Published: July 01, 2009 10:18 am      

Obituaries — July 1, 2009

ODA FAY JOHNSON PARKS

LINDSAY — Funeral services for Oda Fay Johnson Parks, 88 of Lindsay are pending with McCoy Funeral Home in Saint Jo.

Oda's Fay Johnson Park’s death was pronounced at 11:25 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at her residence.



IDA MAY AMYX

DALHART — Funeral services for Ida May Amyx, 80, of Dalhart and formerly of Era will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 2, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Dalhart. Officiating will be Rodney Weatherly, Pastor of First Baptist Church and Bob McAlister, Pastor to Senior Adults at First Baptist Church in Dalhart.

Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Horizon Funeral Home in Dalhart. Services are under the direction of Horizon Funeral Home, Inc. in Dalhart.

Ida May Amyx went to be with her Lord on Monday, June 29, 2009.

Ida May McClellan was the youngest of the ten children of J. L. and Inez (Walker) McClellan and was born south of Texline on the former XIT Ranch land. She had all of her schooling at Dalhart and was Secretary and Salutatorian of her Senior Class of 1946. Ida May and James were married June 23, 1946 in her parents home. They then moved to the Era community near Gainesville in Cooke County, where James and his father built the first Grade A dairy barn in the community. In May 1947, they moved back to Dalhart, and then back to Era again in 1949. They purchased the dairy where they lived until they moved back to Dalhart in 1980.

While living in Era, Ida May was a Sunday School Teacher, Music Director, and Training Director in church. She was active in the Home Demonstration Club, in the choir at the State Convention and a Council Delegate. In Dalhart, Ida May was President of the Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union, a member of the Woman’s Literary Club and Zeta Chi Sorority. She was a member of the Coon Memorial Auxiliary “Pink Ladies” for almost a decade. Ida May was an active member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include her sons, Richard and his wife Becky Amyx of Dalhart and Danny Amyx of Irving; a daughter, Donna and her husband Mike Otts, of Gainesville; two brothers, Cecil McClellan of Texline and Howard McClellan Of Amarillo; six grandchildren including two who live locally, Barry and his wife Laura Otts and Ashley Otts and her fiancé Colt Weatherby of Gainesville and four great-grandchildren, including two who live locally, Jackson James Otts and Abigail Weatherby both of Gainesville.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, James who died in October 2000; three sisters and four brothers.

The family will be at 1615 Monte Vista in Dalhart.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Coon Memorial Auxiliary, Pink Ladies, 322 Conlen, Dalhart, TX 79022 or Coon Memorial Hospice, 320 Texas Blvd., Dalhart, TX 79022

Sign the online register book at www.horizonfuneral.com.

ADV.

JAMES ARTHUR TOUCHSTONE

A Celebration of Life Service for James Arthur Touchstone is set for 2 p.m. Thursday, July 2, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church in Whitesboro with Rev. Richard Nours officiating. Services are under the direction of Clement-Keel Funeral Home at 1204 E. California in Gainesville.

James Arthur Touchstone was born Dec. 14, 1920 in Copiah County, Miss. to John Daniel Touchstone and Thelma Lee Webb Touchstone.

He served in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and graduated as honor seaman from the U.S. Naval Training Station in Great Lake, Ill. His position on the ship was that as navigator, navigating using the stars and astronomical charts. His rank was Quartermaster First Class. He served 3 and a half years during World War II, the majority of time in the South Pacific.

He married Zelma Lee White of Columbia, Miss. on May 26, 1947. Zelma and Arthur raised their family in Gainesville and were members of the First Presbyterian Church. They moved to Gordonville in 1996 where he enjoyed fishing on Lake Texoma with friends and family. Arthur was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Whitesboro where he served as Elder.

Arthur attended Copiah-Lincoln High School at Wesson, Miss., holding an all-time highest student award for biology. In college, he again won the highest honors as top student in analytical geometry. He graduated with a degree from Mississippi State College, majoring in chemical engineering. He was a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon Honor Society Mathematics Fraternity.

Soon after college he was recruited by Halliburton Co. Executive. He worked for Halliburton Co. for 37 years, beginning in 1948 in Louisiana. He then worked in Kilgore and Wichita Falls. In 1952 he and Zelma moved to Gainesville. He achieved the level of District Supervisor/Technical Advisor. After retirement he did oil field consulting for various companies. Arthur commented many times that he enjoyed every day he worked for Halliburton. He was a long time member of the American Petroleum Institute. He was respected and well-liked by his customers and co-workers.

Survivors are wife, Zelma; daughters, Susan Touchstone of Canon City, Colo. and Nancy Hudgins of Sherman; granddaughter, Amy Crye of California; grandson, Brett Hudgins of Corinth; great-grandchildren, Meghan and Mason of California and Maya of Corinth; sister-in-law and caregiver, Irene Touchstone; four nieces in Mississippi, Donna McCoy, Brenda Mangold, Regina Tisdale and Beverly Thomas and great-niece, Lisa Polk of Fort Worth.

Preceded in death by his mother; father; sister, Frances Stuart and brother, Allan Touchstone.

As his church was very important to Arthur, he requested that any donations in his memory be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Whitesboro at 200 Union St., Whitesboro, TX 76273.

ADV.



SHARON WAGGONER

Funeral arrangements for Sharon Waggoner of Gainesville are pending with the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

Mrs Waggoner died on June 29, 2009 at her home.