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PITT, James Eldon: 1917 – 2011
James Eldon Pitt passed away December 18, 2011 at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He was 94 years old. He was born June 21, 1917 in Quanah, Texas to Emmett Everett and Patsy Loemma (Martin) Pitt. He was predeceased by his former wife, Harriett (Philmus) Pitt, his sister, Mable Clay of Quanah and Milton Pitt of Cedar Hill, Texas.
Mr. Pitt is survived by his sister, Patsy Frasier, of Grapevine, Texas; his three children, David, of Ghent, N.Y., Timothy and his wife Lisa of Putnam Valley, N.Y., Debra of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and three grandchildren, Denielle, of Washington, D.C., and Katharine and James, both of Manhattan.
Mr. Pitt’s abiding love of music brought him a measure of fame during his undergraduate days at the University of Texas, where he began to develop his talents as a jazz guitarist and singer/songwriter, performing at clubs in Austin with his big band, Jimmy Pitt’s Knights of Note, and in a campus variety show called “Time Staggers On.”
Mr. Pitt first came to New York in 1946 as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he wrote for Stars and Stripes. A year later, he joined Time magazine as a contributing editor, rising through the ranks to become the company’s first director of corporate public relations.
He often returned to Quanah to visit family and attend high school reunions.
A long-time public relations executive, he campaigned to persuade fellow PR professionals that their relevance in a democracy hinged on their willingness to address urgent social issues.
Mr. Pitt’s views about the potentially constructive role of public relations took root in 1951, when Henry R. Luce, Time’s co-founding publisher, personally assigned him to interview Everett R. Clinchy, the newly appointed head of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
The NCCJ—founded in 1928 in response to the anti-Catholic sentiments that attended Al Smith’s presidential campaign – wanted Luce to supply a young writer to prepare a brochure on the organization. The NCCJ, whose founders included Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, had recently broadened its mission, bringing diverse groups together to address interfaith divisions, race relations and social and economic injustice. It is now known as the National Conference for Community and Justice.
Mr. Pitt’s work with Clinchy marked the beginning of three decades of what he called a “rewarding and treasured collaboration.” The brochure grew into Mr. Pitt’s first book, a history of the NCCJ titled Adventures in Brotherhood (Farrar, Straus & Company 1955).
In 1967, as chairman of the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Mr. Pitt invited a succession of distinguished luncheon speakers, including New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay and the psychologist Kenneth B. Clark, to discuss how public relations professionals could help shine a spotlight on the problems of the cities in an especially turbulent decade.
“Public relations practitioners have long been criticized for a failure to show sufficient interest in the world around them,” Saturday Review magazine said in an editorial at the close of his chairmanship. “Pitt’s greatest contribution is the emphasis on public service by Chapter members.”
Mr. Pitt’s efforts later earned him a PRSA Gold Anvil award.
Mr. Pitt remained active following his retirement from Time Inc., working in Washington to promote the National Program for Voluntary Action in 1969. He later returned to New York to work at the Community Service Society.
In 1963, Mr. Pitt was the chief organizer of Time magazine’s 40th anniversary dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, to which the magazine had invited virtually everyone who had ever been on its cover. The wall-to-wall celebrity gala drew 284 guests of honor, 228 media representatives and an audience of 1,668. Bob Hope, the master of ceremonies, said from the dais that “I’ve attended a few affairs in my life – but never anything like this.”
In his later years, Mr. Pitt devoted his public relations expertise to promoting the Jazz Ministry at St Peter’s Lutheran Church in midtown Manhattan, where he worked closely with John Garcia Gensel, Pastor to the Jazz Community and the moving force behind the yearly church extravaganza known as All-Nite Soul.
His yearly gifts to family and friends were cleverly crafted birthday limericks or original ditties delivered over the phone to the tune of his trusty guitar. He had a happy, generous and loving soul.
A memorial service is planned.
SWINDELL, Charles Bryan: 1941 – 2012
Charles Bryan Swindell, 70, of Childress, died Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, in Quanah Memorial Park with Joe Milligan, Joe Minkley and Gary Swindell officiating. Arrangements were by Johnson Funeral Home of Childress.
He was born May 7, 1941, in Quanah, a son of Bryan and Reba Trammell Swindell. He married Kathy Milligan on May 28, 1960, in Quanah.
Survivors include his wife, of Childress; two daughters, Darla Felton of Childress and Karla Minkley of Claude; a brother, Gary Swindell of Childress; two sisters, Karen Swindell and Camilla Browder of Quanah; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The online guest book may be signed at www.johnsonfunerals.net.
CLAWSON, W.C. “Bill”: 1926 – 2012
W.C. “Bill” Clawson, age 85, of Quanah, Texas, went home to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 15, 2012, in Quanah, Texas.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church with Rev. Wayne Hollinshead officiating. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Quanah.
Mr. Clawson was born on July 26, 1926 and was the son of the late W.W. and Novella (Mote) Clawson. He left school shortly before graduation to join the U.S. Navy in order to serve his country during World War II. Many years later he was honored by a ceremony at Sulphur Bluff High School, Sulphur Bluff, Texas, where he was awarded his high school diploma. He and Joan Major were married on April 17, 1948, in Vernon, Texas, and they rode the Zephyr back home to Quanah. In 2008 the Zephyr returned to Quanah and Bill and Joan met the Zephyr to celebrate their 60th anniversary at the Quanah, Acme & Pacific Railroad Depot where both had worked since 1946. He was a resident of Quanah since 1946 and a retired conductor of the QA&P Railroad for 36 years. He was a former employee of Georgia-Pacific for four years and also retired Mid-Tex security guard at the Georgia-Pacific plant. He was a member of the First Christian Church and the Quanah Masonic Lodge #689 AF&AM, American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was preceded in death by great-grandson Taylor Wiseman in 2008 and three brothers, J.B., Charmie, and Oscar Clawson.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Clawson of Quanah; two daughters, Kathy Jowers and husband Earl of Quanah, Texas, and Vicki King of Wichita Falls, Texas; a sister, Jean Stewart and husband Hollis of Decatur, Texas; three grandsons, James Gresham of Wichita Falls, Texas, Jeremy Jowers and wife Charity of Seymour, Texas, and Kevan Jowers and wife Rebecca of Iowa Park, Texas; and five great-grandchildren, Jay, Erik, Joshua, Joseph and Benjamin Jowers. He was also survived by many dear friends and family members too numerous to mention.
Family visitation will be from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Family suggests memorials may be given to the First Christian Church, P.O. Box 356, Quanah, Texas 79252, or the Veterans Fund in care of First Capital Bank, Quanah, Texas.
ALLEN, Nathan Daniel: 1947 – 2012
Nathan Daniel Allen, 64, of Manitou, Okla., died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Okla.
Allen was born May 18, 1947, in Quanah, a son of Nathan Levi and Minnie (Sharp) Allen. He married Irellia Jones on Jan. 22, 1994, in Odell. The couple lived on Lake Frederick near Manitou for the past four years, where he enjoyed fishing and camping. Allen was known for being Santa’s helper and collecting Toys for Tots. He helped the Snyder, Okla., fire department deliver food and toys to the needy. He also was a cotton farmer for 25 years, and then went to work as a truck driver until his retirement in 2003.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1972.
Survivors include his wife, of the home; his mother; two sons, Loren “Bud” Allen and Bill Allen of Quanah; two step-daughters, Kymberli Read and Krystal Holt; a step-son, Glen “Bo” Gilliam; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
WHITMIRE, Bernice Lee: 1925 – 2012
Bernice Lee Whitmire, 87, of Quanah, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, in Quanah. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, in Quanah Memorial Park with the Rev. Joseph Jones, minister of First Baptist Church of Quanah, officiating. Burial will be under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Quanah.
She was born Jan. 18, 1925, in Rotan, a daughter of the late Barnie Owen and Audie Valeria (Jenkins) Weems. She was a 1943 graduate of Hobbs High School at Rotan and moved to Quanah the following fall. A longtime resident of Quanah, she married Edward Taylor Whitmire Jr. on April 13, 1945, in Quanah. He preceded her in death on Feb. 26, 1999. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the BYKOTA Sunday School Class. She was a former employee of the Quanah school cafeteria and was a retired employee of the Quanah Tribune-Chief.
She was preceded in death by a son, Owen Lee Whitmire, on July 1, 2001, and by a sister, Helen Parks, on Dec. 1, 1997.
Survivors include two daughters, Edna Whitmire and Carol Whitmire, both of Quanah; one granddaughter; and one great-grandson.
Memorials may be made to a favorite charity.
HUTCHENS, Avis Lee: 1920 – 2012
Avis Lee Hutchens, 92, of Quanah, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, in Wichita Falls. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Quanah with the Rev. Joseph Jones, minister of First Baptist Church of Quanah, officiating. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Smith Funeral Home.
She was born Jan. 27, 1920, in Faye, Okla., a daughter of the late Avis Keith and Anna Lee (Parten) Wooten. A graduate of Perryton High School, she attended Mary Hardin Baylor in Waco and West Texas State University in Canyon. She and Ira Mabe Hutchens were married in 1940 in St. Charles, Mo. He preceded her in death in 1984. She moved to Quanah in 1950 and was a longtime assistant superintendent of Hardeman County Schools. She was a member of the ESA Sorority, Quanah Ladies Golf Association, and Quanah Needle Club. She also served as an election judge for the local elections, volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society, and was a member of First Baptist Church in Quanah.
She was preceded in death by one great-grandchild.
Survivors include a daughter, Susan K. Ussery of Vilseck, Germany; a son, Lee Hutchens of Canyon Lake; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Family visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time on Wednesday.
The family suggests memorials be given to Hospice of Wichita Falls or the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 681, Quanah, Texas 79252.
HARRIS, Onita I.: 1926 – 2012
Onita Irene Harris, 85, of Quanah, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, in Crowell. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Quanah with the Rev. Monte Lumpkin, minister of Goodlett Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Quanah.
She was born Aug. 28, 1926, in Watonga, Okla., a daughter of the late Richard Raymond and Lorene (Fulfer) Hinsley. She and David Crockett Ritchie were married in 1942 in Quanah. He preceded her in death in 1985. She married Martin Luther Thompson Jr. in 1962 in Vernon, and he preceded her in death in 1973. She married William Edward Harris Sr. in 1977 in Chillicothe, and he preceded her in death in 2006. She was a longtime resident of Quanah and a homemaker. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Wiley Lee Thompson in 2006 and J.D. Ritchie in 1984; and by a stepson, Bill Harris, in 2011.
Survivors include two daughters, Edith Lanning and Brenda Walters, both of Quanah; a son, Richard Ritchie of Quanah; four sisters, Laverne Hiser of Lubbock, Vesta Lee Pitts of Post, Opelia Hunt of Bagwell, and Lula Bishop of Canadian; five brothers, Raymond Hinsley of Dallas, David Hinsley of Michigan, Elmer Lee Hinsley of Arizona, Tommy Hinsley of Flower Mound, and Donnie Hinsley of Vinson, Okla.; 17 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and numerous great-great-grandchildren.
Family visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
HINES, Billie Nell: 1925 – 2012
Billie Nell Whatley Hines, 86, of Quanah, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in Crowell. Services will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in Smith Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Wayne Hollinshead, pastor of First Christian Church of Quanah, officiating. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Quanah.
She was born Oct. 19, 1925, in Goodlett, a daughter of the late Dave Wood and Grace Zelma (Downs) Whatley. She and Homer Howard Hines were married Sept. 14, 1944, in Goodlett. He preceded her in death on Feb. 3, 2005. A lifelong resident of Hardeman County, she was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. She was the owner of The What Shop, manager of the Western Union, and a former employee of Security National Bank.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Jack Smith and Bob Martin, and two brothers, Del and Tom Whatley.
Survivors include two daughters, Martha Turner of Wichita Falls and Lea Ann Loveless of Quanah; a son, Larry Hines of Quanah; three sisters, LaRuth Patterson and Judy Rosser, both of Amarillo, and Kay Simpson of Denton; three brothers, Lester Ray Whatley of Garden City, Kan., Jim Whatley of Borger, and Tony Whatley of California; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Family visitation will be from 3 p.m. until service time on Friday.
The family suggests memorials to a favorite charity.
McDANIEL, Virginia: 1926 – 2012
Virginia McDaniel, 85, of Quanah, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in Wichita Falls. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Monte Lumpkin, minister of Goodlett Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Quanah.
She was born March 1, 1926, in Quanah, a daughter of the late J.K. and Jessie (Horseley) Chambliss. She and B.B. McDaniel were married on Aug. 22, 1947, in Quanah. He preceded her in death on Nov. 21, 2011. She was a lifelong resident of Quanah, a member of the First United Methodist Church, and was a Sunday school teacher. She was a homemaker, a 4-H leader, and a member of the Iris Club and Garden Club.
Survivors include two sons, Galen McDaniel and Lannis McDaniel, both of Quanah; a granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.
Family visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
MARSH, Helen Doris: 1921 – 2012
Helen Doris Marsh, 90, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, in Colorado Springs. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in Goodlett Cemetery with the Rev. Monte Lumpkin, minister of Goodlett Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Quanah.
She was born Aug. 10, 1921, in Quanah, a daughter of the late Tom and Ideres (Golston) McCreary. She was a retired archives technician with the government.
Survivors include a daughter, Holly Kramer of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and grandchildren.
MOORE, Joyce Ann Davis: 1942 – 2012
Joyce Ann (Davis) Moore, age 69, of Odessa, passed from this life on Saturday, February 4, 2012, at Regency Hospital of Odessa. She was born in Quanah, TX on June 25, 1942 to Jack and Tommie (Williams) Davis.
Her parents and her husband, Elmer Joe Moore, precede her in death. She worked at Sunshine Cleaners for twenty years.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter: Claudia Friar and husband J.L. of Amarillo, three grandchildren: Jasmyne and Jamon Friar of Arlington, Jermell Friar of Amarillo, and one great-grandchild. She is also survived by three cousins, Pat Caldwell, Michelle and Teresa of Midland.
No services will be held at this time. Arrangements are entrusted to Acres West Funeral Chapel of Odessa and condolences to the family may be sent online at acreswestfuneral.com.
WRIGHT, Lucretia Gayle Hawkins: 1946 – 2012
Former Quanah resident Lucretia Gayle Hawkins Wright, 65, of Mansfield, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, at her home. A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Blessing Funeral Home at Mansfield.
She was born in Quanah on Aug. 30, 1946, a daughter of Tom and Wanda Barnes Hawkins. She graduated Quanah High School in 1964. She and Billy F. Wright were married in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 10, 1979. She was employed as a legal secretary.
Survivors include her husband; and a brother, Tim Hawkins.
ATWOOD, Elsie E.: 1921 – 2012
Elsie E. Atwood, 90, of Quanah, died Friday, March 2, 2012, in Quanah.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, March 5, in Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Larry DeLong, minister of the Quanah Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will follow in Quanah Memorial Park under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Quanah.
She was born on April 20, 1921, in Lakota, N.D., a daughter of the late Matthew H. and Mary Josephine (Holmes) Roman. During World War II she was a ship welder in Seattle, Wash. She was a longtime resident of Quanah and a retired nurse’s aide. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include three daughters, Phyllis Maxwell of Wasilla, Alaska, Carol Lee of Quanah, and Mary Jane Stokes of Collinsville, Miss.; one son, Michael Atwood of Quanah; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Family visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at the funeral home.
DOCKERY, Virginia Anabel: 1927 – 2012
Virginia Anabel Dockery was born on September 13, 1927 in Wilbarger County to Roy and Emma Lou Hughes. Her father died when she was very young as a result of injuries he sustained as a WWI veteran. She learned about independence and self-reliance when she and her mother survived the Depression by running a small dairy near White City. After graduating from Vernon High School, she obtained a degree from University of Texas and began her life-long vocation of educating children. Anabel was heading back to school to get her master’s when Kenneth Dockery convinced her to marry him in 1949, and they delighted in 63 years of playing bridge with their friends in Vernon — especially Earl and Peggy Bristo — traveling the world from the South Pacific, to Alaska, to Europe and watching the river flow by their cabin in Colorado while playing cards.
Anabel touched many children’s lives as a teacher at Lockett, Oklaunion, and Shive Elementary in Vernon and Reagan in Quanah. She made a lasting impression as a teacher who cared deeply for them and their future. Not content with her impact in one classroom, she went to summer school to get her long-delayed master’s degree as a diagnostician. She expanded her reach to enhance the lives of special needs children across Hardeman, Foard, and Childress counties. She was so committed to her work, she was pulled out of retirement three times and her career lasted over 50 years.
Anabel passed away peacefully at BSA Hospice in Amarillo on March 2 surrounded by her family. She was the kind of wife, mother, and friend everyone would want…loving, compassionate, tolerant, intelligent — a class act in every way imaginable. She will be deeply missed and always remembered as a guiding light by the most important people in her life: her husband; children, Dr. Holly Dockery (Santa Fe), David Dockery (Johnson City), and Mary Kay Riley and husband Kevin (Amarillo); grandchildren, DeDe Dockery and Allison Clement; and many nieces, nephews, and friends around Texas and New Mexico. She was predeceased by her sister, Mary Covert Evans.
A memorial service will be held in Quanah on Tuesday, March 6, at 11 a.m. at Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Quanah with Rev. Monte Lumpkin officiating. Anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory can contact the Arthritis National Research Foundation, any organization doing dementia research, or the charity of your choice.
