HAPPY - Layne Mercer, 16, died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2002, in New Mexico. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church of Canyon with the Rev. Curtis House, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Happy, and the Rev. Paul Burwash, pastor of First Baptist Church of Happy, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors. Miss Mercer was born Jan. 14, 1986, in Amarillo to Tim and Jackie Allison Mercer. She attended Canyon schools through the eighth grade and then became a Happy Cowgirl. She was active in Happy Cowgirl basketball, cross country and was sophomore class vice-president, president of FFA and homecoming flame queen. She was a regional qualifier in golf. She was a member of Randall County 4-H and was active in stock shows. She was affiliated with First Baptist Church of Happy and Methodist Church youth groups. She was a free spirit and surely will be missed. Survivors include her parents of Canyon; a sister, Timberly Mercer of Canyon; her grandparents, Jack Allison of Dalhart and Dub and Jontha Mercer of Lockney; and two uncles, Joe Allison of Dalhart and Dan Mercer of Canyon.  Amarillo Globe-News, 6 August 2002.

Betty Sue Moore, 70, died Sunday, March 31, 2002.  Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Karol Smith, pastor of First Christian Church, and the Rev. Tommy Ewing officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.  Mrs. Moore was born Nov. 18, 1931, in Swisher County. She was a member of First Christian Church.  Survivors include a sister, Anna Belle Schacher of Tulia; and a brother, T.W. Moore Jr. of Tulia.  Amarillo Globe-News, 2 April 2002.

TULIA - O.V. Morris, 82, died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rob Lindley, pastor, and the Rev. Tommy Ewing officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Morris married Emily McAnally on May 11, 1940, in Post. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sheran Childress and Orvillia Tucker, both of Tulia; a son, Joe Don Morris of Amarillo; a brother, D.C. Morris of Post; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.  Amarillo Globe-News, 27 February 2002.

HAPPY - Gladys Null, 92, died Monday, Nov. 11, 2002, in Amarillo. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Brooks Funeral Directors Chapel with the Rev. Lance Wood, pastor of First Baptist Church of Miami, and Chad Horton, director of pastoral care of Bivins Foundation, officiating. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Mrs. Null was born March 19, 1910, to John and Pearl Stovall Kemper in Wheeler County. She graduated from Tulia High School in 1930. She attended Wayland Baptist College. She married George Russell Null in December 1933. They lived and farmed near Friona, Wheeler, Wellington, Tulia and Happy.The family wished to extend a special thanks to all the wonderful and caring people at Bivins Memorial Nursing Home and Crown of Texas Hospice. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Albert Null; her parents; two brothers, Marvin and Ray Kemper; and a sister, Vera Auippa. Survivors include a daughter, Effie Harle and husband, Bill, of Vega; two sisters, Theresa Wilson and husband, Clarence, of Amarillo, and Opal Bice of Tulia; five grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 29 nieces and nephews.  Amarillo Globe-News, 13 November, 2002.

TULIA - Zuleika O'Daniel, 90, died Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mrs. O'Daniel was born Dec. 20, 1911, in Castro County near Hart. Her parents were Robert and Mary Lou Kendrick. She lived in the Hart community until she married Dick O'Daniel on Sept. 23, 1929. They lived in Hart where Dick worked for his brother, J.D. O'Daniel, who owned Magnolia Oil Co. They later purchased farm land in the Lakeview community, west of Tulia. In 1951 the O'Daniels built their home in Tulia and moved into town. Zuleika was actively involved in city, county and state activities. Known as "Mrs. Democrat" in Swisher County, she served as Democratic Committee Woman for six years. Mrs. O'Daniel served two years on the City Council in Tulia, always keeping an ongoing list of things which needed to be done, many of which were accomplished. For example, she was active on Tulia's Beautification Committee as she promoted care for the large park near her home and other recreation areas. Zuleika O'Daniel was selected Woman of the Year by Tulia Chamber of Commerce in 1972. Later she was honored as Pioneer Woman of the Year in 1999. Always active at First Baptist Church, Zuleika served 30 years as secretary of the Sunday School Department for 9-year-old children. She was a great help to her neighbors. Many children of several generations played in the basement of her home and in her large yard. Her attitude was that of a loving grandparent. She was preceded in death by her husband on Nov. 21, 1988; a brother, Marcelus Kendrick; a sister, Robbie Jones; and her parents. Survivors include a daughter, Donna Vander Zee of San Antonio; a brother, Kellough Kendrick of Waco; two grandsons, Dan Vander Zee and wife, Kathy, of Granbury and Dirk Vander Zee and wife, Sarah, of St. Louis, Mo.; five great-grandchildren, Lindsey Vander Zee, Lacey Vander Zee and Lilley Vander Zee, all of Granbury, and J.D. Vander Zee and Eden Vander Zee, both of St. Louis; several nieces and nephews; and many friends whose lives were enriched by having known her.  Amarillo Globe-News, 25 October 2002.

TULIA - Ruben A. Pacheco, 53, died Monday, Nov. 11, 2002, in Amarillo. Prayer services will be at 6 p.m. today in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Matthew Garcia and the Rev. Gilbert Del Toro officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Pacheco was born July 23, 1949, in Colonia, Esperansa, Mexico. He worked for Caprock Feedyard in Lockney for several years as a load operator. Survivors include his wife, Olga; two daughters, Elvira Pacheco and Arecelli Pacheco, both of Tulia; eight sons, Ruben Pacheco Jr. of Plainview, Richard Pacheco, Asael Pacheco, Roman Pacheco and Emanuel Pacheco, all of Tulia, and Ernest Pacheco, Saul Pacheco and Felix Pacheco, all of Amarillo; his father, Salvador Pacheco Sr. of Las Cruces, N.M.; three brothers, Reynaldo Pacheco, Salvador Pacheco Jr. and Miguel Valles; three sisters, Rosa Ochoa, Anne Arros and Eva Garcia; and nine grandchildren.  Amarillo Globe-News, 13 November 2002.

HAPPY - Ferne Eleanor Francy Patching, 95, died Friday, June 21, 2002.  Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Happy Cemetery with Thacker Haynes, pastor of McLean United Methodist Church, officiating. Arrangements are by Holley Funeral Home.  Mrs. Patching was born May 26, 1907, in Bennett, Iowa, to Joseph and Electa Ann Francy. She moved with her family by rail train to Happy when she was 9 months old.  She attended school at Childress and Sunny Slope country schools before the school opened in Happy. She also attended Canyon Normal School. She married Edgar T. Patching on Sept. 1, 1926.  A pioneer woman in Swisher County, she was a housewife and active in community activities. She was a founding member of the Presbyterian Church in Happy.  She was a member of The Woman's Study Club, Happy Music Club, Eastern Star and Presbyterian Women. After her husband passed away in 1959, she worked at Warren's Department Store in Canyon and became a dorm director at West Texas State University and Northern Arizona University.  She moved to Tulia in 1983, where she was very active in Swisher County Senior Citizens. She led their exercise classes until she was 86 years old. She moved to McLean Care Center in 1999.  She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Bob, in 1984; four sisters, Nell Jordan, Gladys Francy, Faye Wheeler and Joyce Deal; and a brother, Robert Francy.  Survivors include a daughter, Joann Odom and husband, Pete, of Happy; a daughter-in-law, Joyce Patching of Happy; five grandchildren, Neal Odom and wife, Beverly, of McLean, Kyle Odom and wife, Tricia, of Decatur, Kevin Odom and wife, Tresa, of Shallowater, Gary Barrett and wife, Brenda, of Canyon and Teri Witten of Texarkana; and 13 great-grandchildren.  Amarillo Globe-News, 23 June 2002.

HAPPY - George Raymond Penn, 70, died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church of Canyon with the Rev. Paul Burwash, pastor of First Baptist Church of Happy, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors. Mr. Penn was born in Happy to Bill and Alice Penn on April 30, 1932. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Happy. He served in the armed forces from 1952 to 1954 and was in the Korean War. He received a good conduct medal and national defense service medal. He was a loving husband, father, granddad, brother, uncle and friend. The family would like to thank the BSA Hospice Staff. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Tommy Leslie Penn; two sisters, Mary Alice Penn and Willie Faye Noel; and a grandson, Ricky Lynn Kincade. Survivors include his wife, Sue; three daughters, Debra Kincade and husband, Charles, of Panhandle, Shirley Calhoun and husband, Eugene, of Amarillo and Brenda Penn of Canyon; a son, Derick Collins and wife, Sondra, of Amarillo; a granddaughter, Sheryl Chavez and husband, Terry, of Tucumcari, N.M.; a grandson, Dustin Penn of Canyon; a sister, Charlotte Weavers of Happy; two brothers, Bill Penn and wife, Sandra, of Amarillo and David Penn and wife, Kay, of Sulphur Springs.  Amarillo Globe-News, 12 November 2002.

HAPPY - Johnny Dean Phillips, 60, died Friday, May 17, 2002. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Memorial Chapel of Happy with the Rev. Curtis House, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Happy, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors. Mr. Phillips was born June 27, 1941, in Woods County, Okla., to John and Delilah Rink Phillips. He worked at Roll A Cone for 30 years and had been a resident of Happy for 40 years. Survivors include his wife, Marie; a daughter, Kathy Keith of DeLeon; three sons, J.D. Phillips of Happy, and Freddy Phillips and Jimmy Phillips, both of Amarillo; two stepdaughters, Robin Stegall of Wichita, Kan., and Rena Gortney of Woodward, Okla.; and 12 grandchildren.  Amarillo Globe-News, 19 May 2002.

TULIA - Felipe Enostrosa Ramirez, 66, died Tuesday, April 23, 2002, in Amarillo.  Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Gilbert Del Toro, pastor of Church of the Comforter, the Rev. Rusty Gray, pastor of Tulia Christian Fellowship, and the Rev. Benny Rodriguez, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home.  Mr. Ramirez was born Feb. 5, 1936, in Crowell. He married Micalia Luera on Nov. 19, 1955, in Tulia.  Survivors include his wife; three sons, Oscar Phillip Ramirez of Kress, and Richard Ricky Ramirez and Victor Ramirez, both of Tulia; six brothers, Antonio Ramirez Rocha of Knox City, Frank Esparza, Jesse Esparza and Juan Ramon Esparza, all of Amarillo, Ray Esparza of Canyon and Jose Luis Ramirez of Dallas; six sisters, Lupe Luna of Bonita Springs, Fla., Estella Salazar of Plano, Mary Marquiz of Happy, Sylvia Ramirez and Elva Moreno, both of Tulia, and Angie De La Rosa of Amarillo; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.  Amarillo Globe-News, 25 April 2002.

TULIA - Noah Rios, infant son of Chris and Claudia Rios Jr., died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, in Amarillo. Services will be at 3 p.m. today in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mariano Moreno, pastor of El Buen Pastor Spanish United Methodist Church of Tulia, and the Rev. Ricky Salazar, pastor of Church of God in Tulia, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Noah was born March 16, 2002, in Amarillo. Survivors include his parents of Amarillo; and his grandparents, Eleazar and Sarah Medina of Tulia, and Chris and Modesta Rios Sr. of Tulia.  Amarillo Globe-News, 11 April 2002.

TULIA - Curtis Shivers, 39, died Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Church of God in Christ Jackson Chapel with the Rev. Henry Jackson, pastor, and the Rev. Melvin Tatum officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery by Wallace Funeral Home. Mr. Shivers was born Oct. 20, 1963, in Lubbock. He married Sherri Powell on March 21, 1987, in Tulia. Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Shayla Shivers of Tulia and Sameria Smith of Floydada; a son, Terrance Powell of Tulia; his mother, Charlie Mae Shivers of Lubbock; two brothers, Michael Shivers of Lubbock and James Shivers Jr. of Dallas; five sisters, Patricia Shivers and Gloria Russell, both of Abilene, Demetria Shivers and Katrice Shivers, both of Lubbock, and Wanda Perry of Houston; and his grandmother, Jesse Mae Parker of Calvert.  Amarillo Globe-News, 28 November 2002.

Theo Hood Stratton Spilman, 100, died Friday, April 19, 2002, in Amarillo.  Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Wallace Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Davenport, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.  Mrs. Spilman was born Oct. 8, 1901, in Hempstead County, Ark. She attended schools in Hempstead and moved to Swisher County in 1920. She was married to George A. Stratton from 1926 to 1949. She then married John C. Spilman on Aug. 26, 1967, in Amarillo.  She was preceded in death by both husbands; and a daughter, Janie Stratton Martin Lee.  Survivors include two daughters, Genevia Stratton Dunn and Juanita Spilman Tucker, both of Amarillo; two sons, Kawahu "Snort" Stratton of Fritch and Tom G. Stratton of South Fork, Colo.; eight grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.  Amarillo Globe-News, 20 April 2002.

TULIA - James A. Standridge, 76, died Friday, April 12, 2002. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Calvary Baptist Church of Tulia with the Rev. Scott Hensley, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery of Tulia by Wallace Funeral Home of Tulia. Mr. Standridge was born March 14, 1926, in Atkins, Ark. In 1964, he started Standridge Pump Co. which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1996. Survivors include his wife, Betty; a daughter, Brenda Mitchell of Plainview; and a grandson.  Amarillo Globe-News, 15 April 2002.

HAPPY- Dozier Thornton, 78, died Wednesday, April 10, 2002. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Burwash, pastor, Bob Miller, pastor of South Georgia Baptist Church in Amarillo, and Rick Bloodworth, minister of Happy Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home of Canyon. Mr. Thornton was born May 15, 1923, in Joplin, to Oscar Heath Thornton and Verna Mae Hayse. He married Betty Jane Welch on Sept. 11, 1945, in Seymour. The past 47 years they lived and farmed in the Happy community. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Happy. He served in the Navy armed guard during World War II. His favorite hobby was playing "42" with friends and family along with reading, hunting and fishing. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Leonida Cleveland of Amarillo, Lana Beth Stevenson of Canyon and Megayla O'Rear of Azle; a brother, Jack Thornton of Tulia; two sisters, Ludie Martin of Malakoff and Ned Gilbreath of Yantis; four grandchildren, Jim Stevenson of Clarendon, Tommy Stevenson of Friona, Sam Stevenson of Canadian and Kristie Cleveland of Austin; and two great-grandchildren.  Amarillo-Globe News, 11 April 2002.

James Perry Timmons, 74, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, in Amarillo.  Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in Happy Chapel with the Rev. Paul Burwash, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Private burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon by Holley Funeral Home.  Mr. Timmons was born Sept. 6, 1927, in Sentinel, Okla. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BBA in 1955. He started his career as a hospital administrator in 1957 at Bexar County Hospital District in San Antonio.  He was preceded in death by his first wife Laura Timmons in 1995.  Survivors include his wife, Allene; three sons, Paul Timmons of North Richland Hills, Mark Timmons of Amarillo and Ross Brown of Fritch; four daughters, Terri D. Timmons of Odessa, Carol Yirak of Canyon, Charlotte Stephens of Panhandle, and Beverly Johnston of Fritch; a brother, Roy Timmons of Locus Grove, Va.; a sister, Ann Hosek of Wayne, Okla.; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Amarillo Globe-News, 8 August 2002.

HAPPY - Vincent J. Venhaus, 60, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2002. Prayer services will be at 6 p.m. today in Happy's Memorial Chapel. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Holy Name Catholic Church of Happy with the Rev. Dennis Boylan, pastor of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Brooks Funeral Directors of Happy. Mr. Venhaus was born on June 30, 1941, to Albert and Marie Venhaus in Canyon. He married Kaye Baker on Feb. 26, 1960, in Amarillo. He was a lifetime farmer and rancher. He was currently serving as a City Commissioner of Happy and was a 20-year member of the Jaycees of Happy. He was also a member of the Holy Name Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his father, Albert Venhaus; and a sister, Norma Huseman. Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Vicky Buckelew and husband, Terry, and Connie Osmanski and husband, Mike, all of Happy, and Carry Schacher and husband, Ivan, of Stapleton, Neb.; a son, Vincent Ray Venhaus and wife, Kristy, of Royse City; his mother, Marie Venhaus of Dumas; three sisters, Bernice Hoelting of Nazareth and Irene Huseman and Joyce Wethington, both of Dumas; three brothers, Cecil Venhaus and Clyde Venhaus, both of Dumas, and Lloyd Venhaus of Amarillo; and 13 grandchildren, Jennifer Venhaus, Heather Venhaus, Matthew Venhaus, Mitchell Venhaus, Tara Kleman, Justin Kleman, Kelcee Kleman, Tyler Schacher, Tiffany Schacher, Tanner Schacher, Terence Schacher, Jacie Osmanski and Chanlar Osmanski.  Amarillo Globe-News, 6 January 2002.