Jennifer Jill Hefner went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, after a 5-year battle with cancer. She passed peacefully at home with her husband, Tommy, by her side. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at 1:00 P.M., at the First Baptist Church in Friona, Texas with Pastor Brett Hoyle officiating.
Jill was born February 17, 1966, in Wheeler, Texas, to Mary Lea and Larry Barbour. She lived in the panhandle until she was 3 years old. Her mother married Robert Hefner in 1969 and the family then moved to San Marcos, Texas. Jill attended San Marcos High School and was a member of the Royal Guard. She was awarded San Marcos Junior Miss in 1983 and continued on to the state level where she was named 1st Runner Up. She was the Over All Winner in the Creative and Performing Arts area in recognition of her piano performance. Jill graduated from San Marcos High School in 1985 and then attended Texas Tech University where she earned a degree in Wildlife Management. She had a passion for animals all of her life. Jill and Tommy married on January 1, 1989 and together they enjoyed 34 adventure-filled years. Jill and Tommy have 3 children: son, Joshua, who passed away in 1990; daughter, Callie Mae; and son, Thomas Jacob (Jake), who passed away in 2018.
Jill, Tommy and their children enjoyed many wonderful trips to state and national parks. They shared many adventures together as a family. Pets and animals were always an important part of their lives. They moved frequently during the early years, but settled in Friona, Texas in 2000. Jill homeschooled Callie and Jake, taught them piano, and encouraged their interests in a variety of things.
Jill excelled at many things - music, raising and training dogs, cooking, nurturing all sorts of plants and animals, and most recently, she developed a passion for running her Border Collies at Sheep Dog Trials. She was gifted at this - more so than she knew. It wasn't long before she was well-known in the sheep dog trial world. She enjoyed running her dogs and she treasured the many genuine friends she made along the way.
Jill was an active member of Friona FBC. Her faith was rock solid and and resolute. She was faithful to pray for her friends and family. She loved God with all her heart and was so grateful for His faithful watchcare and provision for her. Through many losses and trials, she trusted God to be ever-present - and He was.
She was totally devoted to Tommy and to her children and loved them deeply. They meant the world to her.
Jill was preceded in death by: son, Joshua; son, Jake; father, Larry Barbour; step-father, Robert Lee Hefner; and her brother, Larry Clayton Barbour.
Jill is survived by her husband of 34 years, Tommy Hefner; daughter, Callie and significant other Colton; grandson, Thomas Rex; mother, Mary Lea Hefner; sister, Cheryl Waggoner; sister-in-law, Julia Barbour; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Memorials can be made to Imbila Nsuma/Gospel Wings Zambia, PO Box 66, Schooleys Mountain, NJ 07870
You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.colonialfuneralhome.org
Jeffery "Joe" Whiteside passed away from this earth on March 22, 2023.
Joe was born in Dimmitt, Texas on March 31, 1960 to Minnie and Joe Whiteside. Those closest to him would call him Joe-Jeff, J, JJ, Jeff, Jeffry, Jeffro, Blur, or Pops. Joe was a native of Friona, TX, where he grew up and established many long-term friendships that have endured to this day. After graduating from Friona High School, Joe attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he met his wife of 43 years, Carolyn Gum Whiteside. It was a little-known secret at that point that Joe was quite the athlete. Joe and Carolyn moved to Amarillo, Texas shortly after marriage where they happily remained until his death.
Joe started from humble beginnings, but he worked hard throughout his life, successfully building his company, WCSA, Inc. Joe was the hardest working man known to many of his friends and family; but more importantly, he was also the most loving. He would do anything for anyone. His approach was always "count me in", never backing down from anything life threw his way. He always stood ready to lead when life presented a challenge. Joe led a life of one that puts love and heart behind all actions. He had an unbelievable ability to see the best in every situation and in everyone. He had an eye for the "silver lining".
He will be dearly missed by those that knew him and especially by those that loved him. He lived a complete life to be modeled by those that follow. He stared death in the face and said "I'm ready" knowing that he lived a life to the best of his ability, always seeking to make a difference in everything he did and with everyone he met. Joe had many best friends and brothers on this earth; although we can't list you all in something like this, he'd want you to know that you are loved.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents Minnie and Joe; a brother James; and a sister Betty Sue.
Joe is survived by his wife Carolyn; son, Jeremy and wife Mandy; son, Chris and wife Amanda; grandsons, Mason, Xavier, Nathaniel, and granddaughter, Abby; Sisters, Jacqueline Lewis and husband Leonard of Pine Bluff, AR; Sister, Lisa Johnson and husband Richard of Balch Springs, TX; and brothers, Joe-Lynn, Robert, and Terry.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith City Mission at https://www.faithcity.org/give or 600 N Tyler, Amarillo, TX 79107.
Mary Frances Dewey Watson, 102 of Bovina passed away March 22, 2023 in Amarillo. There will be no services. Cremation arrangements by HANSARD FAMILY Funeral Home of Friona.
Frances was born November 13, 1920 in Pike County, Missouri to W J B (Bryan) and Egleana Green. She grew up in the Sugar Creek Community of Louisiana, Missouri and was a member of the Grassy Creek Baptist Church.
Francis married Henry Dewey in 1934 and from that union came 1 daughter, Melba. Frances opened an exclusive women's dress shop called House of Distinction in Louisiana, Missouri which she owned until she, her husband and father moved to Portales, N.M. While in Portales, Frances worked at Playmates Children's Shop until it's closing. During this time she was an active member of the Business and Professional Women's Club. She later began working at VOH's clothing store in Clovis, New Mexico. She also wrote and produced a very popular play called The Womanless Wedding starring many well known gentlemen from Portales and Clovis. She was also honored as the Businesswoman of the Year twice in Portales. Frances left the fashion industry and began working at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales. Frances married Lonnie Watson in 1998 and eventually moved to Bovina where they resided for the past 20 years.
She is preceded in death by her parents Bryan and Egleana Green, and her first husband Henry Dewey.
Those that will mourn her passing include her husband Lonnie Watson of Bovina, 1 daughter-Melba Dewey Britton of Portales, 1 granddaughter-Richelle Longo and Paul Freeman of San Antonio.
You may send blessings to the family and sign the online guest book exclusively at: hansardfamily.com
Elizabeth Ann "Annie" Fielding Fortenberry, 89, of Santa Anna, TX, formerly of Friona, passed from this life on March 22, 2023, at Bangs Nursing and Rehab, in Bangs, TX. Interment of her ashes will be held at a later date in Oldham County, TX.
Ann was born May 13, 1933, in Middletown, Connecticut, the first of five children, to Henry James "Red" and Adelaide Randall Fielding. She graduated from East Hampton High School in 1951 and enrolled in Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, majoring in creative arts and writing while working summers as a copy editor on an NYC newspaper to pay her way. While in NYC, she met the love of her life, Don Fortenberry. She said one look into those dark brown eyes and she was ready to follow him anywhere - which were the high plains of the Texas panhandle. She loved it, comparing the blowing "prairie" grasses to the waves in her beloved Atlantic Ocean.
Ann embraced farm life and her new family. With the help of both her husband and her father-in-law, she learned to cook the old recipes and to can what they grew in the garden and orchard. She used her copy-editing and typing skills to help build the J.C. Fortenberry family record and her photography skills on the Walcott School yearbooks.
Ann was an avid reader of a vast array of subjects - and a dictionary critic! Her hobbies included the study of Bibles and religions, sketching and painting, and photography, and she loved in-depth discussions with all who shared her interests. She had a special calling and love for people with special needs, the elderly, and the homeless. Her favorite job, aside from being farm wife and mother, was working as a case worker with her shelter family at St. Vincent De Paul's place in Middletown, CT. She put her heart into her work and had such a positive impact on people's lives, but Ann would tell us she received far more than she gave.
As a young girl, Ann attended the Congregational Church. As a young woman in NYC, she found the spiritual home she had been seeking among the Quakers, and in Texas, she continued that practice of spiritual meditation and prayer. She believed in the power of prayer! She loved singing the old Gospel songs whether alone with Don or gathered with friends and family. She loved all time spent with family and friends - and laugh - her laughter could fill a room.
Ann is preceded in death by her parents, her infant brother, Randy Fielding, and her infant daughter, Bonny Fortenberry. She is survived by her former husband and friend, Don Fortenberry of Friona, TX; her daughter Heather (Frank) Mares and her grandson, Cristian Mares, of Santa Anna, TX; her two sisters, Cynthia Fielding of Shirley, MA, and Janice (Owen) Choiniere of East Hampton, CT; and her brother Whitney (Susan) Fielding of East Hampton, CT - and by many nieces, nephews, and cousins - all dear to her heart - from the East Coast to Texas.
The family requests any donations in Ann's memory to be sent to a charity of choice.