement selling pianos, antennas, and wood. He was a top piano salesman and sold 7 pianos in one day. He was a hardwood logger and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was honorary mayor for Los Molinos, California for 4 years. He also volunteered putting up the Christmas tree for the town of Los Molinos for several years. He was a generous man and donated turkeys during the holiday season to needy families. He had been a resident of Donley County for the past 20 years and attended Arena of Life Church in Clarendon.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Joy Copelin; a son, Larry William Copelin; a grandson, Roper Copelin; his twin, Dwayne Copelin and other siblings, Tony Copelin, Janet Copelin, Lloyd Ray Copelin, and June Stahler.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Copelin of Clarendon; his children, Wayne Copelin, Jr. and wife Rhonda, Joanne Barton and husband Jack, Ernest Copelin and wife Tangela, Tina Ferris and husband Scotty, Laura Luttrell and husband Mark, and Erin Osburn and husband Blake; 10 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and his siblings, Joann Forren, Susan Snooks, and Sandra Copelin.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be sent to Rowe Cemetery Association in Hedley.

Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com

Susan Brown died Saturday, March 31, 2018, and now rests in Heaven with Jesus.

Family Directed Memorial Service were held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in the First Baptist Church in Groom with Randy Stalls, officiating.

Cremation & Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

She was born, Susan Ray Palmer on May 10, 1954, to Ray and June McMurtry Palmer in Amarillo. Susan was reared in Clarendon and graduated from CHS in 1972. She attended the University of Oklahoma but was called home, mid-semester, to ailing parents. She then attended Clarendon Junior College and earned her Associates in Art. She married the “love of her life”, Lonny Brown, on June 6, 1975. They soon made their home in Groom and “Suebee” quickly became the favorite of many! They welcomed daughter, Kori Page, in January 1981 and son, Lonny Kade, in October 1988.

Susan sold cars for Chamberlain Motors for many years and was office manager for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in Groom for 20 years, retiring in 2013. She then followed her love of retail and worked for A New Look; Buttons, Bows, & Balloons, in Panhandle, until she fell ill. Susan was a people person and made friends wherever she went. She was the first woman elected to Groom’s City Council, serving many years. She was a member of Alpha Mu Xi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi service sorority and TxDOT’s women’s organization ADWIN. She was most excited in life about her soon-to-be Grandma status.

Both parents preceded her in death, only four days apart in 1974, sister, Pamela Gagnon in 2004, Father-in-law, Fred Brown, in 2004, and many Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

Susan is survived by her husband, Lonny; daughter, Kori and fiancé, Scott Powers of Hollis, Oklahoma; son, Kade, Mother-in-law, Juanita Brown, Brother-in-law Larry Brown and wife, Karen, Sisters-in-law, Lynita Brown, Lezlie Rainer and husband, Brad, all of Groom; Brother-in-law, Tracy Brown, of Ft. Worth; Sister, Linda Goodson of Houston; Nieces: Skye Ritter and husband Wade, Mamie Brown, Maggie Brown and Molly Stewart, Nephews: Kyle Gagnon, Craig Gagnon, McKinley Brown, Montgomery Brown and Jackson Rainer, 4 great nephews and a great niece, many beloved cousins, relatives, friends and her very special Hospice nurse, Brenda Fields. Susan’s battle with pancreatic cancer has been won!

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be sent to the White Deer Riding Club or the Susan Brown Memorial Roping c/o Jimmy King, PO Box 895, White Deer, TX 79097.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Evelyn Guy, 88, of Memphis died Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Childress.

Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at First Baptist Church Chapel in Memphis. Burial will follow at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.
Visitation will be held on Monday, March 25, 2018 at Robertson Funeral Directors in Memphis from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Evelyn was born April 23, 1929 in Carnegie, Oklahoma to Vernon Monroe and Jewel Scales Gordon. She married James Bryan “Jim” Guy on July 21, 1952 in Clovis, New Mexico. She was a teacher for 40 years prior to her retirement. She taught at Clarendon for 10 years, Pampa for 6 years, The Petrified Forest, Arizona for 2 years, and 22 years at Holbrook, Arizona. She had been a resident of Memphis since 1993 and was a member of the Delphian Club, Preservation Foundation, Atalantean Club, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and Texas Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Memphis where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and helped with the children’s choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband on November 13, 1996.

Survivors include her nephews, Ricky Guy of Amarillo, Rodney Guy of Memphis, and Jerry McCarty and wife Kay of Memphis; her sister in law, Hazel Guy of Clarendon; and her dear friend and caretaker, Orvilla Evans of Memphis.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be sent to the First Baptist Church in Memphis.

Frankie Henson, 92, of Clarendon died March 20, 2018, in Clarendon.

Services were held on Thursday, March 22, 2018, in the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Kirk Watson, officiating. Burial will be in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Frankie was born July 15, 1925, in Clarendon to Frank and Gladys Johnson Hommel. She married A.R. Henson on November 13, 1944, in Hollis, Oklahoma. She had been a lifetime resident of Clarendon. Frankie and A.R. opened Henson’s in 1946 where it continues today to be family owned and operated. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She served as past worthy Grand Matron of the Clarendon chapter more than once. She also served in several capacities in the Grand Chapter of Texas Order of the Eastern Star. She was active in Shriner’s with her husband and was one of the first charter board members of Saints’ Roost Museum in Clarendon. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2007; her brother, Chauncey Hommel; her sister, Geraldine Robertson; and a great grandson.

Survivors include a son, Wes Henson and wife Susan of Clarendon; a daughter, Sharon Winfrey of Clarendon; a sister, Lois Marie Moore of Santa Barbara, California; 4 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The family suggest memorials be sent to the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Tyler “Blake” Frye died Monday, March 5, 2018, at his residence in Flower Mound, Texas.

Services were held on Monday, March 12, at 11:00 a.m. in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with the Rev. Lance Wood and Eddy Helms officiating. Burial was in Rowe Cemetery, Hedley, with military honors.

Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Blake was born March 25,1986 in Amarillo to Linda and Gerald Frye. He joined two older sisters, Tara and Jamie.

Blake was joyful, curious, and industrious as a baby, child, teenager and adult. He never met a stranger, possessing the gift of gab his Papa, T.E. Naylor predisposed him to have. He became a successful student, graduating in 2004 from Clarendon High School, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Political Science from Texas Tech University and then a Master’s of Business. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Army through the ROTC Program. He received an honorable discharge from the military and entered into the business of wind and solar energy beginning in 2008-2010. He became a trusted developer in his chosen field while learning and performing all aspects of this exciting and challenging job. His family used to marvel at his ability to maintain the rigors of three to four companies while building his own company.

He attempted to bring this innovative source of power to Donley County but did not have the required amount of landowners to approve the project on their ranch or farmland. He was disappointed yet he pushed forward with a project in Kansas, known as the Bloom Project. He was so proud when the grand opening became a reality in August of 2017 attended by the Kansas lieutenant governor and four state representatives. They were proud of the Texas Panhandle “Kid,” they called him, who brought their community such an important economic project. At the time of his death, Blake was working in multiple states to bring more successful wind and solar projects to various communities.

By far the most important part of Blake’s life was his family. His lovely soulmate, Lauren, his beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Natalie, and the latest addition to his family, a handsome little son they named Jett, who will be a year old three days before his dad’s birthday.

Blake is survived by Lauren, Natalie and Jett of the home; his mother, Linda Naylor Lewis and his stepdad, Jerry of Pampa; his sister, Tara Jackson and husband Steve of Ft Worth; his nephew, Ryan, whom he called brother, and wife Amy of Sunnyvale; two nieces Madison and Ava Jackson; a great niece, Sadie; his Mimie, Faye Naylor, and step grandmother Joyce Holley of Boerne; and numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles and family he dearly loved.

Blake was preceded in death by his dad, Gerry Frye; his sister, Jamie just nine months ago; his Papa, T.E.Naylor; grandparents Babe and Gene Frye; and his Uncle Tex Naylor.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com.

Joann B. Brown, 65, of Clarendon died Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Clarendon.

Services were held on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Jeff Riles, officiating. Burial followed in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Joann was born on November 19, 1952, in Memphis to B.W. and Beatrice Jones Smith. She moved from Clarendon to Amarillo before coming back to Clarendon 18 years ago, and she was a member of the True Church of God in Christ. She loved her church and was a foster mom for many years. She enjoyed cooking and exercising. She was always witnessing her faith in Christ to others, and she loved supporting local sports.

Joann was preceded by her parents; a brother, Billy Joe Smith; and a sister, Patricia Ann Smith.

Survivors include four sons, Chris Brown and wife Mandy of Clarendon, Torrence Smith and wife Brandi of Lubbock, Gary Brown of Amarillo, and Trey Brown of Amarillo; four brothers, Bobby Smith of Amarillo, Curtis Smith and wife Annie of Forney, B.W. Smith, Jr., of Amarillo, and Archie Smith and wife Vanessa of Dallas; sisters, Doris Gardner of Clarendon and Essie Jean McCampbell of Clarendon; 17 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren

Sign our online guest book at www.RobertsonFuneral.com

Jeremy “Tex” Michael (Simonds) Paul, 39, a resident of Forest, Mississippi, passed away on February 17, 2018.

Jeremy was born March 9, 1978, in Barstow, California to James and Sue Marie (Goodman) Simonds. After his mother in 1990, Jeremy moved to Kingman, Arizona. In 1994, his brother Jimmy passed away. Jeremy also lived in Oklahoma and Colorado. He married Lauraine Paul in Aurora, Colorado. Jeremy and Lauraine were blessed with their son Tyler Michael Paul on September 28, 2002. Jeremy loved his son to the moon and back.

Jeremy had an infectious smile and laugh. He was compassionate and loved to make others laugh. He loved animals, the outdoors, fishing, bull riding, Nascar and Chris LeDoux’s songs. Jeremy loved tinkering and working with his hands. He was a man after God’s heart. He was always willing to lend a hand. He was kind hearted and knew no stranger. He loved his friends like family. He also loved our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James “Sonny” and Sue (Goodman) Simonds; and 1 brother James “Jimmy” Simonds.

He is survived by his son Tyler Paul of Clarendon, Tonya Goodman Bronkema of Savannah, Illinois, Jesse Simonds of Kingman, Arizona., niece and nephew. Over the years, many friends played an important part in Jeremy’s life. They too were thought of as family. He will be greatly missed by many. Live, laugh, and love because tomorrow may never come. We love you to the moon and back.

Memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation and Arrangements made by Ott and Lee Funeral Home of Forest, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Christ’s Kids Outreach Ministry P.O. Box 45 Clarendon, Texas 79226.

Family can be reached at P.O. Box 1454 Clarendon, Texas 79226.