White Deer News

03/16/2026

12/30/2025

SUSAN KAY HENNESSEY

Susan Kay Hennessey, 66, of Skellytown, passed away on Nov. 24, 2025, in Skellytown.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, Janu.3, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Skellytown with Pastor Carter Pirtle, officiating. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Susan was born on Sept. 13, 1959, in Wichita Falls. As an infant, her family brought her to Skellytown where she lived most of her life. Susan attended school in White Deer. After graduating, she started her family, having her only daughter, Jennie. Thereafter, Susan worked in the clerical profession, where she worked for W&W Fiberglass Tank Company for 19 years. During her tenure at W&W, Susan was a well-liked employee and coworker who knew everyone’s birthday and made sure they had a cake on that special day.

Susan loved her Lord and her church. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Skellytown. Susan was very active in her church, she sang in the choir, helped cook in their Wednesday night program, and taught the youth Sunday school class. Susan was also a caring woman who was an excellent caregiver, especially to her mother during her illness and passing. Susan will be remembered as an outgoing woman who loved people and could always make friends easily.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Naomi Fox; nephew, Chris Fox.

Her survivors include her daughter, Jennie Rankin; granddaughter, Aubrie Rankin; sister, Becky O’Steen and husband Earl; brother, Jim Fox and wife Nancy; special family friend, Michael Hatfield; fur-baby, Oliver; and many extended family members.

10/05/2025

COPELAND

Sandra Kay Wagner Copeland passed away peacefully on Sept. 15, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. She was 74 years old.

Born on Dec. 29, 1950, in Clifton, Texas, Sandra's journey led her to White Deer in 1979, where she became a cherished member of the community. She later returned to her roots in Clifton.

In May 1995, Sandra married Grant Copeland. Together, they built a beautiful blended family. Sandra is survived by her husband Grant; and her children, Carrie and her husband David Doucette of Vian, Okla.; and Christy Ray of Pampa. She also leaves behind her stepchildren, Darin Copeland of San Angelo, Trenton Copeland of Roanoke, Texas, and Jayme Leatherman and her husband Gary of Fritch, Texas.

A doting Nana, Sandra will be deeply missed by her grandchildren: Tanner and great-grandson, Rhett Doucette of Tulsa, Okla.; Blake and Jacqueline Doucette of Lubbock; Kyler Ray of Pampa, Clay Ray of Abilene and Cooper Ray of Sharon Springs, Kan., respectively; Danyell and her husband Josh Byassee of Bristow, Okla.; Kirstyn and her husband Cameron King; Kayla and her husband Victor Walker; Sariah Copeland; Jaylea Wallace and her husband Kyle; and Gage and Bella Leatherman. She was also blessed with 10 great-grandchildren.

Sandra is also survived by her sisters, Ronda and her husband Rudy Schultz of Miami, Okla., and Carol and her husband Mike Brooks of Bryan, Texas. Six nieces and two nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Carolyn Olson; her father, Melvin Wagner; her brother, Michael Wagner; and her son-in-law, Timothy Ray.

Her kindness, warmth, and dedication to her family will be forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.

A celebration of Sandra's life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the First Baptist Church of White Deer.

09/22/2025

PEGGY HASKELL LEMONS

Peggy Haskell Lemons, 76, of White Deer, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025.

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in White Deer with Dr. Stan Cosby, pastor at First Methodist Church in Memphis and First Methodist Church in Hedley, officiating. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at Capitol View Cemetery in Elmwood, Okla. under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, at the funeral home.

Peggy was born to Lyla and Veck Haskell on Dec. 3, 1948 in Perryton. The family moved to Beaver, Okla. in 1952 where Peggy was an active member of Rainbow Girls, FHA, basketball, band drum major, NHS, student council, and graduated valedictorian of her class. She was a member of First Christian Church of Beaver and enjoyed a variety of activities and friends.

Peggy married Al Lemons on Nov. 4, 1967. They enjoyed the coaching life which took them to Whiteface, Dimmit and Friona before they made their permanent home in White Deer. Peggy and Al were blessed with four daughters. Throughout the course of her career, Peggy worked in healthcare, the school system, banking and retired as the Human Resource Director at Hunting-Titan in Pampa.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her father and mother-in-law, Mason and Nell Lemons; sister, Vesta Patee; and two daughters, Lesli Lemons Trumble and Traci Lemons Noah.

Survivors include her husband, Al Lemons; daughters, Kari and husband Truitt Hayes and Cortni and husband Buck Angeley; grandchildren, Whitney and husband Don Short, Kiley Goldston, Brendan Hudspeth, Evin Abbe and girlfriend Mo Leal, Aron Abbe and girlfriend Jenni King, Eric Abbe and wife Hailey, Chandler Hayes and wife Haley, Logan Hayes, Dyllan Angeley and fiancée Sydney Ubando and Jaxon Angeley; great-grandchildren, Graysen Short, Brooks Short, Allen Hayes, Easton Hayes, Elleri Abbe and Traci Abbe; one brother-in-law, Ronnie Patee; nieces, Ronna Adams and Gina Patee; nephew, Kurtis Patee; many extended family members; a host of friends; and special family friends, Jerry and Donna Urbanczyk and family.

Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown MD 21741.

09/18/2025

BARBARA ANNE SULLIVAN

Barbara Anne Sullivan, 76, of Amarillo, passed away Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Amarillo.

Graveside services are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Father Anthony Aakula officiating.

Barbara was born April 11, 1949, in Kansas, to Bernard “Bernie” and Pauline (Kuestersteffen) Ohmes. She came from a large and loving family with 14 siblings, a source of great pride and connection throughout her life. She grew up in Perryton and graduated from high school there. On May 20, 1974, she married Joe Sullivan in Albuquerque, N.M.

Barbara devoted more than 40 years to her career as a pharmacy technician, working at Vance Pharmacy in Panhandle and later Bivens Pharmacy in Clarendon. She was known for her steady dedication and the friendships she built along the way.

She was a woman of many interests and talents—she loved sewing and quilting, rarely went without a book in her hands, and enjoyed spending time on her computer. Barbara was deeply rooted in her faith and was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clarendon for many years, where she shared her gift of music by leading the singing.

The couple had been residents of Clarendon, Panhandle and Amarillo. In 2010, Barbara and Joe moved back to Amarillo, where she had lived since.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; stepmother Delores Ohmes; three brothers, Jack Haggarty, Jim Haggarty and Tommy Ohmes; and one grandchild.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 51 years, Joe Sullivan of White Deer; three stepchildren, Rodney Sullivan and wife Candy of Plano, Deanna o and husband Dan Bejaran of White Deer, and Colleen and husband Walt Ramsey of Pennsylvania; five brothers, Mike Ohmes and wife, Lupe, Chris Ohmes, Tim Ohmes and wife Rozanne, Matt Ohmes and wife Jennifer and Charlie Ohmes; six sisters, Sharon and Jimmy Hood, Sandy and Richard Olvera, Maureen and Curtis Watkins, Monica and Arvell Williams, Theresa and Rich Marindi, and Bonita and Jeff Brunson; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Cancer Foundation of choice in honor of Barbara’s battles with cancer.

09/18/2025

JAMES DOUGLAS "DOUG" ROGERS

James Douglas “Doug” Rogers, 83, of Skellytown, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at his home.

There are no services scheduled at this time. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Doug was born on Aug. 3, 1942, to Juanita Scoggins Rogers and Benton Monroe Rogers Sr. in Vernon, Texas. The family would move to Gray County when Doug was a small child, and he would attend school in Mobeetie from first grade until he graduated. While attending school in Mobeetie he was known for being a star football player and an active member of FFA and the glee club. Doug and his siblings share many good memories from their childhood helping on the family farm.

Doug had a strong work ethic instilled in him at a young age and kept working until he was almost 80 years old. After graduating high school, Doug worked at several feedlots before he found his calling as a truck driver. He would go on to drive for Bourland and Leverich for 25 years before finally retiring just five years ago. While working as a truck driver, Doug met his soulmate Wanda Garrison and the two of them would eventually get married on Jan. 19, 2008.

Doug spent most of his time away from work with his family, he had a deep love for his children and grandchildren. He was also known to spend a lot of time reading books, especially about the old west. Doug was highly respected by his co-workers, family and friends for his easy and relaxed manner.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; a sister-in-law, Johnnie Rogers; a brother-in-law, Larry Turcotte; a daughter, Tosha Swinford; and a niece, Julia Walters.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda Rogers; three brothers, Benton Monroe Rogers Jr., Dwight Rogers and wife Rhonda, and Stephen Rogers and wife Debby; a sister, Berinda Rogers Turcotte; six children, Pam and husband Bill Minyard, Tina and husband Brian Beck, Misty and husband Kirk Spear, Tawana Wynn and husband Eric, R.L. Riggle, and Lea Ann Pender; a son-in-law, Cory Swinford; 15 grandkids, Mallory and husband Andrew, Mitchell and wife Libby, Ashlee and husband Travis, Justin, Maddie, Mason, Logan, Kylee, Cade, Keegan, Connor, Jacob, Brynlee, Hunter, and Hadlee; six great-grandkids, Talan, Trevor, Trey, Adler, Josie, and Cecilia; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

08/14/2025

Delivery of the Panhandle Herald & White Deer News is delayed again this week due to the internet outage yesterday. Papers will be delivered to the Post Office late Friday or Saturday.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

08/11/2025

NANCY LUELLEON "LOU" BECK

Nancy Luelleon “Lue” Beck, 85, of Pampa, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Amarillo.

Services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at Highland Baptist Church with Brother Paul Nachtigall, retired pastor, and Pastor Andy Biles, pastor at Highland Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at 4 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Luelleon was born on Sept. 25, 1939 in Knox County to Melma and Mike Holder Parker. She graduated from Seymour High School in 1957. After graduation, Luelleon went to work for Ferrier Brothers as a bookkeeper where she met Bill Franklin Beck. They married shortly after on May 3, 1958, in Red Springs. Luelleon and Bill were soon blessed with three children, Cliff, Barbara, and Gary. She was a homemaker for most of her life, staying home with the children while Bill worked on several different projects all over Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. When the children were older Luelleon went to work at the Baylor County Clerks Office for several years.

She moved to Pampa in 2013 following the passing of her husband. Luelleon became a member of the Highland Baptist Church where she served her Lord faithfully. Throughout her life she was actively involved in her church, singing in the choir, leading children’s Sunday schools, and serving wherever she was called. Luelleon loved cooking and passed that passion and skill down to her children. Her cream pies were made on special occasions and were always fought over, especially at church potlucks. Luelleon also enjoyed sewing and making several beautiful outfits for her family.

Her legacy of love and faithfulness will not be soon forgotten.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Franklin Beck; her parents, Mike and Melma Parker; one brother, Charles Parker Sr.; and one sister, Helen Neskorik.

Luelleon is survived by her children, Cliff Beck and wife Darla of Klein, Barbara Cox and husband Leroy of Pampa; and Gary Beck and wife Cheryl of Granbury; six grandchildren, Justin Cox and wife Becky, Erica and husband Chance Bowers; Chase Beck, Brianna and husband Sam Fradken, Megan Beck-Martinez and husband Jackson Martinez, and Courtney Beck; six great-grandchildren, Brynlee Bearden, Jack Cox, Luke Cox, Maddox Bowers, Bristol Bowers, and Cayler Bowers; her twin brother, Benny Parker; one sister, Dolores Trainham; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Highland Baptist Church, 1301 N Banks St, Pampa, Texas, 79065.

08/07/2025

Panhandle City-Wide Garage Sales
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Times will be determined by Sellers

08/07/2025

Shamrock suffered a power outage yesterday, so the press was unable to run. The Herald/News will be delivered later today and we will work hard to have them to the post office asap!

Sorry for the inconvenience and for being patience with us.