Archives for December 2020

Mary Ruth Derrick Harlan, 102, of Clarendon passed away on Monday, December 14, 2020, in Memphis.

Graveside services are scheduled for Thursday, December 17, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at Citizen’s Cemetery. Viewing will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

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

Mary was born October 9, 1918, in Goodnight on the Bugbee Ranch to Romie and Ruth Derrick. She attended Clarendon schools.

Mary married Donald Harlan in her parent’s home on the R.O. Ranch.

She was preceded in death by her husband after 52 years; her parents Romie and Ruth Derrick; three brothers, Henry, Frank, and Floyd Derrick; and two sisters, Margaret Nelson and Pearl Hermesmeyer.

She is survived by her special cousin, Carolyn Butler; nephews, nieces, and a host of special friends.

Leslie Jean Owens, 57, of Clarendon died Friday, November 27, 2020, in Amarillo.

Due to inclement weather, memorial graveside services have been rescheduled and will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, December 18, 2020, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Leslie was born September 12, 1963, in Galveston, Texas to Ken and Judy Johnson Fincher. She married James Wayne “Jim” Owens, Jr. on August 5, 1995, in Clarendon. Leslie had lived in New York, Michigan, California and Alaska prior to settling in Clarendon in 1978 and was a graduate of Clarendon High School. She enjoyed her work, working for Hedley ISD as a teacher’s aide for many years and was still currently working at the time of her death.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Judy.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Owens of Clarendon; her father, Ken Fincher of Arkansas; her son, Jake Owens of Clarendon; a brother, Kevin Fincher of Arkansas; a sister, Terri Harris and husband Red of Lake Texhoma; nephew, Will; niece, Nikki; her good friend and cousin, JoAnn DeBord, and two very good friends, Tammy Price and Virginia Patten.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be sent to the Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com

Nelda Louise McKenzie, 75, of Clarendon, TX, died December 10, 2020.

Memorial services will be at a later date. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Nelda was born in Dimmitt, Texas, on March 5, 1945, to Edward and Rosa Dalton.

Nelda was raised on a farm outside of Amarillo, TX. She attended St. Francis Catholic Church. She was the first woman in the Navy Reserve from Amarillo. She retired from Pantex. She worked in home health and loved to sew and iron.

She was a devout Catholic. Nelda was a dedicated and supportive grandmother to three grandsons. She was the hardest working woman that her children and grandchildren had ever known.

She was preceded in death by parents, Edward Dalton and Rosa Dalton; sisters, Rita McKenzie and Mary Rose Edgar; and a brother, Donald Dalton.

Survivors include daughters, Loretta McKenzie of Batson, TX, and Amanda McKenzie of Clarendon, TX; a brother, Father John Dalton of Amarillo, TX; a sister, Eileen Miskimen of Amarillo, TX; and grandsons, Zachary Anglin, Jacob Anglin, and Michael Keith.

James E. “Jim” Robinson ‘66, 76, of Clarendon died Monday, November 30, 2020, in Clarendon.

Memorial services will be private. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Cremation & arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

James E. “Jim” Robinson ‘66 was born February 21, 1944, in Dallas, Texas to Joe and Vernelle Orr Robinson. Jim was the oldest of 4 children. Jim and his family lived in Tahoka, Texas, before moving to Clarendon when Jim was a freshman in high school. His dad, Joe, had leased a large part of the JA ranch and moved to Clarendon to start a new life.
After high school, Jim followed in the footsteps of his dad ‘42 and his granddad ‘08 and went to Texas A&M, and graduated in 1966, with a degree in Agriculture.
After graduating from Texas A&M, he came home to ranch with his dad and married Connie Jean Grady. They had two children, Tish and D’Liss.

There were two things you knew for sure about Jim, you did not tell him Aggie jokes and he did bleed deep maroon. At Texas A&M he was in the infamous dorm, company D-1, Corp of Cadets, “Spider D”, where he met a group of men, who he shared a life-long friendship.

In July of 1985, Jim married Tessie Howell, and they have two children, Felicia and Zack. In 2010, Jim wrote and published a book, “Memoirs of a Texas Cowboy”, containing cowboy stories of his life. Jim did advertising for several companies, Levi Strauss, United Supermarkets, Ford Motor Company and had a story written about him in Parade Magazine in the Sunday paper.

Jim loved God, Family, Country, and the Texas A&M Aggie Corp of Cadets.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Vernelle Orr Robinson and father, Joe Frank Robinson.

Jim is survived by his wife Tessie; three daughters, Tish Gossett and husband, Mike of Denton, Texas, D’Liss Quisenberry and husband, Coby of Grandview, Texas, Felicia Powell and husband, Jeremy of Clarendon; one son, Zack Robinson and wife, Jennifer; step-mother, Ruth Robinson, of Clarendon; siblings, Jack Robinson and wife, Susan of Amarillo, Janny Longan and husband, Ronnie of Howardwick, Joe Robinson, Jr.; step-sister, Libby Talley and husband Billy, of Amarillo; and step-brother Bill Word of Clarendon. He is also survived by grandchildren, Byrklin Quisenberry, ’19, of Grandview; Cason Quisenberry, ’24, of College Station; Emeri and Kreed Robinson of Clarendon; D’nyelle Williams of Missouri; Dalton Gossett of Rhode Island; Dylan, Skyler, and Jade Gossett of Denton; cousin, Gene Treadgill; brothers-in-law, James F. Howell, III and wife LeAnna of Clarendon, Timothy H. Howell and wife Teresa of Wildorado, Joseph B. Howell and wife Rhonda of Clarendon, Peter G. Howell, Sr. and wife Vonna of Amarillo; and Jim has many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; Texas A&M, Spider D, Class of 1966.

Jim’s special care takers, Sis Bond of Clarendon and Peggy Devereaux of Shamrock, Texas and all the special people at the McLean Care Center.

June Topper, 87, of Clarendon died Sunday, December 6, 2020, in Clarendon.

Services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 10, 2020, in Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. Rob Seale, officiating. Burial will be at 12:30 PM in Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler.

Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

June was born March 16, 1933, in Oklahoma to John Raymond and Dorothy Adams Robinson. She was married to John Earnest Topper. She had been a resident of Clarendon since 1966 and worked for many years at Clifford Grocery Store and as a CNA at the nursing home prior to her retirement. She loved playing cards, Bingo, and Yahtzee. She loved her family and watching her grandkids sporting events. June was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on November 3, 1978; and her brothers, Raymond and George Robinson.

Survivors include her sons, Mark Topper and wife Shirlene of Pampa, Keith Topper and wife Teresa of Plainview, and Jeff Topper and wife Lana of Clarendon; her daughter, Cindy Pohnert and husband Dudley of White Deer; three sisters, Lucille, Florence, and Joleen; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer Reed, Keely Downs and husband Jeremiah, Jason Bowles, Jared Bowles, Tyler Topper and wife Beth, Trey Topper, Lane Pohnert, Adam Topper and wife Raven, Savannah Sanders and husband Coby, and Jordan McAnally and husband Cuyler; 9 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The family request memorials be sent to the Calvary Baptist Church in Clarendon, Wheeler Cemetery Association, or Donley County Senior Citizens.

Sign the online guestbook at www.robertsonfuneral.com.