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Stephanie Rowe Kunselman
STEPHENVILLE - Funeral services for Stephanie Rowe Kunselman, 29, of Stephenville will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at First United Methodist Church in Dublin with Mike Hannah officiating. Burial was in Bunyun Cemetery by Stephenville Funeral Home.
Mrs. Kunselman died Friday, October 23, 2009, in a Fort Worth hospital. She was born September 22, 1980, in Fort Worth to Rickey and Karen Parks Rowe. She married Josh Kunselman on July 23, 2005, in Dublin. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Dublin and was a lifelong Stephenville resident. She was owner of Kids Closet in Stephenville.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Leah; her parents, Rickey and Karen Rowe of Stephenville; sisters, Khristi Gordon of Stephenville and Erika Rowe of Cedar Park; father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Verla Kunselman of Plainview; grandparents, Jack and Norma Parks of Lingleville and Verlin and Debbie Hagerman of Roscoe; brother-in-law, Shawn Kunselman and his wife, Melissa, of Lockney; and sisters-in-law, Jadee Kunselman of Plainview and Shelbie Kunselman of Canyon.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to a college fund established in her daughter Leah's name at First Financial Bank in Stephenville.
Miles Teel Bivins
Miles Teel Bivins, 61, of Amarillo died peacefully on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.
Following a private burial, a public memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
The former ambassador to Sweden, state legislator, cattleman and descendant of a Texas Panhandle pioneer ranching family was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Truscott Bivins and Betty Teel Bivins Lovell and his brother, Levi Bivins.
He is survived by his brothers, Mark Bivins and Tom Bivins, both of Amarillo, and their wives; his beloved children Andrew Montgomery Bivins and his wife, Wendy Ryan Bivins of Amarillo; Katherine Teel Bivins of Amarillo; William Terrill Bivins of Amarillo and Carolyn Hamilton Bivins of Houston; his grandson Nolan Montgomery Bivins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Teel Bivins was born Nov. 22, 1947, in Amarillo. He graduated from Tulane University in 1970. He was awarded a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Southern Methodist University Law School in 1974.
Beginning in 1989, Bivins served five terms in the Texas legislature as state senator for District 31. It was a position he won in his first race for political office. During his tenure in the Legislature, Bivins served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Education Committee, the Nominations Committee and the Agricultural Subcommittee of the Natural Resources Committee. In addition, he co-chaired the Interim Committee on Public School Finance during the 78th session and was a member of the Electric Utility Restructuring Oversight Committee in 1999. He also instituted tort reform in Texas.
Bivins championed public education through measures to increase accountability and spending for public education, end social promotion and increase financial aid for college students. In 2008, his contributions to politics and higher education were recognized by West Texas A&M University through the Teel Bivins professor of Political Science endowed chair.
In 1999 and 2001, Bivins was recognized as one of the most influential lawmakers by The Dallas Morning News. In 1997 and 2001, he was named one of the "Ten Best Legislators" by Texas Monthly magazine. Bivins will be missed by his former legislative colleagues and staffers, many of whom have expressed the honor of having worked with him on behalf of the citizens of the Texas Panhandle.
In 2004, Sen. Bivins was appointed United States ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden by President George W. Bush. He served as ambassador until February 2006 when illness forced him to resign from public service and return home to Texas.
While most will remember him in business attire, Bivins had the rough hands of a working cowboy and took a hands-on approach to his family's four-generation involvement in ranching and the cattle business. In 1976, he and his brother Tom formed a partnership, Bivins Brothers. In 1978, Bivins, along with his two brothers, Mark and Tom, Dale Smith and Jay O'Brien, formed a partnership, Corsino Cattle Co., which is still in operation. He was also active in oil and gas exploration.
Many of his favorite times were spent on horseback on the family's ranch where he taught his children to be good stewards of the land. Bivins' love of the outdoors also extended to sports. He was an avid skier and enjoyed numerous heli-skiing trips to some of the most challenging mountains in Canada. He also enjoyed mountain biking with friends and family in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Ambassador Bivins passed along his love of fishing at the 4UR Ranch in Creede, Colo., to his sons, Andrew and Will.
The family wishes to extend its deepest thanks to Linda Griggs, Sharon Miner, Sandra de los Santos, Ronda Johnson, Nona Anne Terry and Alexis Freyer. They are also thankful for the special care given by Kay Russo, Sammy de los Santos, Ray Gonzales and Margie Andrade as well as the wonderful staff at Goodcare Services.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to St. Andrew's Episcopal School, 1515 Georgia St., Amarillo, TX 79102; High Plains Public Radio, 101 S.W. Fifth Ave., Suite 100, Amarillo, TX 79101; or the Senator Teel Bivins Scholarship, in care of the Amarillo Area Foundation, 801 S. Fillmore St. Suite 700, Amarillo, TX 79101.
Ali Tyler
GRUVER - Ali Tyler, 15, died Sunday, October 18, 2009.
Services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Gruver School Auditorium with the Rev. Arlen Lloyd officiating. Burial was in Oslo Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman.
Ali was born Aug. 7, 1994, in Perryton. She was a sophomore at Gruver High School. She was a member of the Oslo Lutheran Church, where she was baptized on September 18, 1994, and confirmed on May 4, 2008.
She was on the Lady Greyhounds basketball, track and cross-country teams. She also participated in UIL scholastic events.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Tom Tyler and Reuben and Jennie TeBeest.
Survivors include her mother, Stephannie Tyler of Gruver; her father, Taff Tyler of Stinnett; a brother, Tate Tyler of Gruver; her grandparents, Phyllis Tyler of Panhandle and Dwayne and Mary TeBeest of Gruver; two aunts, Darla Paquette and husband Dennis and Donna Hatfield and husband Roger, all of Claude; and two uncles, Stanley TeBeest of Gruver and Steve TeBeest and wife Karla of Hereford.
The family suggests memorials be to Ali Tyler Scholarship Fund, in care of Gruver State Bank, P.O. Box 978, Gruver, TX 79040; or a favorite charity.
Ramero Hernandez
GRUVER - Ramero Hernandez, 39, died Saturday, October 10, 2009.
Services were at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2009 in Crist Redentor Catholic Church in Gruver. Burial was be in Gruver Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman.
Mr. Hernandez was born Feb. 13, 1970, in Mexico. He married Beatrice Flores in Guymon, Okla.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Lourdes Hernandez and Isabelle Hernandez, both of Gruver; a son, Ramero Hernandez Jr. of Gruver; his mother, Mercedez Hernandez of Mexico; six brothers, Ramerio Hernandez, Armando Hernandez and Oscar Hernandez, all of Mexico, Francisco Hernandez and Joel Angel Hernandez, both of Gruver, and Victor Hernandez of Cactus; and four sisters, Evangelina Arzate of Gruver, Ascencion Sotelo of Dallas, Lelia Estella Navarette of Mexico and Manuella DeSantiago of Guymon.
Bobby Wayne Barnett Sr.
PERRYTON - Bobby Wayne Barnett Sr., 81, died Tuesday, September 29, 2009.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Christian Church with the Rev. Daniel Anderson, the Rev. Marlon Sparks and the Rev. Mark Metzger officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton.
Mr. Barnett was born April 21, 1928, of Altus, Okla. He had lived in the area since 1948, moving from Woodward, Okla. He married Evelyn Yates on Feb. 1, 1949, in Perryton.
He and his mother moved in 1931 to Woodward, where he grew up and graduated from Woodward High School in 1946. The highlight of that year was being a starter on the Woodward High School football team, which won the state championship. He attended college at Northwestern at Alva, Okla. He moved to Perryton in 1948 to join a half brother in the bricklaying business.
Bob was a member of First Christian Church, Primetimers Sunday school class. He was very active in the church, having served through the years on many committees, serving as a youth leader, deacon, elder, treasurer, finance chairman and board chairman.
Bob was very active in the community also. He was a past president of the Jaycees and in 1961 served the community as the celebration chairman. He has served as fundraiser for the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. He was assistant manager of the Perryton Pioneers semi-pro baseball team in the early 1950s. He coached the YMCA Little League baseball, basketball and football. His hobbies included fishing and golf, and he was an avid reader.
After his career as a bricklayer, Bob later entered the life insurance business in 1956, representing Great American Reserve. In 1977, his son Bobby Barnett, became a full partner and they established the Barnett Insurance Agency. Bob retired in 1994. Upon retirement, he became very involved in the "Walk to Emmaus" and Kairos prison ministry. He was instrumental in establishing Waka Christian Center and Rushing Wind Emmaus community. He served on the Waka Christian Center board for the last 14 years and the Rushing Wind Emmaus board for the first six years after its inception. He had a great passion and love of the Emmaus community. He leaves a great legacy with the creation of the Waka Christian Center.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Nellie Goad.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Barnett; two daughters, Judy Hutchison and husband Joe of Miami and Sandy Judice and husband Sammy of Perryton; a son, Bobby Barnett Jr. and wife Debbie of Perryton; seven grandchildren, Stacy Johnson, Jodie Johnson and Chester Hutchison, all of Amarillo, Brent Judice of Perryton, Julie Babbs of Gruver, Jennifer Herold of Breckenridge, Colo., and Cody Hutchison of Lubbock; 10 great-grandchildren, Piper and Sam Johnson, Kylie and Jared Johnson, Hayley, Rio And Yancey Judice and Kearstin, Ella and Pake Babbs.
The family suggests memorials be to Waka Christian Center, P.O. Box 52, Perryton, TX 79070; or a favorite charity
Family visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Luke Levi Sinclair
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Luke Levi Sinclair, 24, formerly of Maumelle, Arkansas, departed this life Saturday, September 26, 2009, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Luke was born April 3, 1985, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He attended schools in Pine Bluff, White Hall, and Conway. He graduated from Aspen Ranch in Loa, Utah.
Luke exemplified a genuine model of servanthood. He volunteered a great amount of time and energy to the causes in which he believed. Luke was a member of the NRA and was a defender of the 2nd amendment. He was active in Alcoholics Anonymous where he eagerly mentored people to the program and shared his Christian testimony and led many to the Lord. Luke attended Vineyard Church in Kenner, Louisiana. As his final act of service, organs were donated to offer a richer life to others.
Luke will be remembered as a reserved, yet fiercely loyal personality. He had an insatiable appetite for exploring nature and all its wonders. It was a completely normal occurrence to find him off hunting, camping, fishing, four-wheeling, or target shooting. If he got the opportunity, a trip down a snow-packed slope would have been a genuine delight, too! Adventures in life and business were frequent practices for Luke. From the time he was old enough to do it, Luke always worked hard. He left Arkansas to form Sinclair Construction in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
Luke's memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, at First Presbyterian Church in Conway at 10:30 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made in Luke's memory to Make a Wish Foundation or First Presbyterian Church of Conway, Arkansas.
Luke was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Burt Sinclair of Shallowater, Texas.
Survivors include his parents, Tom and Cindy Sinclair, and his sister, Abby, of Maumelle, maternal grandparents, Ray and Carolyn Gressett of Spearman, Texas, and paternal grandmother, Sallie Sinclair of Shallowater, Texas. In addition, he leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends.
Debra Denise Davis
Graveside services for Debra Denise Davis, 56, of Ada, OK will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Westlawn Memorial Park with Jake Minton, officiating. She was a resident of Borger for the first 12 years of her life and then went to live at McCall's Chapel School in Ada for the past 45 years. She attended Weatherly Elementary School and Sam Houston Jr. High. Deb was a member of the Allen, OK Church of Christ and worked in the workshop at McCall's and was the official greeter for all who visited.
She was preceded in death by her parents Devoe and Geraldine Davis.
Debra is survived by her aunts Bobbye E. Harper of Amarillo and Elvanna Davis of Spearman and her uncle Robert Harper of Amarillo, 6 cousins - Dwight Davis Harper, Bradley A. Harper and wife Cheryl and Scott A. Davis and wife Tara all of Amarillo, Mary Kay Seimen and husband Randy of Houston, Glover Don Davis and wife Debbie of Lewisville, TX and Michael Davis and wife Michelle of Spearman.
Donations may be made to McCall's Chapel School, 13546 CR 3600, Ada, OK 74820.
Tony Allen McMillan
Tony Allen McMillan, 71, died Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas.
The son of Eva Lorena (Williams) and Ruben Arnold McMillan, Tony was born on November 20, 1937 in Marietta, Oklahoma. In 1955, he graduated from Gruver High School in Gruver, Texas, and in September, 1955, moved to Abilene to attended Abilene Christian College, now Abilene Christian University. He graduated from ACC in 1959.
Tony married Gail Lee on December 22, 1955 in Gruver. Except for brief periods of time spent in Vermillion, South Dakota, Clarksville, Texas, and Little Rock, Arkansas, Abilene had been their home.
Tony was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene, and a member of Hillcrest Church of Christ.
In support of his children and many other youths, he was involved in numerous associations including Cub Scouts, Little League Baseball, 4-H and 4-H Horse Club, FFA, and the Wylie Rodeo Club.
During his years with the Taylor County Expo, his influence was far-reaching as he served as member and past officer of the Texas Association of Fairs and Events, and was inducted into the Texas Association of Fairs and Events Hall of Fame in 2008.
His parents preceded him in death.
Tony is survived by his wife, Gail Lee McMillan of Abilene; sons, Mark Allen McMillan and wife, Kim, of Abilene, and Brent Lee McMillan and wife, Renea, of Coleman; and daughters, Tonya Lynn Ward and husband, Rick, of Weatherford, Becky Spohn and husband, Danny, of Clyde, and Stacy Rene McElfresh and husband, Dennis, of Midland. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Luke and wife Emily, Cole, and Guy McMillan; Brittni and Whitney McMillan; Jason Ward; Hunter Spohn; and Ryder, Rowdy, and Eva Marie McElfresh; sisters, Vicki Silva and Mary Gail Byers and husband, Poke, all of Tellico Plains, Tennessee; mother-in-law, Violet Lee of Abilene; uncle and aunt, G.C. and Polly Williams of Callisburg, Texas; and many loved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 18, at Hillcrest Church of Christ with Terry Brown officiating. Interment followed in Potosi Cemetery directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene.
Memorials may be made to the Tony McMillan Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o West Texas Fair & Rodeo, 1700 Hwy 36, Abilene, TX 79602; Disability Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 1880, Abilene, TX 79604; or American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Hugh A. Stewart
PAMPA - Hugh A. Stewart, 86, died Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009.
Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, 2009 in Stratford Cemetery in Stratford with Larry Norris, nephew, officiating. Arrangements were by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.
Hugh A. Stewart was born May 4, 1923, in Donley County to John A. and Vivian Stewart. Hugh passed away on Sept. 19, 2009, at home after a long illness.
Hugh married Billie Ann Ellison on May 27, 1951, in Stratford. Mr. Stewart graduated from West Texas State College with a Master's of Education in 1955.
He was a teacher, coach and principal in Stratford, Armstrong and Sunray before retiring after 40 years. In his younger years, he loved to coach little league baseball and enjoyed watching his sons and grandchildren play sports.
Hugh and Billie moved to Pampa in 2001. His hobbies included building birdhouses, chapels and other wood crafts, and he enjoyed giving them to family and friends.
Hugh was a loving husband, father and PaPa and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Special thanks to Denise, Sandy and BSA Hospice for all the love and care and being there whenever needed.
Hugh was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; and a very special grandson, Kurt Lee.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years; two sons, John of Pampa and William "Sparky" and wife Donna of Gruver; a daughter, Diane Lee and husband Tony of Enid, Okla.; six grandchildren, Nikki and Brady Hart and Wade and Brooke Stewart, all of Gruver, and Krista and Ryan Bramhall of Manhattan, Kan. Hugh was blessed with his first two great-grandchildren, Case A. Stewart of Gruver and Rylan Robert Bramhall of Manhattan. He also is survived by two sisters, Peggy Stewart and Johnnie Polk, both of Amarillo; a brother-in-law, Donnie Ellison and wife Martha of Stratford; special friends, Debbie and Greg Davis, Addie Callan and Gwen Douthit, all of Pampa, and Dean and Marlene Bryan of Sunray; and several nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, 806 N. Sumner St., Pampa, TX 79065; Good Sam's, 309 N. Ward St., Pampa, TX 79065; or favorite charity.
Louise Sutton
Louise Sutton, 85, of Amarillo died Friday, Sept. 18, 2009.
Memorial services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2009 in First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Billy Nickell, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Helphrey Cemetery in Taneyville, Mo., at a later date. Local arrangements are by Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive.
Louise Adair Sutton was born May 28, 1924, in Uvalde to Austin Wade Adair and Abby Olivia Yancey Adair. She had one older brother, A.G. Adair, and one younger brother, Robert Merwin "Bob" Adair.
She was a 1941 graduate of Camp Wood High School. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord in a tent revival held in Uvalde by Brother Johnny Modrick, a minister of the Apostolic Faith Movement, when she was 13 years old. She almost immediately felt a calling to the ministry and formally started her ministry at the age of 17.
She married Sherman Sutton of Mountain Grove, Mo., on Sept. 30, 1941, in Uvalde. They set out in the ministry together. They worked as gospel workers in revivals, in camp meetings, in convocations, in youth camps, in daily vacation Bible schools, pastoring churches and etc. until their first son, Garry Sherman Sutton was born on April 21, 1948.
They purchased a home in Uvalde and Louise worked as a secretary for the Smith Ortho Co. and Sherman worked as a mechanic and propane truck delivery driver in Uvalde. A second son was born to Louise and Sherman Sutton of May 14, 1949.
They started having church services in their home while in Uvalde. In 1954, they accepted a pastorate in Enid, Okla., and re-entered the ministry full time. Louise also pastured churches in Amarillo, Arnett, Okla., Spearman, Snyder, Stockton, Calif., and Roswell, N.M.
Louise was an active church pastor for 58 years working with the people of the Apostolic Faith Movement. Louise was a faculty member of the Apostolic Faith Bible College in Baxter Springs, Kan., in the late '60s and early '70s and taught Bible Doctrine (Theology) and Evangelism.
She published a four-volume series on Bible Doctrine as a result of her teaching with the Bible College and they are still used in churches today. When she was forced to quit pastoring, she felt the need to continue to minister to others by phone, letter, and particularly by faithfully sending cards weekly to anyone who was in need of healing, comfort, or encouragement in any way for any reason.
She remained faithful to this correspondence ministry until just the past few months when she could no longer see well enough or write well enough to continue. She still ministered to many on the telephone after having to discontinue her card ministry. She was a faithful servant of the Lord for 72 years.
The day Louise passed away she made the statement that she was most thankful that both her sons were serving the Lord and were ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Louise was also a longtime employee of the Contel Telephone Co. which became GTE Telephone Co. and then Verison Telephone Co. She retired from Verison in the late 1980s.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents; both her brothers; and her husband, Sherman Sutton, who passed away on Dec. 28, 1995.
Survivors include two sons, Garry Sherman Sutton and wife Darla of Amarillo and Austin Lee Sutton and wife Shirley of Taneyville, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Angla Nolene Richardson and husband Fred of Orange Grove, Garry Sherman Sutton Jr. and wife LaRinda of Cyril, Okla., James Neal Cahill, Cynthia Renea Johnson, both of Amarillo, Sharlynda Kay Sutton of Taneyville, Andy Lee Sutton and wife Keri of Ozark, Mo., Russell Ball and wife Kristi of Joplin, Mo., and Mike Ellibee and wife Keisha of Lubbock; 22 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews, cousins and a host of friends and many brothers and sisters of the Family of God.
Helen Ruth Smith Gibson
SPEARMAN - Helen Ruth Smith Gibson, 90, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009.
Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Medley and John Scott officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home at Spearman.
Helen was born Nov. 24, 1918, in a country home in Loveland, Okla., to Will and Bessie Smith. She was the second of five children.
Helen graduated from Northside High School, where she was a member of the volleyball and basketball teams. She lived and worked in the Vernon area until she married James Raye Gibson on May 10, 1942, in Altus, Okla. He preceded her in death shortly after they had celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in May 2009.
They lived in Duncan, Okla., before moving to Spearman in 1944. Helen was a stay-at-home mom who worked from home to help make ends meet. She ironed for the public and did alterations for local cleaners. She was an excellent seamstress who sewed clothes for her family as well as the public. For several years, she outfitted Lynxette basketball teams with mix and match travel suits.
Helen also was an outstanding cook who could produce a delicious meal in the blink of an eye. One year she was the pie chef for Cattleman's Cafe, baking eight to 10 pies daily, as well as keeping up with her other jobs and household duties.
Helen had a green thumb under which plants seemed to thrive when in her care. She also loved gardening and would do canning and freezing so her family could enjoy the fruits of her labor year round.
She was truly the supportive woman behind the successful man and a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her influence on their lives will be enjoyed for many years to come. She was a very unassuming woman who was most comfortable putting others before herself.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Spearman, where she helped with Sunday school for many years when her children were young.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a brother; a sister; and a great-granddaughter.
Survivors include two sisters, Wilma Stowe and Louise Townson, both of Vernon; a son, Ronald Gibson of Spearman; two daughters, Cheryl Salgado and husband Frank of Spearman and Karen Cargill of Denver City; four grandchildren, Connie Davenport and husband Kevin of Lubbock, Ronda Jennings and husband George of Amarillo, Jennifer Cargill of Merkel and Jason Cargill and wife Christi of Denver City; six great-grandchildren, Trae and Tarryn Dixon, Meagan and Madelaine Jennings and Julia and Jarod Cargill; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family suggests memorials be to Hansford Hospice, 707 Roland St., Spearman, TX 79081; or a favorite charity.
