Carson County Obituaries
2003
Source: Amarillo Globe-News
April 2003
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Clara Batenhorst
PANHANDLE - Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today in St.
Theresa Catholic Church. Services will be at 10 a.m.
Friday in the church with the Rev. John Kodankandoph,
pastor, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in St.
Mary's Cemetery in Umbarger by Minton/Chatwell Funeral
Directors.
Mrs. Batenhorst was one of 12 children born to Max and
Elizabeth Schuele in Humphrey, Neb., on July 10, 1899.
She was wed to Henry Batenhorst on Nov. 21, 1923, in
Cedar Rapids, Neb. The couple moved to Umbarger where
they farmed.
Clara served as a midwife for several women while giving
birth to nine children of her own. The family lived in
Umbarger until 1940, then moved to Wildorado, where they
ran a cafe for five years. The couple retired and moved
to Vega in 1950. In 1977, their final move was to
Panhandle. Clara was an active member of St. Theresa
Catholic Church, 55 Plus Club and many other community
projects.
She was preceded in death by her husband; three sons,
Harold, Wilfred and Joe; three brothers; six sisters; and
four grandsons.
Survivors include four sons, Henry M. Batenhorst of
Hereford, Gene Batenhorst of Panhandle, Jim Batenhorst of
Wildorado and Gerald Batenhorst of Fritch; two daughters,
Margaret Hammer of Panhandle and Bernadette Spurgeon of
Amarillo; a brother, Frank Schuele of Columbus, Neb.; a
sister, Catherine Batenhorst of Canyon; 28 grandchildren;
67 great-grandchildren; 36 great-great-grandchildren; and
two great-great-great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be to St. Ann's Nursing
Home, P.O. Box 1179, Panhandle, TX 79068.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 3, 2003
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Robert E. Austin
PANHANDLE - Robert E. Austin, 79, died Thursday, April 3,
2003.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in First Baptist
Church of Panhandle with the Rev. Bill Fuller, pastor,
officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by
Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors.
Mr. Austin was born Dec. 19, 1923, in Foss, Okla. He was
with the Fort Worth Cats Baseball Farm Team and then with
the Brooklyn Dodgers as a pitcher. He was in the Army
during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Dee; three daughters, Debbie
Moore of Pampa, Karen Puryear of Wheeler and Pam Reed of
Fritch; a sister, Nita Fern Dickerson of Carlsbad, N.M.;
a stepdaughter, Deann Mays of Borger; stepsons, Keith
Vaught of Montecito, Calif., and Edward Newton of
Panhandle; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
The family will be at 410 E. Fourth in Panhandle.
The family suggests memorials be to Garrettson's
Retirement Center or First Baptist Church in Panhandle.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 6, 2003
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Chester "Bruce"
Martin, Jr.
WHITE DEER - Chester "Bruce" Martin Jr., 69,
died Saturday, April 12, 2003.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. Vincent de Paul
Catholic Church with the Rev. John Valdez, pastor, and
Monsignor James Gurzynski of Amarillo officiating. Burial
will be in Groom Catholic Cemetery by Carmichael-Whatley
Funeral Directors of Pampa.
Mr. Martin was born May 23, 1933, in White Deer. He was a
lifelong resident of White Deer where he was a farmer and
rancher. He graduated from White Deer High School in
1952.
He married Aloise Britten on Oct. 14, 1960, in Pampa. He
worked as an operator for Cabot Corp. for 33 years
retiring in 1998. He was a veteran of the Army Sixth
Armored Division serving during the Korean Conflict.
He attended St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. He loved
young people. He served on the Carson County Junior
Livestock Board for many years, serving as swine
superintendent for 13 years.
He was a former 4-H leader, Catholic Youth Organization
sponsor and Honorary Chapter FFA Farmer. He was a past
member of the White Deer Voluntary Fire Department and
was a member of White Deer Senior Citizens organization.
He was preceded in death by a son, Richard Martin; and a
brother, Bob Martin.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, Kenneth Martin and
wife, Meleney, of Groom, Joe Martin and wife, Debbie, of
Guymon, Okla., Larry Martin of Elgin and Bob Martin and
wife, Laura, of Keller; a sister, Dorothy Conrad of White
Deer; and eight grandchildren; Amanda and Britteny
Martin, both of Groom, Katherine, Kayla Jo and Kody
Martin, all of Guymon, and Allie, Tori and Dianna Martin,
all of Keller.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 14, 2003
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Gary Ford O'Neal
WHITE DEER - Gary Ford O'Neal, 40, died Friday, April 18,
2003.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First United
Methodist Church of Pampa with the Rev. Toni Bailey,
pastor of United Methodist Church of White Deer,
officiating. Burial will be in White Deer Cemetery by
Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa.
Mr. O'Neal was born April 2, 1963, in Pampa. He had been
a lifelong resident of White Deer, graduating from White
Deer High School where he received the American Farmer
degree from FFA.
He was a graduate of Texas Tech University. He married
Julie Rogers on Feb. 10, 1996, in White Deer. He was a
farmer and rancher in White Deer. He was a member of
White Deer ISD School Board. He was a member of United
Methodist Church of White Deer where he had served on the
administrative board.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Megan
O'Neal, Katie O'Neal and McKenzie O'Neal, all of White
Deer; his parents, Jerry and Nancy O'Neal of White Deer;
two sisters, Sherrie Pingel of Vega and Suann O'Neal of
Denver; a brother, Terry O'Neal and wife, Diane, of
Pampa; four nieces; and four nephews.
The family suggests memorials be to Angel Flight, 4310
Wiley Post Road, Suite 206, Addison, TX 75001.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 20, 2003
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Frances Marian McKenzie
Apel
PANHANDLE - Frances Marian McKenzie Apel, 87, died
Sunday, April 20, 2003, in Amarillo.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in First United
Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Matsler, pastor,
officiating. Burial will be in Panhandle Cemetery by
Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors.
Mrs. Apel was born Jan. 21, 1916, in Kansas City, Mo., to
Dr. Thomas Horatio and Dr. Anna Haigh McKenzie. Anna with
her two daughters, Elizabeth and Frances, came to Texas
by train in March 1917.
Since the farm was 12 miles from Panhandle with "too
many gates to open and close," Frances was home
schooled until she was in the fourth grade. She graduated
from Panhandle High School at age 16 and completed a
two-year degree at Amarillo Junior College before
marrying John William Apel Jr. on Sept. 12, 1934. They
farmed and operated an Oliver farm machinery company
before World War II made farm machinery unavailable for
sale.
Frances wrote short stories and poetry, served as
president of Erudite Fine Arts Club, was a founding
member of Panhandle High School band boosters and was a
Carson County election judge for many years. She was
untiring in her work and support of the Republican Party.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her older
sister, Elizabeth Hollander; and her life's partner who
died Sept. 13, 1996, the day after their 62nd wedding
anniversary.
Survivors include her children, Ann Stewart and husband,
Dr. W.H., of Edmonton, Alberta, Marie Ishee and husband,
Dr. W.W., of Spring and John Thomas Apel and wife,
Carolyn, of Panhandle; two grandchildren, Angela Apel of
Fort Worth and Jonathan Ishee of Houston; and a brother,
Robert Haigh McKenzie and wife, Ginger, of Cincinnati.
The family suggests memorials be to Carson County
Library; or a favorite charity.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 23, 2003
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Samuel Lewis Ulmer
SKELLYTOWN - Samuel Lewis Ulmer, 54, died Tuesday, April
22, 2003.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist
Church in White Deer with Jackie Riley of Southgate
Baptist Church in Moore, Okla., and the Rev. John Collis
of the church officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m.
Saturday in Sharon Cemetery in Laurel, Miss. Local
arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors
of Pampa. Mississippi arrangements are by Memory Chapel
Funeral Home of Laurel.
Mr. Ulmer had been a resident of Skellytown since 1986.
He was a veteran of the Marine Corps, serving during the
Vietnam War.
Survivors include his wife, Becky; two daughters, Amy
Keeler of Dallas and Jamie Claypool of Amarillo; a
sister, Brenda Riley of Norman, Okla.; two brothers,
Tedford Ulmer of North Richland Hills and Jack Ulmer of
Laurel.
The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice, 800 N.
Sumner St., Pampa, TX 79065; or American Cancer Society,
in care of Gerry Caylor, 2130 Charles St., Pampa, TX
79065.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 23, 2003
This page was last updated January 7, 2004.