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John Roberts Butler
John Roberts Butler, 70, died Tuesday, July 26, 2011, with his wife Betty at his side after a nine-month battle with liver cancer.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 30, at First United Methodist Church of Gilmer with graveside services following at Humboldt Cemetery in Commerce, Texas.
John was born on February 4, 1941, in Memphis, Texas, to Luther and Rachael (Roberts) Butler of Lelia Lake, Texas.
He attended Lelia Lake schools and Clarendon College. John married in 1959 and had two children—Janice and Robert. He was a Texas Highway Patrolman for five years, was an insurance agency owner for 37 years, and was recently retired.
John married the love of his life Betty Ostenson of Greenville on August 31, 2003. John was a 32nd-degree Mason and member of the Clarendon Lodge #700 AF & AM. He served on the Board of Directors of the Gilmer Country Club and his favorite activity for the last year was staying in his RV with his wife at Johnson Creek on Lake O’ The Pines.
John is survived by his beloved wife of eight years, Betty Butler; daughter and son-in-law Janice and Terry Maragakis of Dallas; sons and daughter-in-law.
Robert and Shari Butler of Leander, Texas and Matt Lane of Gilmer; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Mike Gilger of Perryton ; brother, Jimmy Butler of Corpus Christi; five grandchildren, Shea, Austin, Rachael, Alex and Brian; two great grandchildren and many wonderful sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Please leave online condolences at www.croleyfh.net
Blessing from above
Flare up
Splish splash!
Hometown Mission
Running from their doorsteps, smiling children rush to receive their bag lunches from volunteers assisting with the Christ Kids Summer Lunch Program.
Lunch deliverer Janet Carter said this is why the program is so rewarding, and what keeps volunteers gathering at the Clarendon Body of Christ Church Monday through Friday to make, assemble and deliver 500 meals a week to children in need.
“The kids of our community are extremely appreciative along with their parents for the help this program gives them,” Carter said. “Those of us who help prepare and deliver the lunches receive so much more in return.”
The program began the first day of summer and will stop when school begins. Last June, the program delivered 2,008 meals to children.
Program workers include Laura Paul, cook; Janet Carter, deliverer; Bobby Ellerbrook, deliverer; and Chrischell Bento, assembler. Other volunteers come from the Assembly of God, First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, and St. Stephen’s Baptist Church. The Agape Christian Church, Assembly of God, Presbyterian Church and many individuals have donated to the program.
If you would like to volunteer with the Christ Kids Summer Lunch Program, visit the Body of Christ Church, located on 5th and McClelland at 9:30 a.m. on Monday – Friday. To make a donation, contact Janet Carter at 806-874-2007.
“Anyone who would like to share in this blessing is welcome,” Carter said. “The program can always use more hands, feet, donations, and prayers.”
Marvin Day Thompson
Marvin Day Thompson, 67, died Thursday, July 14, 2011, in Clarendon.
Services were held Monday, July 18, in the Clarendon Church of Christ with Brad Thompson, Jerry Keeley, and Justin Thompson, officiating. A private family burial will be in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Marvin Day Thompson, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away unexpectedly at the age of 67 on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. At the time of his passing he was involved in one of his favorite pastimes – working in his barn. He was born on July 17, 1943, in Guymon, Okla., to Albert Day Thompson and Marcetas Loi Tracy. He was a great man of faith who daily lived it.
He was an active member of the Clarendon Church of Christ for over 36 years where he served as a deacon and was involved with worship assemblies and various ministries, including his great passion for the Mission Work on the Navajo Reservation.
He was married to his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Naveta Sue Browning, for 50 years. He began his career as an Inspector with Pantex Plant in 1969. He retired 35 years later from Pantex as the Classification Officer. After retirement he continued to work on a contract basis with various Department of Energy (DOE)
Contractors throughout the United States, including Pantex, up until the day of his death. He, Sue and their three children moved from Amarillo to Clarendon to enjoy the country life in 1975. He remained a resident, serving the Clarendon community he loved for the rest of his life. He was a current and active member of the Clarendon
ISD Board. He was a sports enthusiast all his life and you couldn’t find a more dedicated Clarendon Bronco, Bulldog, and Texas Tech Red Raider fan.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his son Richard Lynn Thompson, who passed away on May 8, 2007.
Surviving are his wife Sue Thompson of Clarendon; his children, Brad Thompson wife Karen of Canyon, and Susan Keeley and husband Jerry of Pinetop, Ariz.; his brother, Jerry Thompson of Calistoga, Calif.; his grandchildren Kathryn Morrow, Justin Thompson and wife Catherine, Hali Thompson, Krista Keeley and Kali Keeley; his great-grandchild Shylee Morrow; He also remains beloved by sisters-in-law Patty and Tippy Browning of Lamesa; brothers-in-law Bill Browning and wife Susan of Amarillo and Sam Browning and wife Linda of Miami, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.
For those wishing to do so, the family suggests that memorials be made to The Hali Project – 26551 Newton Road, Canyon, TX 79015 or the Clarendon Church of Christ Navajo Missions, PO Box 861, Clarendon, TX 79226.
Game face
Summer job
Local firemen battle several July wildfires
Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department First Assistant Chief Jeremy Powell says eight city units responded to the big fire on the Finch Ranch and Quail Trail Ranch on July 13, and firemen were on the scene from 2:06 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Hedley responded with three units, and assistance also came from Wellington, Memphis, and Samnorwood.
Donley County Precincts #1, #3, and #4 sent motor graders, and TxDOT responded with
three motor graders and three dozers. The Texas and US forest services responded with Task Force 16 based out of Childress consisting of two dozers and two engines. Air Attack out of Amarillo responded and directed two SEATS (Single Engine Air Tankers) that were based out of the Childress Airport.
Clarendon EMS assisted with firefighter rehab, and the Donley County Sheriff’s Office and Constable Doug Wright assisted with traffic and incoming mutual aid units.
Powell said the grass fire was started by a lightning storm that occurred on July 11 and 12. The Finch Ranch headquarters was threatened by this fire. Clarendon firemen while on the scene also responded to a second fire caused by lightning on the Finch Ranch, which was still smoldering.
The Clarendon Firebelles handled food and drinks for all involved. Several local ranchers also assisted with this fire.
“The Clarendon Fire Department greatly appreciates and relies on the help and support of the public and is accepting donations of bottled drinking water and Gatorade which may be dropped off at Clarendon City Hall or given to any of our members,” Powell said.
“Financial support is always greatly appreciated as well as the cost of these recent fires has been estimated at $14,489 for Clarendon VFD alone which includes supplies and operating cost of our fire trucks,” he said.
Powell said his department also asks the public to remember the Hedley and Howardwick departments as well as our neighboring departments that support them whenever they need help.
Earlier in the month, the Clarendon VFD was dispatched to a fire on Tim Merrill’s property on FM 2162 on July 9. Firemen were dispatched at 4:10 p.m. and were on the scene until 9:30 p.m. The grass fire started by lightning and burned approximately 40 acres. Several home and outbuildings were threatened but not damaged. Clarendon VFD responded with eight units assisted by Donley County Precincts #1 and #4 motor graders. The Associated Ambulance Authority, Donley County Sheriff’s Office and Texas DPS also assisted.
Also on July 9, the department was dispatched at 9:30 p.m. to County Road UU in Briscoe County to assist the Silverton Fire Department with a grass fire started by lightning which burned approximately 150 acres. One home and several outbuildings were threatened. Clarendon responded to the mutual aid call with five units and were on the scene until midnight, and Memphis and Turkey also assisted.
Another grass fire on July 11 along CR E and SH 273 south of McLean was also started by lightning and burned approximately 125 acres. Clarendon responded with five units and was assisted by Hedley and McLean. Volunteer firemen were dispatched at 7:10 p.m. and were on scene until midnight.
In the early morning hours of July 12, Clarendon volunteer firemen were called to CR P and CR 12, just east of Sawyer Hay Farms and the Greenbelt Water Authority Filter Plant where a grass fire had been started by lightning. Approximately 55 acres burned, and firemen were dispatched at 2:38 a.m. and were on scene until 6 a.m.
Clarendon responded with seven units and was assisted by Howardwick and Donley County Precincts #1 and #4 motor graders and one TxDOT motor grader. This fire threatened the Greenbelt Water Authority facilities on State Hwy 70.
“The fire department received multiple more calls of lightning fires during this fire but thankfully they were put out by rain,” Powell reported.
Citizens are still urged to remain very vigilant when it comes to preventing wildfires. Donley County, and indeed most of the state, remains under a burn ban as hot, dry conditions persist.
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