Archives for August 2025

Vandel Morris Crump went to be in his forever home August 21, 2025.

Graveside services with Masonic Rites were held on Monday, August 25, 2025, in Rowe Cemetery in Hedley. Memorial services followed at Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon with Rev. Larry Capranica officiating.

Morris was born on November 4, 1940, in Paris, Texas to Virgil Morris and Raydell Hagood Crump. He was the second child of four children. Virgil Ray, Ruby Paulette, and Larry Eugene were his siblings. When Morris was born, he was very allergic to any kind of milk. The doctor told his mother to find something he can tolerate and feed him or else he is going to die. She found he could keep mashed up bananas and vanilla wafers down. He would laugh and say, “I guess that was why he loved the woods, being raised on monkey food.” Paulette and Morris were plagued by asthma from all the rain in East Texas. When he was 10 or 11 they went to Hall County to pull cotton boles and found that those two got better in the dyer air, so they moved there. When Morris was 12, he had a bad case of rheumatic fever, once again nearly dying. The doctor at Memphis said if he were to survive that he would likely never walk again. Morris said he would lay in bed dreaming of walking outside, roaming the river, and watching all God’s plants and animals. When he got strong enough to get out of bed to sit up, not walking, Larry and Paulette, 10 and 8 at the time, would pull him outside in a wagon. He said it was the greatest feeling being outside again. He never liked being indoors very much at all. These past five weeks were hard on him because he couldn’t walk much further than the house to the pickup.

In 1959, he graduated Memphis High School and at his mother’s plea, went to Texas Tech for two semesters. Morris’ heart didn’t belong in a building, so he came back to Hall County. In 1963, he married Janie Ivey and they had Morris Ray and Randall Lynn. He always said Janie was a good mother, but things just didn’t work between them. Morris took to drinking and ended the marriage. He married Loretta Ham and she had two small boys, Justin and Jason Ham. Morris said he would always be grateful that she pushed and shoved him to finally get help to quit the liquor. That marriage ended in 1989. Morris had been a farmer and ran a few cows with his father-in-law, A.B. Ivey. Farming wasn’t to Morris’ liking, so he day worked at Hedley Feedyards, for several of the area ranches, hauled hay, and shod horses. Morris’ motto was if a man will work he won’t starve. He worked for Bill Craft and the JA’s. He said each time he went and lived at those ranches it was because he needed a break from the hay hauling and the horse shoeing. He finally went to work full time in 1985 at the High Card Ranch staying there until 2004.

Morris loved good horses and he was blessed to have raised several of them using Joe Neal Shadle’s stud. In fact, 4 of those horses made it to the AQHA show year end winning 3rd and 4th place awards in team penning. He started out roping calves going to Claude with Harold Lindley. This was before team roping caught on in Texas. With his sons, brother Larry, and his children, Morris built a roping arena at his house. The Crump’s put on several jackpot ropings. If any young kids wanted to learn to rope, Morris would say, “You come work the chute and when your time to rope comes up, you can rope.” It worked out well for several young boys. When ranch rodeos first started in the early 80’s, that was something Morris really enjoyed doing. He rodeoed with Ray and Randy on the ranch team with other people until he met up with Linda McCleskey. She had four sons, James, Willie, Elwyn, and Wyman. His boys had been team roping from under 10 years old and Linda’s boys had been riding broncs since about that age, so with several different combo’s of their children, they won lots of rodeos from 1993 to 2003. Justin Ham even got in on a couple of those rodeos.

Branding time was Morris’ favorite time of year. He enjoyed flanking calves, especially getting those big calves down. He said the one man he really enjoyed flanking with was Tony Sparks. He said Tony enjoyed busting a big one on the ground as much as he did. After leaving the High Card, he went back to shoeing horses, day working at ranches, and working at the area feelots. At one time, Morris, his sons, and all of Linda’s sons worked together at McLean Feeders. Morris loved the wild canyon country and enjoyed it to the fullest.

Morris was a 50 year Mason, Lubbock Scottish Rite, Al Morrah Shriner, and Eastern Star man.

He was preceded in death by his parents; all of his siblings; and son, Randy.

He is survived by his wife, Linda of 30 years; son, Ray and wife Mike Elizabeth; stepsons, James and wife Jayna, Willie and wife Holly, Elwyn and wife Pam and Wyman and wife Shonda McCleskey, and Justin and Jason Ham; six grandchildren, Chris, Mike, Carissa, Dustin, Jacee, and Cody Crump; 19 step-grandchildren, Colby, Dillon, Justin, Klaiton, Heath, Kade, Jasmine, Kadee, Lilly, Casey, Cooper, Ryan, Bree, and Kayla McCleskey, Nash Baker, Cameron Rich, and Rustin, Reagan and Rance Ham; 27 great-grandchildren, and step-grands with one more due September 20th; sisters-in-law, Dolores Crump, Lucy Poole, Janette and Jerry Wagner, Sondra and Ronald Hatcher; brother-in-law, Carl and Christy Cox; daughter-in-laws, Deana Crump, and Buckie Crump; his favorite niece, Charla Crump, Helen Reyes, and his brother Virgil’s three daughters; and nephew, Larry Crump, Jr. He leaves behind a whole slew of friends that he had made through his 84 years. His friends Dallas and Elisabeth Moore that tried in vain to make a sheep lover out of him. Morris did love his goats though.

Morris knew Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and his greatest wish was that all his family and friends would come to really know God. He said the morning of the day he died only by God’s great mercy he had lived this long. I know I need to put an end to this, but I’ll not put a period here for it’s not over and ended, Morris has just begun to live

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Community Fellowship Missionary Fund or Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700.

James Edward Watts, 86, of Clarendon passed away on Monday, August 18, 2025, in Clarendon.

Graveside services were held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon, with Joe Neal Shadle officiating.

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

James was born on May 7, 1939, in Clarendon to James Olen Watts, Sr. and Lucille Myrl Smith Watts. He married Loretta Fern Ashcraft on May 7, 1996, in Clarendon, where he remained a lifelong resident. A hardworking man, James was a dedicated employee of the City of Clarendon for many years and had previously worked as a heavy machine operator in construction.

James will be remembered for his lighthearted spirit—he was a jokester at heart, enjoyed riding around town and taking back roads, loved trips to Amarillo, and always looked forward to family reunions.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Fern, in 2021; the mother of his daughters, Thelma Phipps; his daughters, Elizabeth May Watts and Debbie Davis; and his brothers, Carroll Wayne Watts, Buster Kerlee, Billy Kerlee, and James Olen “Buttons” Watts, Jr.

He is survived by his daughters, Jamie Reynolds and husband Jerry, Patty Bell and husband Billy, and Linda Massey and husband Kenneth, all of Honey Grove, Texas, Heather Watts, and Tammy Christopher and husband Clay of Clarendon; his sons, J.C. Watts of Lubbock and Jerry Stegall and wife Tammy of Pampa; his sister, Edna Watts of Amarillo; 15 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; a niece, Julie Dallas and husband Barry of Red Oak, Texas; along with many other beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

The family requests memorials be made to a favorite charity of choice.

Patricia Grady Thornberry, 100, of Clarendon, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025, in Memphis.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Viewing will be held at the funeral home on Friday, August 22 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Patricia Grady, the daughter of Don Nelson Grady and Jewel Kerbow Grady, was born at Clarendon, October 9, 1924. She was the descendant of early day pioneers who came to what would become Briscoe County and Donley County. She grew up at the family ranch in Briscoe County and at Clarendon. She belonged to the Clarendon First United Methodist Church. She attended school in Clarendon and graduated from Clarendon High School in 1942. Pat then attended TSCW (now Texas Woman’s University) where she received a BA degree in Business/Economics.

Pat married Bill Thornberry June 20, 1946, at the Little Chapel in the Woods, Denton, Texas. They lived in Clarendon two years before moving to the Grady ranch. She was the fourth generation of her family to live at the ranch, founded in 1898, and this is where they brought up their two sons. They farmed and ranched, later leasing the ranch from her parents. They raised commercial and registered Hereford cattle and belonged to the Texas Hereford Association, the American Hereford Association, and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raiser’s Association. In 2016 the family received the State of Texas Department of Agriculture’s Family Land Heritage Award for ownership and management of the ranch for 118 years. The fifth and sixth generations are continuing the Spike A Ranch legacy.

Pat had a lifelong interest in history and archaeology and belonged to the Clarendon Genealogy Society and the Clarendon Archaeology Society. She was also a member of Les Beaux Arts Club and the Scarlet Saints Chapter of the Red Hat Society.
Pat was devoted to God, her family, and the ranch.

She was preceded in death by Bill on December 16, 2010.

She is survived by two sons, Richard and wife, Leane, of Lubbock and William Don (Sandy) and wife, Bobbie, of Clarendon; grandchildren Trisha DuBose of Lubbock, Amy Thornberry of Clarendon, Seth Thornberry (Tara) of Dallas, and Carey Thornberry (Ashley) of Early; great-grandchildren Mia, Perry, and Phoebe DuBose; Evelyn and Minerva Thornberry; Hallie and Harper Thornberry and Hayden Welch; and nephews Mac, Drew, and Lance Thornberry and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 364, Clarendon, Texas 79226; Silverton Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 250, Silverton, Texas 79257; or to the charity of your choice.

Martha “Beth” Gillham, 85, of Austin, Texas, passed away on August 4, 2025, from complications of cancer, she was surrounded by loving friends.

Born on July 29, 1940, in Clarendon, Texas, Beth was the only child of John Rollins Gillham and Clara Alexander Gillham. From an early age, she stood out for her determination and spirit. As a girl, she could often be found at the West Texas Fat Stock Shows, proudly leading her entries and bringing home ribbons — the first of many honors in a life filled with accomplishment.

Beth’s love of learning carried her to Texas Tech University, where she earned her B.S. in Food & Nutrition and Home Economics Education. More importantly, she formed friendships that would last a lifetime, including Betsy Hanson, who became as close as a sister. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Nutrition from Iowa State University, where she met Harriett McCoy, another soul who became family.

In 1975, Beth moved to Austin to join the University of Texas as an Associate Professor of Human Ecology in the College of Natural Sciences. For the next 30 years, she poured her energy into teaching and mentoring, serving as Director of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics and guiding more than 400 dietitians into the profession. She supervised countless graduate students, offering not just academic guidance but life advice, encouragement, and the occasional gentle nudge to “get back on track.” She was dedicated to the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND), and was recognized by her peers, earning the prestigious Medallion Award in 1991. She served as chair of the AND Commission on Accreditation and Education Standards, where she earned her peers respect for her leadership and commitment to the excellence in the education of dietetic practitioners. She was also recognized for the 50-year Membership Award in 2013, and the Texas Dietitian of the Year in 1989.

Beth’s professional life was deeply entwined with personal connections. Upon arriving at UT, she found a mentor and friend in fellow professor Margaret Eppright but that was just one of many lifelong friendships she nourished. Beth also grew close to professors Phyllis Richards and Margaret Briley. Over time, Beth became the mentor and supported students-turned-professors-turned friends Monica Meadows and Lynn Davis who became like family.

Although Beth was an only child, she wove together a wide and loving family from her aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She stayed close to Harriett and Betsy’s families, and was a proud surrogate aunt to Kathryn (Vern) Hanson and Julie (Matt) Malwitz.

She believed family was as much about choice as about birth, and she chose generously. She cultivated her garden of friends by staying in touch by Zoom, phone and email with friends from her school days in Clarendon and Iowa State as well as her Alexander and Gillham cousins, former students and CPD faculty.

A devoted member of Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, Beth made many close friendships in the church family. She also volunteered on many committees, with a special fondness for the Finance Committee, where her sharp mind and steady hand were invaluable.

She had a zest for life outside of work and church, too. Beth was a loyal University of Texas sports fan, often spotted at the Lady Longhorns basketball games or cheering football from her living room. She loved water aerobics, reading, dominos, and bridge. She delighted in travel — both across the United States and internationally — with her beloved friends from the university and church. The ocean, especially, spoke to her soul, and she dreamed of one last cruise across the seas.

Beth will be remembered as a generous and unwavering leader, a wise and compassionate mentor, and a steadfast friend. She stood up for people who needed a voice, and behind her advocacy was quiet, consistent generosity. Her life was not only about what she accomplished, but about the people she lifted up along the way.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Clara Gillham; Harriett McCoy and Betsy Hanson. She is survived by Kathryn (Vern) Hanson; Julie (Matt) Malwitz; Monica (Rob) Meadows; Lynn Davis; Mary Frances Markley and Cathy Troutner.

A graveside service will be held on August 23 in Clarendon, Texas. A memorial service will be held in Austin at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church on November 15th at 1:00 p.m.

She was a special woman whose light and kindness touched many — and she will be deeply missed.

Memorial contributions may be made to Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, 7050 Village Center Dr., Austin, TX 78731; Habitat for Humanity, 8001 Cameron Rd., Austin, TX 78754; or online to Habitat for Humanity International.