Carole Faye (Nichols) Best went to her heavenly home on May 13, 2023, surrounded by her family. Carole was born April 27, 1943, in Stamford, Texas to Oree and Ruble Nichols.
In 1978, Carole married the love of her life, William Paul Best, Sr. They were married for 47 years.
She is preceeded in death by her love William Best, her loving parents Oree and Ruble, her sister Betty Tong, grandchildren Nicole Renee Fultz, Phillip Allen Futz, Zahara Louise Kent; great-grandchildren, Tallyn Creed Wilson, Cidney Jay Wheeler Jr., Kane Reese Mull, and Myleigh Nichole Mull.
She is survived by her children, son Nicholas, daughter Tracie and husband Larry, daughter Faedra and husband Christopher, daughter Rebecca and husband Jason; grandchildren Nicholas Jr, Tara, Sierra, Taylor, Angel, Julie, Sarah, Larry Jr, Lindsey, Ashley, Christian, Jordan, and Cole; great-grandchildren, Jaylin, Caiden, Matthew, Mina, Reece, Xander, Klaus, Kaedence, Samuel, Khloe, Zane, Wyatt, Emilie, Dakota, Jasey, Joseph VI, Pandora, Thackeray, and Victoria; nieces Erin and Bethany Tong, and many other family and friends.
A Daughter’s Memories
Carole Fay Best 4/27/1943-5/13/2023
A lover of small town America. That allowed my brother and I to play in back alleys, prairie fields picking velvety cattails. Running freely trying to avoid the sting of the bull nettle. Probably why her children Nick, Tracie, Faedra and Rebecca have the same love of small towns. She loved music. Our home was always filled with the songs of the 1950s-1960s. Silver thread and golden needles, some velvet morning, honey, Johnny Angel and the lion sleeps tonight were a few of her favorites. Probably where I got my love of old music from. More often than not we had a record player and not a tv in our home growing up. She loved to read. She cherished stories like little women, Christopher Robin, snow queen, and the snow goose. She loved stories by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am sure this is the reason she lived some of her last years in small home amongst the prairie. Before going to live with my sister Faedra. Her caregiver. I honestly believe God and momma knew Faedra had the heart and spirit to see the task was done without a thought or reservation. She loved to draw and paint. I once watched her freehand paint a Indian head from a nickel flawlessly on a glass window pane. Without even a single smudge. She was a lover of Mexican food (Texmex) and an occasional margarita. She loved going fast. I remember as a child every time we saw a railroad track, we would beg her. Momma go fast. She would hit the gas and we would fly so high that our belly’s would hit our feet. We would just roar with laughter. Daddy was never to happy with that escapade. But she would do it just for our laughter. Or then again maybe it was so she could fly also. She never stayed in one spot for long, traveling the backroads from northwest Texas to northeast Texas, living in almost every small town along the way. Loving every minute of it. She had a love of See’s chocolate , savoring every morsel of every bite. On the rare occasion of getting such a treat. She wasn’t a woman of Christianity as I grew up. But she never stopped me has a very small child from going to church. And if there was no way for me to go. She would put Oral Roberts on the tv for me to watch. She did come to know Jesus in her latter years. Talking with God to the very end of her life here on this earth. Telling us on several occasions she was ready to go home. Even though she loved her family here. She dearly missed her mom, dad and sister. Today as I reflected on my mom I am thankful that God brought these memories to my mind and heart. Momma I know you are with your family and Jesus tonight. No more pain and no more worries of this world. I know that you are rejoicing and flying high with the angels.
A Memorial Service will be held at 12:30 pm, Monday, May 22, 2023 at Lighthouse Funeral Home Chapel, 3707 Wolflin Ave, Amarillo, Texas. She will be laid to rest at Llano Cemetery at a later date.
LaDonna Lee Williams,43, passed away on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at her home in the care of BSA Hospice of the Southwest, surrounded by family.
A celebration of LaDonna’s life will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation,3707 Wolflin Amarillo TX 79102, Interment will follow at North Lawn Cemetery Dumas TX 79029. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Amarillo.
LaDonna was born July 6, 1979, in Dumas, Texas to Fritz Baxter and Brenda Maston. She grew up in serval city’s in Texas and Missouri but always called Dumas home. From an early age LaDonna was a hard worker. She started working at Sonic in Dumas and later moved on to Dairy Queen. In total she spent 20 years with Walmart, during several stints.
LaDonna was a very caring and kind hearted person, who would help anyone until you cross her. She had a big heart and she loved even bigger, she didn’t know a stranger. Everyone that knew LaDonna instantly fell in love with her because that’s the person she was.
Survivors include: Husband Tandy Raney of the home, Daughter Riley Raney of Afton Oklahoma, Aunt Joanna Tanner of Stinnett TX, Uncle David Maston of Amarillo TX, Aunt Debbie Reeves of Amarillo TX, Father Frtiz Baxter of Colorado Springs CO, So many more that loved her that are not forgotten
In lieu of flowers please send donations to National Cervical Cancer Coalition
Kirby Lee Hickman, 76, of Cimarron, New Mexico was called to his heavenly home on March 25, 2023
while surrounded by his family in Amarillo, Texas.
Kirby was born on May 12, 1946, to Carl Ray Hickman and Kathryn Eunice Johnson. Kirby is preceded in
death by his brothers, Ronald and Richard, his parents, Carl and Kathryn, and his daughter, Aiyana Leigh Hickman.
Kirby is survived by his son, Brandon Hickman (Hisae Hickman), daughter, Linnea Hickman, sisters
Carolyn McCoy, and Christina Biasini, six grandchildren, (Linnea) Andrew, Joshua, Samuel,
(Aiyana) Zachary, Shawna, and Jonathan, many nieces and nephews, and friends he considered family.
Kirby was not only a beloved member of Cimarron, New Mexico for more than 30 years, he was a highly
decorated Vietnam Veteran, and a true New Mexico Cowboy. He may have been a little bit stubborn
and set in his ways but, he gave the best advice to anyone in need of his wisdom, and was a patient,
loving, and funny friend, father, and grandfather. He was a best friend to so many people in his
community. He touched the lives of everyone who knew him, and will be greatly missed.
A memorial will be held sometime this summer in Cimarron, New Mexico, details to come soon.
Melvin Lee McClure, 84, of Amarillo, Texas passed away on February 25, 2023, with his family by his side. Melvin was born November 6, 1938, in Olton, Texas, to Howard and Dellie McClure.
Wake with refreshments will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm Friday, March 3, 2023, at Lighthouse Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Lighthouse Funeral Home.
Graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the city of Earth, Texas Cemetery.
Mel grew up in Springlake, Texas where his mother passed away when he was 6 years old. He graduated from Springlake Earth High School where he excelled in football, baseball and English composition. He earned money in school by writing term papers for other students, even seniors, from the 8th grade until he graduated. He was so good at English Composition that when Texas Tech heard about his “business,” they offered him an English scholarship to the University.
He was drafted into the Army after High School and developed a very strong work ethic. He saved a general’s wife because he had 0-negative type blood. After he left the Army, he was a lineman for Southwestern Public Service. He worked there until his retirement in 1992. He then created and operated Mel’s Used Cars and Mels Radiators from 1992 – 2003.
Mel loved music and dancing. He personally knew Waylon Jennings and Buddy Holly. He also loved to play cards and won several Texas Holdem tournaments around Amarillo. Shhhh, don’t tell anybody! He also loved food, so he hosted a Thursday night poker game with a huge buffet for over 40 years. His favorite vegetable was the jalapeno, and he could easily eat over 100 a week. He loved using them as scoops with ultra hot habanero or ghost pepper salsa. He was known for eating the hottest salsa around Amarillo and many restaurants would charge him up to $7 for the extra hot salsa.
He was very competitive and if you were to describe Melvin McClure with one word it would be “Ornery.”
Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Dellie McClure; stepmom Joyce McClure; brother Lonnie Green, and the love of his life Frances McClure.
Those left to cherish his memory are three sons, Scott McClure of Lancaster, Texas, Jack McClure and wife Stephanie of Nashville, Tennessee, Justin McClure of Canyon, Texas; adopted daughter Marcela Suarez and husband Jaime of Amarillo, Texas; ten grandkids, Rashea Leeper, Briana Leeper, PJ Dovalina, Ashton Read, Nicole Fortney and husband Brian, Bailey McClure, Jacqueline McClure, Aaliyah Suarez, Andres Suarez, Jaicella Suarez; his two sisters Tresa Benton of Brush Colorado and Vicky McClure of Maude, Texas, and a multitude of friends.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Lighthouse Funeral and Cremation Service of Amarillo, Texas.
Reginaldo Escobar, 82, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on February 25, 2023, surrounded by his family. Reginaldo was born on September 7, 1940, to Esteban and Dolores Escobar in El Palmito, Durango, Mexico.
Funeral Services will be held on March 1, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Lighthouse Funeral Home. A viewing and visitation will be held the day before, Tuesday, February 28, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Lighthouse Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the personal care of Lighthouse Funeral and Cremation Service.
Reginaldo loved spending time with his family. He would make every effort to get his kids and all of his grandchildren together so that everyone could spend time together.
He also enjoyed playing in the band at his church. He spent a lot of time practicing and playing his guitars.
Reginaldo was preceded in death by his parents Esteban and Dolores Escobar; two sons Esteban Escobar and Oscar Escobar Melchor, and his two sisters, Maria Escobar de Herrera and Virginia Escobar Nevárez.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jovita Escobar; six children, Loren Avila Escobar, Arturo Escobar, Claudia Escobar, Elizabeth Garcia, Reginaldo Escobar Jr., Gabriela Escobar; twenty grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
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