Obituaries
Kenneth Robert Houlette
Kenneth Robert Houlette, 73, of Dumas, passed away on Tuesday May 29, 2018, in the care of Dumas Memorial Hospice. The memorial service was held at 2 o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at First Baptist Church with Vaughn Tatum, officiating. Rev. Jerry Howe and Dr. Howard Batson assisted. Arrangements were entrusted to Morrison Funeral Directors.
Robert was born in Clovis, New Mexico on May 15, 1945 to Kenneth and Ann Houlette. He was raised in Friona before moving to Dumas in 1960 where he was a member of the 1961 and 1962 Dumas Demon State Champion Football teams. Robert also competed at the Texas State Track Meet in 1963. He then went on to play football and run track at Panhandle A&M in Goodwell, OK where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Education. Robert married Deana Callihan in Springfield, Colorado on November 6, 1965. They moved to Dumas in 1967 where they raised their family. Robert retired from Mission Petroleum in 2012.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Wilbur Moore. He is survived by his wife Deana of Dumas; three children, Rex Houlette of Dumas, Deedra Lambert and husband Robby of Amarillo, and Dalea Tatum and husband Chris of Amarillo; two sisters, Lawana Moore of Amarillo and Joyce Houlette of Houston; and four grandsons, Delton Tatum and wife Jordan of Dallas, Tyler Lambert and wife Katrina, of Amarillo, Max Tatum and wife Haylee of Ft. Worth, and Jake Lambert of Amarillo.
Robert was an avid golfer and could be seen many days at the coffee shop. He was passionate about donating blood at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center in Amarillo where he gave hundreds of units of blood that were typically used in pediatric transfusions. His love for his family was fierce, but his pride and joy were his grandsons. His job as PaPa was what he was most proud of.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Memorial Hospice, 224 E 2nd, Dumas TX 79029.
Raymond Schlabs
Raymond Schlabs, longtime Hereford resident, went home to be with his Lord Thursday, July 12th, 2018 at the age of 88.
Mr. Schlabs was born on December 15th, 1929 to August and Teresa (Heck) Schlabs in Scotland, Texas. He went to school in Friona TX, then came to Hereford in 1941. After he graduated high school, he served in the U.S. Army, spending one year in Korea in 1951 and another year in Washington, D.C. in 1952. He had met the love of his life, Mary Hund Schlabs at the St. Anthony Church Youth Group and the two were later married October 6, 1954.
Raymond was a farmer all his life. He began farming in the Summerfield-Black community and moved to the current farm in Hereford in 1964. He was dedicated to family, Church, and community. Mr. Schlabs held various positions in the St. Anthony Parish Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, holding the positions of Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator. He was also a board member of the Hereford Chamber of Commerce, the Hereford ISD School Board, and the Texas Corn Growers Board. He was named Deaf Smith County Ag Man of the year in 1987. He was also an accomplished pilot and took the time to fly his plane whenever he could in his spare time.
Mr. Schlabs is preceded in death by his parents, and by his son Kenneth Schlabs.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Mary, his children: Raymond Jr. and wife Charla Schlabs, Tom and wife Joyce Schlabs, Karen and husband Lance Martin, Barbara and late husband Michael Franks, all of Hereford, Texas, Donna and husband Mike Henry of Mansfield, Texas, daughter-in-law Melissa Schlabs (late husband Kenneth Schlabs) of Hereford, Texas, and Cheryl and husband Kevin Johnson, of Clarendon, Texas. His brothers Charles and wife Geraldine Schlabs of Hereford, Texas, and Edmund Schlabs of Summerfield, Texas also survive him. Raymond leaves behind 24 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Anthony’s School Endowment Fund
Services are under the direction of Hereford Heritage Funeral Home.
