Obituaries
Patricia “Pat” Sue Waller
Patricia “Pat” Sue Waller, 78 of Friona passed away December 30, 2019 in Amarillo. Viewing will be held Thursday, January 2, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home with Celebration of Life Services scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Friday, January 3, 2020 in the chapel with Rev. Gary Johnson, officiating. Burial following in the Holy Family Cemetery in Nazareth, Texas by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Pat was born November 1, 1941 in Weslaco, Texas to Clyde Lee and Nita Virginia Crooks Copeland. She later was a 1960 graduate of Dimmitt High School and attended West Texas State University where she majored in music and drama.
Pat started her family in 1964, but found time to continue her love for music, vocally and artistically as she continued to sing and paint. But she also continued her life of service as a teacher’s aide and a case worker for Child Protective Services.
She is preceded in death by her parents and 1 sister-Carole Wilson.
Those to carry on her legacy include- 5 daughters-Lisa Neill and husband Mark, Jennifer Baize and husband Robin of Friona, Cara Speer and Enrique Ronelas of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Laura Brockman of Frisco, Texas and Valerie Brockman and Brian Brogden of Amarillo, Texas 1 son-Nathan Brockman of Mountain View, Oklahoma, 2 sisters-Sandie Dolfini and husband Joe of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Kathie Burris and husband Rick of Maumelle, Arkansas, grandchildren-Tyson Neill, Chase Speer, Corbin Neill, Lindsey Beyers, Andrew Diaz, Thomas Speer, Logan Inmon, McKinley Brockman and Seth Greene, great-grandchildren-Trapper, Archer and Weston Neill, Adan and Aubrey Diaz, Brynlee, Sophee, Lillee and Carson Beyers, Angelina and Jonathan Speer.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online register book at: www.hansardfamily.com
Carlos Rosalio Olvera
Carlos Rosalio Olvera, 21 of Friona passed away December 30, 2019 at Umbarger. Viewing will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Friday, January 3, 2020 at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Friona,. Mass of Christian Burial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 4, 2020 at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church with Father Gregory Bunyan as Celebrant. Celebration of Life Services will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Friona Para Cristo Llamados a Conocerle Church in Friona with Pastor Aurelio Silva, officiating. Burial following in the Friona Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Carlos was born in Clovis, N.M. to Cynthia Perez. He was a 2016 graduate of Friona High School. He had a heart transplant at the age of 10 and was known as a fighter never giving up. He loved to work on cars and dance. He was loving, funny and always had a smile.
Those left behind to mourn his passing include his mother Cynthia Sanchez Martinez, 1 brother-Junior Alfredo Sanchez, grandparents-Gloria Morales de Perez, Rosalio Gabaldon Perez, uncle and aunt, Ruben and Imelda Saucedo, all of Friona, and uncle and aunt Ruben and Gloria Quezada of Hobbs, N.M, and cousins-Giselle, Yasmin, Ruben, and Jaime Quezada, Angel, Jaretzi and Ebany Saucedo.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online register book at: www.hansardfamily.com
Sarah Berniece Cooper
Sarah Berniece Cooper Owen. 81 of Friona passed from this mortal life on January 6th, 2020 in Friona, Texas. Viewing will be held Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. with family visitation 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. that evening in the Ron Smiley Memorial Chapel of HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona. Celebration of Life Services set for 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the Union Congregational Church, 1601 Euclid Ave. Friona, Texas with Pastor Randy Gomez of Clovis, officiating. Burial following in the Bovina Cemetery by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Best known as the long-time school nurse for Farwell, Bovina, and Lazbuddie schools, Sarah was pleased to have spent this Christmas season with widely scattered children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She spent a few days in the new year just to say she saw every decade, having been born in the ‘30s and died in the ‘20s, before departing this life. She was born January 18th, 1938 in Robstown, Texas to RL and Berniece (Harmon) Cooper. She attended Texas Lutheran College before going on to earn an RN in Nursing from University of Texas School of Nursing in 1961. She worked in several hospitals and medical services before becoming the beloved school nurse of Farwell, Bovina, and Lazbuddie schools during the 1980’s and ‘90s. A talented musician, she played the piano and organ for several local churches and served in musical and leadership capacity for the Bovina United Methodist Church. She was the Friona Chamber of Commerce woman of the year in 1970, then repeated that feat as the Bovina Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 1984. She helped with numerous civic organizations and activities, and she was on the Prairie Acres board in the mid 90s, and instrumental in founding Heritage Estates Assisted Living Center in Friona, where she resided at the end of her life. She assisted with the very first Summer Drama Workshop in Friona, and was camp nurse for Camp New Dawn at Ceta Canyon 1978-1984. Later in life, after moving to Clovis, she volunteered with the Lighthouse Mission and Beacon of Light Ministries, finding renewed purpose in service to these. She served as secretary for the Eastern New Mexico Pintores Art League and gave cheerfully to the Semper Fi Fund and USO. She had many extended church and work families, and love to spare for extended family of her own. It was her marriage to Dr Robert Alexander that brought her to Parmer County in 1965. It was 25 years of wedded bliss to Bob Owen that brought her to Bovina, until his death in 2002. And upon moving to Clovis, she found late-in-life love with partner and eventual husband Ed DesLauriers until his passing in 2012.
Her legacy is carried on in her children, Julie McCune (Steve), Robert Alexander (Theresa), Rod Owen (Lina), Cindy Alexander, Andy Alexander (Julia), 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She has 1 surviving brother, Johnnie Cooper (Barbara), the memories of her 3 brothers and sister who passed before, and the love of the entire Cooper-Harmon extended family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Beacon of Light Church, PO Box 952 Farwell, TX, or to the Semper Fi Fund, or the charity of your choice.
You may send condolences to the family and sign the online register book at: www.hansardfamily.com
Billie “Ruth” Tucker
Graveside service for Billie “Ruth” Tucker, age 84, of Muleshoe, Texas, is scheduled for 1:30 PM, Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler, Texas with Don Martin and Norman Jones officiating. Ruth went to be with her Lord on Monday, January 6, 2020 in Henderson, Texas. She was born June 4, 1935 in Wheeler to Lee and Polly Morris. She married Teddy Tucker in Pampa, Texas on September 2, 1956.
In 1944, Ruth moved with her family from Wheeler to Mobeetie, Texas, where she graduated from Mobeetie High School in 1954. She won many awards for basketball in high school and went on to play in one of the first semi-professional women’s leagues, the Dowell’s Dolls in Amarillo, Texas. After marrying Teddy, she worked for First National Bank in Pampa from 1956 until 1962. Teddy and Ruth moved to Friona in 1962, raising her kids until she returned to the workforce fulltime at Hi Pro Feeds and Animal Health from 1971 until 2001. In 1982, Ruth was recognized as the Most Courteous Employee by the Friona Chamber of Commerce. After retirement, she moved to Wheeler, where she and Teddy enjoyed the country life, raising cattle and having a large garden. She moved to Muleshoe in 2014. Ruth enjoyed sports, especially watching her children and grandchildren play, sewing, gardening and traveling. Ruth was a lifetime member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary, and the Muleshoe Primitive Baptist Church. She loved the Lord, her church, her family and friends. Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Teddy; her parents; and her 2 sisters, Faye Morris and Opal Henderson.
Ruth is survived by her son, Mark Tucker and his wife, Irene of Muleshoe, Texas; her daughter, Alesia Martin and her husband, Jason of Henderson, Texas; her 7 grandchildren, Mikel Tucker and his wife, Megan of Muleshoe, Texas; Stefan Tucker of Tahoka, Texas, Shelby Martin of Henderson, Texas, Dillon Martin of Henderson, Texas, Pam Smith of Spring, Texas, Becky Brooks of Dickinson, Texas and Carley Dampier of McLean, Texas; her 6 great-grandchildren, Rylee Tucker, Maddox Tucker, Regan Smith, Gunner Perry, River Dampier and Asher Brooks; and her special friends, Donita Martin, Laura Coffey and Charla Chesher.
Ruth said to her family, “I love you dearly. I hope you miss me, but grieve not for I am in God’s Hands and not suffering. God bless you all and see you in Heaven, where we will have front row seats to Women’s College Championship Basketball!”
The family suggests memorials be sent to the Muleshoe Senior Citizens, PO Box 292, Muleshoe, Texas, 79347 or the Mobeetie School Reunion Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.ellisfuneralhomes.com.
