Payne County - Stillwater News Press Obits for January, 2003 http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/payne/payne1.htm Bill Cook, County Archivist, billcook44@aol.com Thanks to http://www.stwnewspress.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright, http://www.stwnewspress.com/ ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Jan. 01 Robert Nuttle Robert Edward Nuttle, 74, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, in Tulsa. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Highland Cemetery, Pawnee, with the Rev. Bruce Pratt officiating, under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home, Pawnee. He was born July 19, 1928, in Pawnee, to Ernest Nuttle and Marry Leader Nuttle. He married Josie Fields in 1950 in Cushing and they moved to Tulsa from Pawnee in 1955. He was affiliated with the Baptist Church and served in the United States Air Force for three years. He attended Spartan School of Aeronautics and worked for 28 years at McDonnell-Douglas as an aircraft mechanic in Tulsa. For the past few years he has lived in Claremore. Nuttle was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Frank Nuttle; and his daughter, Robyn Nuttle. Survivors include his wife, Pawnee; two sons, Bobby J. Nuttle, Okmulgee and Howard W. Nuttle, Pawnee; 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phi Delta Lee Evans-Neal Phi Delta Lee Evans-Neal, 99, of Beggs , died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002, in Okmulgee. Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m, Friday at with Shurden-Kelley Funeral Home, Okmulgee, in charge of arrangements at the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church, Okmulgee, with burial in Beggs Cemetery. She was born in Muskogee, IndianTerritory, in 1903 to James A. and Stella Tiger Evans. Evans-Neal was one of the few remaining original allottees on the Creek Indian Roll. A professional dancer and life-long teacher of dance, she operated studios in Tulsa, Okmulgee, Idabel, Henryetta, Oklahoma City and the Phi Delta Academy of Dance in Stillwater for nearly 30 years, retiring in 1998. Her performing experience was in Chicago and New York City in the 1920s. She was a member of Dance Masters of America and the Checcetti Council of Dance as well as many regional professional associations. She married in 1940 to Willard C. Neal of Beggs. She was predeceased by her husband and two other children, Linda Stoll and Edward Charles Neal. Survivors include a daughter, Delta Lee Truby of Okmulgee; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one sister, Arletta Anderson, Oklahoma City; a niece, Iris Eby of Stillwater and two nephews, James Meares, Tulsa, and Cecil Meares, Oklahoma City. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Faye Gang Faye Rouse Gang died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Grace Living Center. No services will be held. Interment is under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. She was born May 20, 1918, in Noble County, to Albert Rouse and Frances Bersheba Creekmore. She was the eighth of nine children and a direct descendant of the Creekmores of Virginia who settled in Norfolk in 1650 and the Rouses of the Germanna Colony in Virginia. She attended school in Noble County and was salutatorian of the 1936 class at IXL School in Noble County. On July 24, 1937, she married Pern Loren Gang of Perry at the First Methodist Church in Cherokee. The couple lived one year in Lawton where he was employed with the Highway Patrol. They returned to Perry in 1940 where he was the Division Four Accountant for the Oklahoma Department of Highways. In 1952, the couple's only child, Carolyn, was born. Mrs. Gang was very active in supporting school activities as her husband served on the Perry School Board for 12 years. She served many years as an election official and was a lifelong Democrat. In 1966, the family moved to Duncan where he was the Division Seven Accountant for the Oklahoma Department of Highways. In 1971, they moved to Edmond where her husband was the manager of accounts and budgets for the entire Oklahoma Highway Department. Following his retirement the couple moved to Stillwater. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook. She would often surprise friends with ensembles she made for them. She also did beautiful crochet work and embroidery. Throughout the years, she and her husband made many anonymous monetary gifts to those in need, particularly to help children. She preferred to be in the background and wanted no recognition for her deeds. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Gang and her husband, Edward Noltensmeyer of Stillwater. Memorials may be made to the Saville Center (formerly Child Advocacy Center of Payne County) P.O. Box 393, Stillwater, OK 74076. *********************************************************************** Jan. 02 Zelma Russ Zelma Vance Russ, 81, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, in Tulsa, Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday in the Poteet Funeral Chapel in Pawnee, with the Rev. Susan Ross officiating. Interment will be in Highland Cemetery, Pawnee, under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home. She was born April 15, 1921, in Hallett, to Irl O. and Oma D. Collins Vance. She married Gene Alfred Russ Feb. 2, 1937, in Osage County. They moved to Pawnee from Tulsa in 1982. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Pawnee, and the Rebecca Lodge. She enjoyed fishing, making dolls and designing her own clothes. She worked for a doctor in Albuquerque, N.M., for 25 years as his bookkeeper and assistant. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Dick and Orville Vance. Russ is survived by her husband of Pawnee; one son, Dick Russ and his wife, LaNeal, Oklahoma City; three grandchildren, Michael Russ and his wife, Janeel, Oklahoma City, and Michelle Roberts, Oklahoma City; seven great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one sister, Betty Hoobler, Tulsa; plus a number of other relatives and many friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Myrtle Glass Myrtle Glass, 95, of Cushing, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, in Texas. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Cushing. Interment will follow at the Silver Star Cemetery, east of Cushing. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. Born May 13, 1907, to John Thomas and Beulah Ellen (Mayberry) Smiley, she received her early education in Pauls Valley and then attended high school in Chandler. She was a graduate of the Chandler High School Class of 1927. After graduating from high school, she moved to Cushing where she worked in private homes for doctors, lawyers and bankers. She taught elementary school in Lincoln County and also worked as a cook. Glass also worked as a maid at the Cushing Hotel and worked as a drug clerk at the Cushing Hospital for 13 years, retiring in 1969. She was an active member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church and served as a deaconess. She was a member of the O.E.S. for over 50 years and was a volunteer at Action Inc., in Cushing. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul Glass; one son, Paul Glass Jr.; one infant daughter; and one brother, Thomas Smiley. Survivors include one son, Rufus Glass of Cushing; two daughters, Almeta Burkes of San Antonio, Texas and Marlyne McMillan and her husband Robert, also of San Antonio; five grandchildren, Robert, Paul, Donald, Marlynn and Katherine; six great grandchildren; niece, Myrtle Gamble and nephew, Lloyd Johnson, both of Oklahoma City. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Rosengrants Ruth Rosengrants, 93, of Stillwater, died at Westhaven Nursing Home Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003. Services will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Strode Chapel, Minister Richard Poe officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. She was born Nov. 25, 1909, in Pryor to Ora B. and Jetty Marcella (Burke) Mason. The family moved to Elder, Colo., where she graduated from high school. On Jan. 25, 1930, she married Harry Rosengrants in Springfield, Colo. They moved to Oklahoma in the 1930s to farm near Ames and had lived there until 1952. They then moved to Stillwater to be close to their son who was attending Oklahoma A&M. Rosengrants enjoyed volunteering at the Senior Citizens Center and was honored as an Outstanding Volunteer. She was a member of Silver Notes, a member of the Church of Christ for 50 years and enjoyed working in the church. She was also a member of Stillwater Chapter No. 54 Order of Eastern Star. She was predeceased by her husband, Oct. 29, 1987; four brothers and three sisters. Survivors include one son, Harry L. Rosengrants and his wife Shirley of Edmond and one daughter, Linda L. Hughes of Enid; four grandchildren, Doug Rosengrants of Skiatook, DeAnn McWilliams and her husband Scott of Owasso, Stephanie Hughes of Midwest City and Brenda Hughes Carroll and her husband Bryan of Oklahoma City. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale Holbrook Dale R. Holbrook, 93, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, at his Golden Oaks Village residence. Services, with Rev. Jim Shepherd presiding, will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Perkins First United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Perkins Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born west of Perkins Sept. 29, 1909, to Walker Harding and Nora Mae (Clark) Holbrook. He married Florence Blanche Baker Aug. 11, 1935, in Stillwater. He was born in the family home on the banks of Wild Horse Creek and attended Perkins schools. After he graduated from Perkins High School, he attended Oklahoma A and M In 1935, he opened a service station at nine mile corner. In 1940, he sold that station and built another in Perkins, just north of the current Payne County Bank. He joined the Seabees in 1942 and served in the Pacific at Guadalcanal. He was honorably discharged in 1945. He returned to Perkins to operate the station he built. For many years he was a petroleum jobber. After retiring from the service station, he became a full time farmer/rancher. He was the first mayor of Perkins. On Nov. 22, 1950 he was honored by Continental Oil Company for his actions during World War II and for his work for Conoco. On Sept. 28, 2002, he was named Ambassadors of Goodwill by the City of Perkins. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Perkins, the Perkins Lions Club and was a Mason for 64 years. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son, Larry Dale Holbrook and cousins, Claude and Mildred Sherrod Cash. He is survived by his wife; one sister, Lillie Lee Holbrook Hert of Stillwater, a nephew, Robert L. Hert Jr.; two nieces, Martha Hert Lyon and Mary Lee Hert Draper, all of Stillwater; and cousins, Sue Wagner Grice of Mooreland and John P. Wagner of Bethesda, Md. Pallbearers will be Arlis Riley, Jim Kirby, Steve Cundiff, Don Thompson, Wendell Sadler and Mike McWherter. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Russell, Leo Graves, Harold Martin, Palmer Sadler, Jack Vassar, Ron Sodowsky and family members, Bob Hert Jr., Don Lyon, Bill Grice, Winfrey Houston, David Holbrook, Cherie Leean Draper, Rob Hert, Donnie Lyon, Tiffany Grice, Dan Draper III, Clay Hert, Carrie Hert Bishop and Kori Grice. Memorials may be made to Perkins First United Methodist Church, 1005 East Kirk, Perkins, OK 74059. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Verna 'Monty' Esslinger Services for Verna "Monty" Esslinger, 92, of Lawton, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Strode Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. Larry Eslinger officiating. Burial will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. She died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, in Lawton. Esslinger was born Jan. 10, 1910, to Thomas B. and Flora Montgomery in Lawton where she graduated from Lawton High School. She attended Oklahoma City University on a basketball scholarship where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta social sorority. She received a B.S. degree from Oklahoma State University and her master's degree from the University of Oklahoma in physical education. She taught physical education in the Stillwater Public School system for a number of years and was active in this area and throughout the state. She married Charles Andrew "Adam" Esslinger, who died Nov. 2, 1983. Esslinger planned and directed the first Leadership and Fitness Clinic for Oklahoma teachers and was named one of America's Outstanding Physical Fitness Leaders in 1967 by the United States Jaycees and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She was the founder of the Oklahoma Girls Recreation Association and served as president of the organization with a membership exceeding 4,000 girls. Esslinger was a member of the Governor's White House Council and executive secretary of the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and a member of the Oklahoma Health and Recreation Association. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, PEO, the American Legion Auxiliary, Oklahoma Education Association and the National Education Association. She was also predeceased by a son, Charles, on June 17, 1953. Survivors include sisters-in-law, Florence Kennedy Montgomery of Lawton and Elsie Esslinger of Broken Arrow; nieces, Betty Montgomery Rise and Melva Montgomery Mullins of Lawton; Mary Esslinger of Washington, D.C.; nephews, Andy Montgomery of Virginia, Joel Crowley Esslinger of Bartlesville, Andrew Esslinger of Sturbridge, Maine and Jack Esslinger of Mt. View, Ark.; great- nieces, Jennifer Brooke Mullins of Lawton, Elizabeth Montgomery of Virginia and Shelley Hartsfield of Dallas, Texas; one great-nephew, Sean Esslinger and one great-great-nephew, Daniel Montgomery of Virginia. Memorials may be made to Stillwater Public Schools Athletic Department, 1224 N. Husband; the Alzheimer's Association, Central Oklahoma Chapter, 1 N. Hudson, Suite 550, Oklahoma City 73102 or Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Alzheimer's Research, 825 N.E. 13th, Oklahoma City 73104 *********************************************************************** Jan. 03 Fern Richardson Former Stillwater resident, Fern Pearl Blair Richardson, 95, died Friday Dec. 27, 2002, in Colonial Estates Nursing Facility in Guthrie. Services, with Dr. R. Joe Wilson presiding, were Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Ladusau- Evans Chapel in Enid. Interment followed at Fairlawn Cemetery in Enid. Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home directed the arrangements. She was born Oct. 4, 1907, in Sherman to James Rolland and Susie Lenora Conarty Thompson. On June 6, 1927, she married Hiram O. Blair in Oklahoma City. They lived in Fairview where they raised five children. She was raised in Major County and attended Round Mound Elementary School and graduated from Cleo Springs High School in 1926. She was a worker. During her children's younger years she did ironing in her home to supplement the family's income. She then went to school and became an LPN and worked in the Fairview hospital. She graduated from Enid Beauty College in 1947 and operated a beauty shop in her home. The Blairs later owned and operated Blair Nursing Home in Okeene. Following her husband's death in 1962, she and her son, Bill, continued to operate the home for several years. She was a past Matron of Enid Chapter 36, Order of the Eastern Star; Past Oracle of Royal Neighbors; and past advisory board member of Enid Rainbow Assembly. She was a member of Oakwood Christian Church in Enid where she was a member of the Willing Workers Class and a lifetime member of the Silver Haired Legislators. In 1993, she became a resident of the Masonic Home in Guthrie. During her residency in the Masonic Home she made quilts for each of her children and grandchildren. She also made a quilt she donated to her Eastern Star Chapter in Enid to be auctioned when the chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary. When she was 90, she made and presented a quilt to the governor of Oklahoma which named all past Oklahoma governors. The quilt was put on display at the governor's mansion. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by three husbands, Hiram Blair, Gerald Lankford and Howard Richardson; two sons, Billy Dean Blair and Bobby Gene Blair; one grandson, Micheal Boechman; and six sisters, Maggie Crawford, Nettie Sheffield, Cora Riggs, Myrtle Wilkinson, Lela Young and Ada Thompson. She is survived by a daughter, Patta Leigh Reed and her husband Ed of Gunninson, Colo.; a son, F. Joe Blair and his wife Marie of Maramec; a daughter, Bonnie Lou Boeckman and her husband Jim of Okeene; 13 grandchildren, 22 great- grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and other relatives that live in the Stillwater area. Memorials may be made to Eastern Star Training Award for Religious Leadership, Enid Chapter 36, C/O Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home, P.O. Box 3501, Enid, OK 73702. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James 'Jim' Whitsel James "Jim" M. Whitsel, 81, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church in Stillwater. The Revs. William Inglish and Rick Hendricks will officiate. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at the funeral home Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. Whitsel was born Jan. 3, 1921, in Pryor, to Clay Smith Whitsel and Dora Mae (Carter) Whitsel. He attended Pryor schools and worked at the Oklahoma Ordinance Works until enlisting in the Army Air Corps in August 1942. He served as a photo technician in the 359th Fighter Squadron at Mardelsham Heath Air Base (Ipswich) England. While stationed there, he also competed as a middle distance runner in various track meets and won a number of awards. His potential as a "great' runner was cited by those who watched him race. Upon his discharge as a corporal in October 1945, he enrolled at Oklahoma A&M, but soon found the opportunity to use his photographic talents by going to work for Photo Engraving. He married Ila Jane Akin June 16, 1951. At that time, he became employed at Crossman Printing Co. He was recognized by his peers as a master lithographer, spending 50 years in the printing industry. Each of the thousands of dots which make up pictures were important to him and to achieve the best possible result for printing. Whitsel was an active member of the First Christian Church and a member of the choir for over 50 years. He also served as a deacon, elder and board chairman. He was also the Scoutmaster for Troop 17. He was an early member of the Stillwater Camera Club and served on the Sheltered Workshop Board. A charter member of the Payne County Railroad Club, he served as president for several years and remained a supporter of the group in all of its activities, including the local swap meet and the annual Payne County Fair model train exhibit. He is preceded in death by his parents and three brothers. Whitsel is survived by his wife of the home; two sons, Alan Whitsel, Glencoe, and Warren Whitsel and wife Tenna, Tulsa; two grandchildren, James Whitsel, Tulsa, and Morgan Whitsel, Tulsa. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society, 3613 NW 56th Suite 230, Oklahoma City, OK 73112; the Judith Karman Hospice, PO Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076; and the First Christian Church, Cornerstone 2000 Building Fund, 411 W. Mathews, Stillwater, OK 74075. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Claud Pinson Longtime Cushing resident Claud Clayton Pinson, 83, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003, in Cushing Regional Hospital. Services, with Brothers Wayne Tibbet and Dowe Pruitt presiding, will be Monday at 10 a.m. in the Church of the Firstborn in Cushing. Davis Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born in Asher Aug. 15, 1919, to Elijah and Ivy Millie (Wolfe) Pinson. He was raised and educated in the Sayre area. He married Thelma Fowler Oct. 4, 1940, near Asher. The couple had five children. The Pinsons moved to Cushing in 1953 until she died Nov. 15, 1988. He married Dorothy Carmichael Dec. 8, 1991, in Agra. The couple made their home in Cushing. He loved working with horses and was a member of AQHA. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was predeceased by a son, Ernest Lynn Pinson, a brother, and a granddaughter. He is survived by his wife of the home; one daughter, Claudia Wilson and her husband Jim of Cushing; three sons, Gary Pinson and his wife Pat of Norman, Dan Pinson and his wife Cathy of Oklahoma City and Douglas Pinson and his wife Jeannetta of Canadian; four sisters, Edith Newberry, Eve Cleek, Betty Goodwin and Glennis Knowles; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at davisfhcushing@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marie McFadyen Marie Laura McFadyen, 83, of Oklahoma City, died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003, in Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry. The Rev. Tom Dowdell will officiate. Interment will be in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery under direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. She was the daughter of John and Edna (Manville) Endres. She was born in Perry April 11, 1919 and attended St. Joseph's Academy in Perry and was a graduate of Enid Beauty School. On Feb. 14, 1946, she and John "Mack" McFadyen were married in Oklahoma City. She had worked as a beautician in Perry and Oklahoma City and was a member of The Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist of Edmond. She was preceded in death by her husband in October 1996; her parents, one brother and one sister. Survivors include one brother, Frank Endres, Oklahoma City; one sister-in-law, Janice Endres, Edmond; one brother-in-law, Clay Powell, Oklahoma City; one nephew, Michael Powell, Oklahoma City; five nieces, Ann Beutsche and her husband Mike, Laura Basile, Rita Harris and her husband, Buck, and Karen Kenworthy and her husband, Ken, all of Edmond and Mary Endres, Pocono, Penn.; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Memorials may be made to Catholic charities. *********************************************************************** Jan. 04 Verna 'Monty' Esslinger Services for Verna "Monty" Esslinger, 92, of Lawton, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Strode Funeral Home Chapel, the Rev. Larry Eslinger officiating. Burial will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. She died Monday, Dec. 23, 2002, in Lawton. Esslinger was born Jan. 10, 1910, to Thomas B. and Flora Montgomery in Lawton where she graduated from Lawton High School. She attended Oklahoma City University on a basketball scholarship where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta social sorority. She received a B.S. degree from Oklahoma State University and her master's degree from the University of Oklahoma in physical education. She taught physical education in the Stillwater Public School system for a number of years and was active in this area and throughout the state. She married Charles Andrew "Adam" Esslinger, who died Nov. 2, 1983. Esslinger planned and directed the first Leadership and Fitness Clinic for Oklahoma teachers and was named one of America's Outstanding Physical Fitness Leaders in 1967 by the United States Jaycees and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She was the founder of the Oklahoma Girls Recreation Association and served as president of the organization with a membership exceeding 4,000 girls. Esslinger was a member of the Governor's White House Council and executive secretary of the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and a member of the Oklahoma Health and Recreation Association. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, PEO, the American Legion Auxiliary, Oklahoma Education Association and the National Education Association. She was also predeceased by a son, Charles, on June 17, 1953. Survivors include sisters-in-law, Florence Kennedy Montgomery of Lawton and Elsie Esslinger of Broken Arrow; nieces, Betty Montgomery Rice and Melva Montgomery Mullins of Lawton; Mary Esslinger of Washington, D.C.; nephews, Andy Montgomery of Virginia, Joel Crowley Esslinger of Bartlesville, Andrew Esslinger of Sturbridge, Maine and Jack Esslinger of Mt. View, Ark.; great- nieces, Jennifer Brooke Mullins and Stephen Rice, Lawton, Elizabeth Montgomery of Hamilton, Va. and Shelley Hartsfield of Dallas, Texas; one great-nephew, Sean Esslinger and one great-great-nephew, Daniel Montgomery of Hamilton. Memorials may be made to Stillwater Public Schools Athletic Department, 1224 N. Husband; the Alzheimer's Association, Central Oklahoma Chapter, 1 N. Hudson, Suite 550, Oklahoma City 73102 or Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Alzheimer's Research, 825 N.E. 13th, Oklahoma City 73104. Nell Youngker Nell Youngker, 103, of Oklahoma City, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2003 in Oklahoma City. Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Olivet Cemetery in Perkins. Strode Funeral Home is directing the services. Youngker was born in Goodnight on Nov. 1, 1899 to George Theodrick and Orpha Jane (Foust) Ridpath. She married Jesse E. Youngker in Guthrie on April 19, 1922. He preceded her in death on July 23, 1985. She attended school in Goodnight and graduated from Goodnight High School. She achieved a teaching degree from the Oklahoma College for Women in Edmond and was a teacher. She was a member of the Olivet Christian Church, the Olivet Extension Club and had been the treasurer of the Olivet Cemetery Association. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, four brothers and four sisters. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . Paul Taylor Paul Ray Taylor, 59, died Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the 1OOF Cemetery in Tonkawa. Singleton and Sons Funeral Home, Inc., 627 New Orleans Street, Hempstead, Texas is directing the arrangements. He was employed by Mud Check, Inc. as a drilling mud consultant. He was considered to be "the mud man's mud man." He gave seminars and spoke at many oil and gas shows worldwide. He also consulted on some of the deepest wells drilled in the United States. He was reared in Oklahoma and received his B.S. in education from Northeastern Oklahoma State University. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Connie Esch Taylor; his mother, Wanda Grub of Stillwater; one half- brother, Jim Grubbs and his wife, Pat, and their sons; and a half-sister Kathy Hopper and her husband, Van, and their children. *********************************************************************** Jan.05 Goldie Row Goldie Coffman Row, 93, of Stillwater, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003 at Westhaven Nursing Home. Services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Minister Leonne Worcester will officiate. Interment will follow at Clarkson Cemetery near Coyle under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Row was born in St. Joseph, Mo., on March 23, 1909 to Herman Hugh and Harriet May (Silvers) McElvogue. She was married to Leighton Coffman, who preceded her in death on April 21, 1989. She attended school in Mulhall and Oklahoma City. She grew up in and around Mulhall, where she reared her family. In 1950, she moved to Stillwater. She moved to Michigan in 1960 and returned to Stillwater in 1973. She lived in Tulsa and Cushing before moving to Westhaven Nursing Home in October 1999 to be near her daughter. She worked as a salesperson and was a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Cushing. She enjoyed bowling and dancing - a pastime she loved well into her 80s. She was preceded in death by her husband and one daughter. She is survived by four sons, Bert Coffman, Perkins, Dan Coffman, Cherokee, Raymond Coffman, Claremore and Jim Coffman, Heber Springs, Ark.; one daughter, Arleta Whitmore of Stillwater; two brothers, Charlie Hardy, Glencoe and Claude Hardy, Rush Springs; one sister, Hattie Parsel, Stillwater; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made in her name to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . *********************************************************************** Jan. 06 Mary Louise Sisney Mary Louise Sisney, 82, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2003, in Guthrie. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Mobley-Dodson Funeral Chapel in Sand Springs. Interment will follow in Woodland Memorial Park under the direction of Mobley-Dodson Funeral Service. Sisney was born Dec. 26, 1920, to Clarence and Ethel (Malone) Cheek. She married Veachel C. "Bake" Baker in December 1936. He died Jan. 17, 1967. She later married James Sisney on Jan. 6, 1971, in Dewey. He died Sept. 15, 1998. Sisney lived in the Dewey and Bartlesville areas for 47 years. She worked as a sales clerk for JCPenney in Bartlesville for 19 years and retired in the early 1980s. She was an active member of the Dewey First Church of God. In addition to two husbands, she was predeceased by her parents, three sisters and three brothers. She is survived by three daughters, Judy Quisenberry and her husband Rowland of Stillwater, Carol Myers of Oklahoma City and Rosemary Stammer of Owasso; one brother, Bill Cheek of Gonzales, Texas; eight grandchildren; and six great- grandchildren. *********************************************************************** Jan. 07 Jane 'Mary Alice' McKenzie Frazier Jane "Mary Alice" McKenzie Frazier died peacefully in her sleep at the Renaissance in Stillwater on Monday, Jan. 6, 2003. Born on Jan. 8, 1912 in Hartford, Conn., she was the youngest of five children of Albert McKenzie and Mary McMahon. Her mother and sister perished in the great flu epidemic on 1919. She grew up in Boston, and her musical talent led her to an early career in musical theater and nightclub singing with the big bands of the era. She also appeared in motion pictures and early television comedies. Jane loved animals, especially her cats. She was a fan of classical musical, Tulsa Opera, OSU Masterworks Concerts, and Broadway theater. She traveled widely during her life, preferring ocean voyages, especially on the Queen Elizabeth II. She was known for her dramatic flair, with and wicked sense of humor. She married Herman Daniel Doane in 1929. They divorced in 1931. Jane married Jack Villaudy in 1939. They divorced in 1943. She married Lt. Eugene C. Frazier, Boise, Idaho, in 1946. They traveled the world during his career as a pilot and JAG officer in the U.S. Air Force. They retied in Spain, moved to California and then to Washington, D.C. area to be close to family. They moved to the Florida in 1984. Lt. Col. Frazier died in 1993. Jane moved to Stillwater to be with her daughter in 1998. Jane is survived by her daughter Maureen, son-in-law Glen Nemecek, Stillwater; grandsons, David of Arlington, Va., and John of Phoenix, Ariz., and three great grandchildren, Kylie, Johnnie and Jackson Nemecek, Phoenix. Her son, Donald P. Doane, Melbourne, Fla., died on Sept. 15, 2002. A rosary will be offered at St. John's Church tonight at 8 p.m. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John's Church. Celebrant will be the Rev. David Medina. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any offerings be made to the Stillwater Humane Society, 1710 S. Main, 74074. *********************************************************************** Jan. 08 Treva Loveless Treva Bell Loveless, 82, of Perry, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, in Stillwater Medical Center. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Grace Hill Cemetery. Rev. Martin Foster will officiate. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. She was the daughter of Jesse and Floy (Ewy) Robison and was born April 2, 1920, at Hatton Valley, Mo. She came to Oklahoma with her family in 1928, traveling by wagon. She attended Barret rural school. On Feb. 21, 1938, she and Cecil Loveless Sr. were married at Guthrie. They were married 43 years before his death Dec. 8, 1981. She moved to town from the family farm in rural Perry after her husband's death. As her family was growing up, she was active as a sport and band parent, always taking a load of young people to an event. She was a Camp Fire leader for many years. She was a member of the First Christian Church, Degree of Honor and Elks Lodges and the YMCA. She loved her family and friends beyond words. She loved going to the YMCA and out for coffee with her friends. She had a full, active and busy life and loved going on trips and doing things for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Most of all, she never knew a stranger and she loved life and lived it to the fullest. She is survived by one son, Cecil E. "Gene" Loveless and his wife, Joyce; one daughter, Barbara J. Schweer; one daughter-in-law, Nancy Loveless Bush, all of Perry; a special friend, Casey Lair and his family, Cushing; two granddaughters, Joanne Kindschi and her husband, Larry, Orlando and Deanna Loveless, Perry; five grandsons, Cecil James Loveless and his wife, Sheila, Lonnie Loveless, Rick Schweer and his wife, Kathleen, Kirt Schweer and his wife, Keli, and Ronnie Karcher, all of Perry; nine great-grandchildren, Nathan Thompson, Orlando, and Courtney Loveless, Lacy Loveless, Mandy Schweer, Chance Schweer, Justin Schweer, Dustin Schweer, Kirstin Schweer and Bradley Karcher, all of Perry; two sisters, Lois Speakman and Esther Van Noy, both of Ponca City; two brothers, Cecil Robison, Newkirk and Wayne Adams, Yale; two sisters-in-law, Colleen Robison and Zella Aigner, both of Perry; one brother-in-law, Orville Kildow of Florida; and many, many friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Larry R. "Buddy" Loveless, who died May 27, 1972; two sisters, Velma Kildow and Ada Robison; one brother, John Robison and her parents. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church building fund or the American Heart Association. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Spillman Martha M. Spillman, 100, of Perry, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, in Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Church. Rev. Martin Foster will officiate. Interment will be in Grace Hill Cemetery under direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. She was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Sawatzky and was born in Kingfisher County Dec. 2, 1902. On March 16, 1923, she and John Spillman were married. She had worked at Farmers Grocery, Bontrager Drug and as a cashier for Hal Peed at the Cherokee Strip Restaurant before she retired. She was a member of the First Christian Church and enjoyed crocheting, bowling, horseback riding and gardening. She was preceded in death by her husband, two daughters, her parents, three brothers, one sister and three grandchildren. Survivors are one son, J. D. Spillman and his wife, Jackie, Perry; one sister, Katie Swisher, Cushing; seven grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church building fund *********************************************************************** Jan. 09 Helen Hanner Helen Marie Hanner, 74, of Oklahoma City, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, in Oklahoma City. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Brown-Dugger Funeral Home Chapel in Perry. The Rev. Buddy Hunt will officiate. Interment will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery located in Perry, under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Hanner was the daughter of John and Minnie (Soulek) Curran. She was born April 25, 1928, in Blackwell. She attended Stillwater High School and enjoyed sewing and gardening. She married Max Henry Johnson Dec. 31, 1947, in Stillwater. He preceded her in death May 2, 1980. On April 21, 1984, she and Floyd Ray Hanner were married in Kingfisher. He also preceded her in death Nov. 28, 1996. She worked as a computer peripherals inspector for Seagate Corporation in Oklahoma City until she retired in 1997. She was affiliated with the Church of Christ and a member of the Elks Lodge in Kingfisher. In addition to both of her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two sons, Max L. Johnson of Wichita, Kan. and David L. Johnson of Oklahoma City; three daughters, Charmi A. Arguello of Oklahoma City, Stephanie A. "Toni" Choate of Hennessey and Carol L. Beecher of Kingfisher; one brother, John Curran of Hennessey; three sisters, Rose Hamblin of Durant, Shirley Hodge and Janice Emmons, both of Perry; 12 grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph 'Joe' Sanders Joseph "Joe" Thomas Sanders, 42, of Pawnee, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, in Pawnee. Funeral services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Poteet Funeral Home in Pawnee. The Rev. Bob Copeland will officiate. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery in Pawnee. Sanders was born July 20, 1960, in Pawnee, to Emery Marcus Sanders and Rena Mae (Herrian) Sanders. He lived most of his life in the Pawnee area and worked as a truck driver and mixed feed for Noble County Feed and Seed Company in Morrison until his health failed. He enjoyed fishing and camping and was a member of the Baptist Church. Sanders was predeceased by his father; one brother, Richard Sanders and one sister, Betty Riley. He is survived by one son, Marcus Sanders of Pawnee; mother, Rena Sanders of Pawnee; one sister; Margie Kelly of Willow Springs, Mo.; and four brothers, Bill Sanders of Lela; Raymond Sanders of Glencoe; Gene Sanders, Ponca City and Robert Sanders of West Virginia. He is also survived by a number of other relatives and friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarah Bay Former Cushing resident, Sarah Victoria Bay, 97, of Georgetown, Texas, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the First Baptist Church of Cushing, Dr. Lonny Lee, pastor, officiating. A private burial will take place in Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery prior to the memorial services under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. The daughter of John D. Seaba and Eva (Mitchell) Seaba, she was born Jan. 3, 1906, in Parkland and was reared and educated in Lincoln County. On Jan. 7, 1926, she married John A. Bay. They made their hone in Cushing and moved to Ripley after his retirement from the Kerr-McGee Refinery in 1961. He died Feb. 10, 1980, and she moved to Georgetown in 1997 to be near her daughter. A Christian from young adulthood, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Georgetown. She enjoyed gardening and growing flowers. Knitting was her hobby. She was also predeceased by her parents, husband, four sisters, five brothers and one grandson. Survivors include two daughters, Carolyn Whittington and her husband Wallace of Georgetown and Sandra Bacon and her husband Bill of Council Grove, Kan.; three sons, Hugh Bay of Fresno, Calif., John Bay and his wife Patsy of Eugene Ore., and Ethan Bay of Ojai, Calif.; 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Family members will be receiving friends at the funeral home today until 8 p.m. and Friday from 5-7 p.m. Condolences to the Bay family may be e-mailed to davisfhcushing@aol.com *********************************************************************** Jan. 09 Same as 1/08 *********************************************************************** Jan. 10 Opal Eastep Collins Opal Eastep Collins, 94, Stillwater, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, in the Renaissance. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Christian Church. Dr. William S. Inglish will officiate. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Collins was born Nov. 15, 1908, in Yeager, to James T. and Martha (Carol) Eastep. She was a graduate of Stillwater High School and Oklahoma State University. In 1933, Collins received an elementary education degree from Oklahoma A&M College and began a career in education by teaching in the public schools of Quay and Wilburton. She married Cleo A. Collins Dec. 23, 1934, in Perry. He died Nov. 5, 1980. She established Kollins Kiddie Kollege in 1952 in Stillwater and operated the school until her retirement in 1995. During the period from 1952 until 1995, over 4,100 children attended the school. She received numerous awards and honors in recognition of her dedicated service to children and the community. In 1992, Collins was recognized for devotion and contribution to the education of young children during the Week of the Young Child. In 1993, she received the Opal Collins award, sponsored by the Payne County Association for Children Under Six and the Rainbow Day Care Center. In 1996, she was nominated for the Friends of Children Award, sponsored by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. She was named Business Woman of the Year by the Business and Professional Women's Club in 1997 and inducted into the Oklahoma State University College of Education Hall of Fame. In the late 1960s, Collins and her husband established the C&O club, which stood for Cleo and Opal. The membership consisted of over 40 couples and as a travel club they traveled throughout the world. An Oklahoma State University Agriculture Education Scholarship and FFA Foundation Scholarship Awards program was established by former students of Cleo and Opal Collins, and has been active for over 20 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church. She is preceded in death by her husband. Collins is survived by her two sons, C.A. Collins, Chattanooga, and John Collins, Midland, Texas; and daughter, Joy Welker, Centennial, Colo.; two brothers, Oren Eastep, Chickasha, and Woodrow Eastep, California; and sister, Tiny Dill, Tulsa; 12 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Ralph Dreessen, Wes Watkins, Joe Raunikar, Bret Welker, Scott Welker, Colby Collins, Harry Askew and Scott Collins. Honorary pallbearers are Mark Welker, Lance Welker, Jeff Crowe, Greg Crowe and C&O Club members and former students. Those wishing to give donations may make them to the Oklahoma State University Scholarship Education Foundation, c/o Opal Eastep Collins Scholarship Trust or the charity of their choice. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cecil Earl James Cecil Earl James, 79, of Cushing, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, in the Resthaven Nursing Center in Cushing. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Assembly of God Church in Mounds. Brother Kenneth Creason and Brother Conn Sadler will preside with interment following at the Oakwood Cemetery in Mounds. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. He was born Oct. 16, 1923, in Drumright, to Samuel Joseph and Hazel Gertrude (Shaw) James. He received his early education at the Gray Horse School in Fairfax. He married Lota Mae (Smith) Oct. 2, 1952, in Sapulpa. They made their home in Mounds and lived there until moving to Cushing in 1990. James was an overhead crane operator for the Unit Rig Equipment Company in Tulsa and retired in 1989. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Mounds, served on the volunteer fire department and also served as mayor. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, of the home; one son, Jody Wayne James of Cushing; two daughters, Linda Beatrice Santos of North Carolina and Cecil Earlene Lynder of Hamilton, Ohio; two sisters, Gearldine Hampton of Norman and Verl Deane Fender of Mannford; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren including Elizabeth James of Cushing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James 'Eddie' Gillenwater James Edward "Eddie" Gillenwater, 57, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, in Westhaven Nursing Home. Services, with Rev. Jason Jett presiding, were at 2 p.m. Friday at Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed at Bethel Cemetery in Glencoe. Strode Funeral Home directed the arrangements. He was born May 30, 1945, in Dorba, W. Va., to Thomas and Ida Mae (Stewart) Gillenwater. He was predeceased by his parents and his biological mother, Anna Mae Gillenwater. He is survived by one brother and five sisters *********************************************************************** Jan. 11 None *********************************************************************** Jan. 12 Gene Russ Gene Alfred Russ, 84, of Pawnee, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, in Oklahoma City. Services will be Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the Poteet Funeral Chapel in Pawnee. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery with the Rev. Susan Ross officiating. Russ was born Dec. 28, 1918, in Sapulpa, to Henry Thomas Russ and Ada (Reeves) Russ. He married Zelma Vance Feb. 2, 1937, in Osage County. She preceded him in death Dec. 31, 2002. He went to school at Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater and received a degree in chemistry. During World War II, he worked for Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kan., as an assembler. Prior to working for Beech, he applied for a job as a chemist for Derby Oil Company and was hired to replace a chemist who had fallen into one of the tanks. In 1941, he was given the opportunity to play the guitar with Benny Goodman when he was on tour in Wichita. Russ wrote music and composed several pieces for Tommy Dorsey. In 1943, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy and served as Chief Pharmacist Mate at the Navy Hospital in Bremerton, Wash. After the war, he studied pharmacy at the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated in 1950. He worked as a pharmacist in Miami, Okla., until he moved to Albuquerque, N.M. to open his own drug store. He was in business in New Mexico until 1965, when he sold his store and moved to Hutchinson, Kan. After a few years, he and his wife moved to Tulsa to be close to their sister, Betty. Russ retired in 1983 and moved to Pawnee. He worked at the Pawnee Drug Store as a relief pharmacist. He loved music and played the organ, banjo, guitar, violin and bass fiddle. He entertained the residents at rest homes with music as a member of the local band, "The Ole Geezers." He is survived by one son, Richard T. Russ and his wife, LaNeal, of Oklahoma City; one grandson, Michael Russ and his wife, Janeel, of Oklahoma City; one granddaughter, Michelle Roberts of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Lathelle McGlamony and her son Kelly and her daughter, Connie and Hazel Rouk and her son, Stanley; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a number of other relatives and friends. Alexis Barclay-Bennett Alexis Toni Barclay-Bennett, 54, Morrison, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, in Stillwater. Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. in the Morrison Christian Church in Morrison. Interment will follow at Morrison Cemetery with Pastor Albert Quick officiating. She was born Aug. 26, 1948, in Vallejo, Calif., to Ralph Thomas Smith and Ramona Theresa (Oberti) Smith. She moved to Oklahoma from Fairfield, Calif., in 1992. She and her husband of 15 years, Richard "RICK" Bennett, made their home in Morrison. She enjoyed having lunch with the senior citizens on Wednesday with her good friend, Dean, who cooks for them. She always wore sandals and liked her carrot-top hair to be bright like her green eyes. She was very excited about her first grandchild, due in August. She was the owner and operator of the Carrot Top Beauty Salon in Morrison and a member of the Sumner Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband of the home; two sons, Sean Barclay and his fiance, Brooke, of Stillwater, and Michael Russ Barclay of Stillwater; one sister, Virginia Lee "Ginger" Coonrod and her husband, Leon, of Morrison. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews: Heath Lindley and his wife, Angie, and their daughter Christian "Tia", of Stillwater; Heather Lindley Kistler and her husband, Steve "Bo", and their children, Talon Beau and Paisley Alexis, of Pawnee; Monty Clark and his wife, Corey, of Albuquerque, N.M.; Justin Coonrod and his wife, Monica, and their son Susten, of Albuquerque, N.M.; and a number of other relatives and friends *********************************************************************** Jan. 13 None shown *********************************************************************** Jan. 14 Wayne Wood Wayne D. Wood, 57, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, in his Stillwater residence. Memorial services, with the Rev. Carol Fincher presiding, will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. There will be no visitation or viewing at the funeral home. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born March 22, 1945, in Trinidad, Colo., to Everett A. and Gwendolyn (Dodd) Wood. He married Kathy Ritchey Feb. 17, 1989, in Stillwater. He attended Trinidad Public Schools as a child. He moved to Stillwater where he graduated from Stillwater High School in 1963. He enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served two years. After his honorable discharge, he worked for Phillips 66 in Pullman, Wash., as a district manager. He returned to Stillwater in 1979 and began employment at Oklahoma State University as an agronomist. While living in Stillwater he served 2 years in the National Guard and attended OSU and obtained a bachelor's degree in plant science. He worked for OSU until he retired in 2002 as a senior agronomist. He was predeceased by his father. In addition to his wife of the home he is survived by his mother, Gwen Romero of Trinidad and his mother 0Frances Wood of Stillwater; two sons, Billy Wayne Wood of Fairview and John R. Wood of Stillwater; one daughter, Rebecca Dubbe' and her husband Brad of Tempe, Ariz.; one grandchild, Joseff Dubbe' of Tempe; three brothers, Wesley Wood and his wife Micki of Texarkana, Ark., Thomas A Wood and his wife Donna of Salt Lake City, Utah, and John K. Wood of Seattle, Wash.; one sister, Caryl Simpson and her husband David of Pekin, Ill.; an uncle, Graham Dodd and his wife Lorie of Sacramento, Calif.; and a great aunt, Alma Wood of Oklahoma City. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, C/O Karen Ward, 106 East Marie Drive, Stillwater, OK 74075. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John West John Bernard West died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Boston Avenue Methodist Church. Services are under the direction of Stanleys Funeral Service. West was born Feb. 23, 1925, to Gertrude and John and West in Elliott, Iowa. He was reared in Griswold, Iowa. He married Helen Joan Walker in 1947. While serving in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1943-1946, he attended New York University. He completed his PhD in chemical engineering at Iowa State College. He worked as an engineer for General Electric Company in Schenectady, N.Y. He was a professor of chemical and nuclear engineering for 21 years at Oklahoma State University, then moved to Tulsa where he was the director of fuels for Public Service Company of Oklahoma from which he retired in March, 1990. West was a member of the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Engineers Society of Tulsa, Green T Club and Tulsa Repeater Organization. He worked as a volunteer for Neighbor for Neighbor, Habitat for Humanity and Gilcrease Museum. In 2002, the John B. West Endowed Fund was established to support the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University. West was preceded in death by his son, John David. He is survived by his wife of the home; his sister, Mary Pelzer of Griswold; one son, Richard West of Bellaire, Texas; two daughters, Patricia Slothower of Corvallis, Ore. and Carol West of Tulsa; five grandchildren, Kristin West, Megan and Charles Slothower, Kevin Griffin and Margaret Honeycutt; and one daughter- in-law, Cheryl West of Beaufort, S.C. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boston Avenue Missions Commission. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wade 'Alvin' Taylor Wade D. "Alvin" Taylor, 30, of Stillwater, formerly of Perry, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church in Perry. The Rev. Beula Lewis will be officiating. Interment will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. There will be a family visitation at the Brown-Dugger Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home in Perry. Taylor was the son of Donald Elijah Wade and Cassie M. (Copeland) Taylor. He was born Aug. 21, 1972, in Perry. He was a 1990 graduate of Perry High School and was currently working at Quebecor in Stillwater. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Army in Desert Storm. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Perry. He was preceded in death by one brother, Durward Dale and his grandparents. Wade is survived by his fianc,e, Tiffany Graef of Stillwater; one son, Wade Dajuan Taylor Jr. of Stillwater; one daughter, Chianne Mone Taylor of Stillwater; his father, Donald Wade Taylor of Perry; his mother, Cassie Taylor of Perry; six brothers, Randall Dale and Chris Dale, both of Perry, Harold Dale of Los Angeles, Calif., Chris Dale of Spanaway, Wash., Shawn Dale of Tokyo, Japan and Donald Howard of Wichita, Kan.; four sisters, Greshon Dale of Stillwater, LaWanda Lewis of Fairfield, Calif., Stacia Johnson of Omaha, Neb. and Mary Taylor of Wichita; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doris 'Dodi' Brookhart Doris I. "Dodi" Brookhart, 81, of Siloam Springs, Ark., formerly of Perry, Oklahoma, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, in her son's residence in Jacobstown, N.J. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday at the Tilghman Funeral Home in New Egypt, N.J., with her son, Rev. Mark Brookhart, officiating. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Siloam Springs. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry under direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral home. Brookhart was the daughter of Earnest and Winnie Gregory. She was born July 12, 1921, in Wichita, Kan. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California in Irvine and a master of fine arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She was an art professor and head of the arts department at John Brown University in Siloam Springs before retiring. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Siloam Springs, where she served as a member of the administrative board and other boards and committees and as a lay reader. She was a member of the Northwest Arkansas Gem and Mineral Society and was a volunteer at the Manna Center. She had resided in Siloam Springs since 1974. Her parents, Earnest and Winnie Gregory; her husband, Leon E. Brookhart; and brother, Walter Gregory, preceded her in death. Survivors are a son and daughter-in-law, Rev. Mark and Lynn Brookhart, of Jacobstown; a daughter and son-in-law, Constance E. and Richard Wylemski, of Murphy, N.C.; one sister, Regina Thorman, of Van Buren, Ark.; and nine grandchildren. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nola Houtz Longtime Cushing resident, Nola Ann Houtz, died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, in the Linwood Village Nursing Home in Cushing. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Fairlawn Cemetery in Cushing. Bob Vaught will officiate. Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home. Houtz was born Dec. 18, 1909, to George and Berla Ella (McDaniel) Barnett near Stroud. She was reared and educated in the Stroud area. Houtz married Glen Houtz. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; three brothers, Doyle, Jesse and George Barnett; and two sisters, Marie Handing and Mable Stringer. Houtz is survived by five sisters, Dorothy Broderson of Alhambra, Calif., Loraine Bass of Thoreau, N.M., Goldie Taviana of Shawnee, Kan., Eunice Michalski of St. Joseph, Mo. and Darlene Presley of Tulsa; two brothers, James Barnett of Cushing and Bobby Barnett of Oklahoma City; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends. Condolences may be emailed to the family at davisfhcushing@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruby Horaney Former Cushing resident, Ruby C. Horaney, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, in Stillwater. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Fairlawn Cemetery. Dr. Lonny Lee, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate. Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. Horaney was born Oct. 9, 1907, to Grover and Effie M. (Lillard) Walker in Stonewall. She was reared and educated in the Stonewall and Wewoka area, graduating from Stonewall High School. She then attended and graduated from East Central State College in Ada with a teacher's certificate. Horaney married Lewis J. Horaney June 7, 1937, in Olney, Texas. He preceded her in death March 21, 1986. The couple lived in Cushing until 1948 then moved several places before establishing their home in Moore in 1961. The couple owned and operated several Louie's Restaurants throughout Oklahoma and Texas. She attended and graduated from Hillsdale Freewill Baptist College in 1973 with a degree in theology. She was proud of the fact that she was the oldest graduate from the college. In addition to her husband, Horaney was preceded in death by her parents; one infant son, Charles Haskell Aldrich Jr.; and one brother, T. C. Walker. She is survived by one daughter, Patsy Hough of Moore; two grandchildren, Tandy Wilhoit and her husband Alton of Harrah and Patrick Hough of California City, Calif.; two great-grandchildren, Jennifer Clem of Nicoma Park and Jason Vincent of Norman; one nephew, Tandy C. Walker of Arlington, Texas; and other relatives and friends. *********************************************************************** Jan. 15 Vivian Farmer Funeral services for Vivian Ann Flournoy Farmer, 65, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Tahlequah. Interment will be at the Green Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Green Country Funeral Home. Farmer was born July 10, 1937, to Ann Louise Griffith and Vernon Tweedale Flournoy. She was sister to 12 siblings. Those relationships and the relationship with her three children and six grandchildren would sustain her through life. She returned to college as a mother and graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in early education from Cameron University in Lawton. Later, she survived breast cancer and then returned to school. This time, she earned her master's in education from the University of Oklahoma in Norman. All the while, she was a teacher in the Lawton Public School System. Upon her retirement, she returned to Park Hill, the corner of Oklahoma she loved and knew as a child. What she will be remembered for most by her family and friends are not her public accomplishments, they are the things that made her Vivian Ann - her pie crust and pecan pie, the loyalty she had toward those she loved, her porch swing that she sat on most evenings where she looked at her Oklahoma moon and birthday, Christmas and every other card that she never forgot to send. Our world is a much lesser place without her. Life will never be the same without you walking among us. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Vernon Dale Flournoy and James Flournoy; and her little sister, Martha Lou Flournoy. Farmer is survived by her three children, Brian Farmer and wife Faye, Tulsa, Kelly Green and husband Preston, North Richland, Texas, and Vanessa Patton and husband Barry, Stillwater; siblings, Richard Flournoy, Park Hill, Barbara McIhany, San Antonio, Texas, Bonnie Masterson, Tulsa, George Flournoy, Tulsa, Tom Flournoy, Linda Bryson, Broken Arrow, David Eisenstein, California, Pamela Eaves, Albuquerque, N.M., and V Flournoy, Tahlequah; grandchildren, Melissa Green, Lakeland, Fla., Lindsey Farmer, Tulsa, Lauren Ann Farmer, Tulsa, Lance Farmer, Tulsa, Kailey Patton, Stillwater, Skyler Patton, Stillwater; stepmother, Margie Flournoy, Broken Arrow, and many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Mark Flournoy, James Flournoy, Preston Green, Barry Patton, Vance Flournoy, Daniel Flournoy, Kelly Bryson and Dan McIhany. Jack Masterson is a honorary pallbearer. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Md. 20014. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jasper Beard III Jasper Lee Beard III, better known as "James," died Jan. 19, 2002. Beard was born Jan. 15, 1960, to Jasper L. Beard II and Betty Pauline Shoemaker in Mesquite, Texas. He received his bachelor of science degree from Northeastern State University in 1991. While there, he served as president of the Accounting Association. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1994. He was elected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges at Oral Roberts University in 1994-1995 where he received his master's degree in business administration in May of 1995. At the time of death, Beard was at Oklahoma State University. He will be fondly remembered by his family and friends for his wit and sense of humor. He was a wonderful husband, a fun and thoughtful dad and was the world's greatest Papa to his only grandchild. He was everybody's best friend. Beard is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; one daughter, Jennifer Dawn; one son, Kenan Michael; one granddaughter, Madeline Regina; one "adopted son", Clint Boaz; his best friend and mentor, Dr. Michael C. Murphy; one brother, Larry Nichols of Tulsa; one sister, Joanne Hart of Houston, Texas; three brothers-in- law, Gary Howard Sr. and his wife Delores, Douglas Howard and his wife Janice and Samuel Howard and his wife Lisa; two sisters-in-law, Regina Oliver and her husband Gus and Marilyn Howard; 17 nieces and nephews; eight great-nieces and nephews; and numerous other friends and colleagues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lloyd Berry Cushing resident and former truck driver Lloyd Carroll Berry, 62, died Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, at his residence. Memorial services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel of the Davis Funeral Home, Cushing. Davis Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born Jan. 18, 1940, in Martin, S.D., to Emmitt and Iona Jakeway Berry. He was reared in the South Dakota and Nebraska area. He worked for a number of years as a truck driver and most recently worked for Quapaw. He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by one daughter, Jeannette Berry of Denver, Colo.; two sons, Sam Berry of Austin, Texas, and Dean Berry of Aurora, Colo.; three sisters, Lavonne Parker and her husband Clyde of Dalton, Neb., Clara Johnson of Scottsbluff, Neb. and Betty Lou Greenwalt of Bert; five brothers, Clyde Berry and his wife Linda of Angleton, Texas, Raymond Berry of McGrew, Neb., Clifford Berry of Signal Hill, Calif., Herbert Berry of Lakewood, Colo. and Allen Berry of Tulsa; special people, Irene Gonzalis, Lou (Gonzalis) Strader and Patricia (Gonzalis) Davis, all of Cushing; two granddaughters; three grandsons; one great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at davisfhcushing@aol.com *********************************************************************** Jan. 16 Rosemary Bennett Rosemary Bennett, 61, Stillwater, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003, at her home. Services are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Sunnybrook Christian Church with the Rev. Kent Williams and Manny Loveall officiating. Interment will be at 2 p.m. at the Resthaven Sunset Memorial Park in Ponca City. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Bennett was born May 6, 1941, in Shidler, to Charles Lloyd Billingsley Sr. and Zelma Haley Billingsley. She graduated from Shidler High School in 1959. After graduating high school, she married Eugene N. Smith June 9, 1959, in Shidler. The couple moved to South Dakota for a short period of time. They then moved back to the Shidler area and she went to work for the Shidler Telephone Company. Then in 1987, she moved to Ponca City, where she worked for Dr. Glasscock. After leaving her position with Dr. Glasscock, she went to work for Nickles Machine as the personnel manager. Later, after her divorce from Eugene, Bennett met and married Warren Bennett Sept. 9, 1988, in Ponca City. At this time, Bennett went to work for the Oklahoma Employment Service as an interviewer. In June 2001, she retired so that she could take care of her mother. She loved to cook and sew. She also loved spending time with her friends and especially with her family and grandchildren. She was a member of the Sunnybrook Christian Church. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Charles Lloyd Billingsley Jr., son, Phillip Eugene Smith, and daughter, Kay Ellen Smith. Bennett is survived by her husband, Warren Bennett of the home; one son, James Lloyd Smith, Blackwell; daughter, Kelly Smith-Troutman, Ponca City; two step- sons, Adam Bennett, Chandler, N.C., and Victor Bennett, Ponca City; and two step-daughters, Kelly Payne, Ponca City, and Kenda Davis, New York City, N.Y.; nephew, Michael Billingsley, Amarillo, Texas; nieces, Stacey Bowen, Newkirk, Beth Leven, Newkirk; sister-in-law, Shirley Billingsley, Newkirk; and her uncle, William Haley and wife Doris, St. Matthews, S.C.. Pallbearers will be James Smith, Tyler Smith, Rob Morgan, John Leven, Keith Bowen and Mike Daugherty. Memorials can be made o the Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, 74076. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth 'Betty' Beasley Elizabeth Irene "Betty" Beasley, 86, of Monroe, La., died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, at North Monroe Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church in Monroe. Rev. Paul Nazarian will officiate. A second service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the chapel of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home at Perry. Rev. Tim Boggess and Rev. Judy "Sissy" Chapshaw will officiate. Interment will be in Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry. She was the daughter of Thomas and Bess Munger and was born April 12, 1916. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Ouachita Republican Women and Stauss Little Theatre. Her husband, Arthur P. Beasley, parents, Thomas and Bess Munger, and brothers, Billy, Charles and Tommy, preceded her in death. Survivors are two daughters, Judith Beasley Hollis and Nancy Beasley Carpenter and her husband, Allen, all of Monroe; five grandsons, Trey Hollis, Scott Carpenter, Michael Hollis, Paul Hollis and Matthew Carpenter; two granddaughters, Amanda Carpenter and Sarah Carpenter; two great-grandchildren, Mason and Abby; one brother, Robert Munger, Lake Charles, La.; one niece and five nephews. Pallbearers will be Trey Hollis, Scott Carpenter, Michael Hollis, Paul Hollis, Tom Munger and Matthew Carpenter. Honorary pallbearers will be Bernard Waite, Brad Armintor and David Waller. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christina Ferguson Christina C. Ferguson, 88, of Locust Grove, a former Perry resident, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003, in the Locust Grove Care Center in Locust Grove. There will be a family visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Hill Cemetery. Rev. Martin Foster will officiate. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home in Perry. Ferguson was the daughter of Ralph and Susie (Glover) Webb. She was born Jan. 19, 1914, in Durham. She married Loyd Q. Ferguson Feb. 10, 1932, near Seward. To this union five children were born, Violet Roberta, Herbert Dean, John Allen, Harvey Gene and Lloyd Q. She was a lifetime Oklahoman and longtime resident of Perry. She was a homemaker, caregiver and enjoyed her crafts and collectables. She was preceded in death by her husband, Loyd; one daughter, Violet Yost; one son, Herbert Ferguson; three brothers and six sisters. Survivors include three sons, John Ferguson and Harvey Ferguson and his wife Brenda, all of Rose, Lloyd Ferguson and his wife Carolyn, of Porterville, Calif.; two brothers, Gerald Webb of Ovid, Colo. and Ralph Webb of Julesburg, Colo; two sisters, Ruby Mallett of Guthrie and Ramona Williamson of Berthoud, Colo.; two half-brothers, Vernal Webb, Chelsea and Lawrence Webb, Afton; one half-sister, Bell Daniels, Vinita; 15 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sydney 'Syd' Kadwell Stillwater resident Sydney "Syd" Kadwell, 57, died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, in St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Services, with Rev. Wayne Brown, pastor of Johnson Road Baptist Church presiding, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell is directing the arrangements. He was born June 15, 1945, in Welland Ontario, Canada, to Burton Sydney and Dorothy (Phillips) Kadwell. He moved with his family as an infant to Dallas where he grew up. He worked many years as a nightclub manager in various cities through the United States. More recently he worked as a maintenance technician in the oil industry in northeastern Oklahoma. He enjoyed fishing, camping and football. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was predeceased by his father and stepfather, Walter Smithey. In addition to his mother, Dorothy Smithey of Norman, he is survived by daughters, Lavanda Stone of Ada, Theresa Haynes of Purcell, Michelle Engert of Purcell, and Elisha Groom of Salem, Ore.; a son, Kyle Kadwell of Ponca City; sister, Ruth Ann Shea of Norman; five grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews *********************************************************************** Jan. 17 Melville 'Chili' Webb Melville "Chili" Dennis Webb, Stillwater resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, in Grace Living Center in Stillwater after battling a long illness. He was 87. A service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the chapel of the Trout Funeral Home in Ponca City with the Rev. Doug Thatcher, pastor, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow the service at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery in Ponca City. Webb was born Dec. 16, 1915, in Guthrie, the son of D.D. and Lula (Baker) Webb. He graduated from Ponca City High School in 1934. After graduation he went to study at Oklahoma A&M College, where he graduated in 1939. On Jan. 10, 1942, he joined the U.S. Army and served our country in WWII. On April 2, 1949, he married Dorothy L. Helton in Ponca City, where they made their home until moving to Stillwater in 2000. Webb worked for Nickles Machine Corporation for 25 years before retiring. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother and grandfather. In addition to golf, he enjoyed fishing and gardening. In earlier years, he loved to play football and played for both the Ponca City Wildcats and Oklahoma A&M. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Vernon Webb; and two sisters, Muriel Jones and Frances Polwort. Survivors include his wife of the home; his daughter Marcy Alexander and her husband Ken of Stillwater; his son, Tracy Webb and his wife Roxana of Lincoln, Neb.; two sisters, Nila Fern Novak of Lawrence, Kan. and Roberta Pedigo of Norman; his brother, Victor Webb of Ponca City; three granddaughters, Kendra Alexander of Stillwater and Lindsey Webb of Grand Island, Neb. and Brett Webb of Grand Island; two step-grandsons, Brian Jelinek and his wife Sara of Grand Island and Barry Jelinek of Lincoln; and several nieces and nephews and many special neighbors and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, 915 South Main, Stillwater, OK 74074. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marie Sloan Marie Sloan, 90, of Perry, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, in the Perry Memorial Hospital. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the Sumner Cemetery. Rev. Martin Foster will officiate. Interment will be under direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Sloan was the daughter of Herman Ludwig and Rosa Evelyn (Smith) Mellies. She was born Oct. 18, 1912, at Ness City, Kan. She and William A. Sloan were married at Ness City July 26, 1930. He preceded his wife in death July 31, 1988. A 69-year resident of Noble County, she moved to this area from Ness County, Kansas. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Christian Church of Perry. She dedicated her life to her family. In addition to her husband, William, her parents, nine brothers, one sister, two grandchildren and two sons-in-law preceded her in death. Survivors include three sons, William Sloan and his wife, Charlaine, Santa Barbara, Calif., Raymond Sloan and his wife, Betty, Concord, N.C. and Leo Sloan and his wife, Mary, Perry; three daughters, Vada (Postelwait) Johndrow and her husband, Robert, Arkansas City, Kan., Vivian Gibson and her husband, Dr. R. E., Hutchinson, Kansas, and Joyce Sutherland and her companion, Robert Milliron, Emporia, Kan.; one sister, Viola Grumbein, Ness City; 19 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, O. L. Sloan and Carl Smith, both of Perry and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beulah Herring Beulah Lee Herring, Agra, died Thursday Jan. 16, 2003, in Agra. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Osage Cemetery, south west of Agra. Services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing Herring was born May 8, 1918, in Nashville, Tenn., to Robert and Emma L. Maples Lee. She received her early education in Tennessee. She moved to New Mexico as a teenager and lived. She married Richard Thomas Herring Feb. 10, 1949, in Las Vegas, N.M. They lived in New Mexico until moving to Cushing in 2000. She was a fourth grade school teacher in New Mexico and was a member of the New Mexico Teachers Association. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, James. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, James Richard Herring and his wife Vinnis of Agra; one sister, Helen Slaughter of New Mexico and two grandchildren, Richard Herring and Sean-Lee Herring *********************************************************************** Jan. 18 Jess Treat Jess Treat, 78, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003, in Pawnee. Following cremation, graveside memorial ser vices, with Rev. Rick Blackwell officiating, will be at 1 p.m. today at the Star Cemetery in Chandler. Poteet Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born in Morrison July 4, 1924, to Sam and Bell (Hendrix) Treat. He married Sue Pinkston in Ripley Sept. 14, 1955. She died July 3, 1989. He was in the U.S. Army for 17 years and served in Germany. He loved to go camping at the many lakes, spending time with his family and friends and reading old west magazines. He worked as an oil pumper in the oil fields. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by two sisters, Geneva and Hazel; a brother, Clyde and a grandson, Justin Price. He is survived by his children, Pat Klingaman and her husband Paul of Morrison, Darrell Treat and his wife Karen of Stillwater, Allen Treat and his wife Cindy of Glencoe and Kevin Treat of Waurika; seven grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; and a number of other relatives and many friends. Charles Baker Charles Leslie Baker, 62, of Stillwater died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003 at Stillwater Medical Center. A Rosary Service will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Funeral services will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Father Ken Harder will officiate. Interment will take place at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of the services. He was born in Newcastle, Ind., July 29, 1940 to Ernest and Violet (Williamson) Baker. He married Katie Lapinid on March 23, 1963 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended schools in Newcastle, Ind. In 1958, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he later served in the Vietnam War and was a recipient of the Bronze Star and the Soldier's Medal. He retied from the service in 1978 at the rank of Major. After his honorable discharge, the family moved to Hawaii and then to Stillwater in 1980 where he had lived since. He began working for Oklahoma State University in the School of Chemical Engineering as a lab manager and remained in that capacity until his retirement in 2002. He greatly enjoyed surrounding himself with his family. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and the American Legion. He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Robert Baker. He is survived by his wife, of the home; three daughters, Tina Slovak and her husband, Doug, of Derby, Kan., Cathy Winrow and her husband, Kyle, of Earlsboro, and Corie Baker of Tulsa; three grandchildren, Kayla, Kara and Kendall Slovak; one brother, Ernest Baker and his wife, Doris, of Indianapolis, Ind.; and one sister, Frances Wallace and her husband, Charles, of Newcastle, Ind. Pallbearers will be Brian Ponce, Doug Slovak, Kyle Winrow, Floyd Baker, Wahsee Ho and Skip Mastin. Memorials may be sent to the Father Bob Schlitt Scholarship Fund c/o St. Francis, 623 S. West, Stillwater, OK 74074 *********************************************************************** Jan. 19 Jess Treat Jess Treat, 78, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003, in Pawnee. Following cremation, graveside memorial services, with Rev. Rick Blackwell officiating, will be Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. at the Star Cemetery in Chandler. Poteet Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born in Morrison July 4, 1924, to Sam and Bell (Hendrix) Treat. He married Sue Pinkston in Ripley Sept. 14, 1955. She died July 3, 1989. He was in the U.S. Army for 17 years and served in Germany. He loved to go camping at the many lakes, spending time with his family and friends and reading old west magazines. He worked as an oil pumper in the oil fields. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by two sisters, Geneva and Hazel; a brother, Clyde and a grandson, Justin Price. He is survived by his children, Pat Klingaman and her husband Paul of Morrison, Darrell Treat and his wife Karen of Stillwater, Allen Treat and his wife Cindy of Glencoe and Kevin Treat of Waurika; seven grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; and a number of other relatives and many friends. Ollie Brumley Ollie Mae Brumley, 87, formerly of Stillwater, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003. Services will be Monday at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Resurrection Cemetery in Oklahoma City. Ken Baird and Richard Poe will officiate. Brumley was born May 27, 1915, to Jim and Della Pettigrew. She married Fielder Brumley and they made their home in Oklahoma City. They lived there for over 50 years. She is a former resident of Golden Oaks Village. She was predeceased by her husband; two sons, Royce and Mike; her parents; and four siblings. She is survived by her son, Doyce; daughter-in-law, Ann; and two grandchildren, Chad and Todd, all of Stillwater. Memorials can be made to West of Heaven Christian Camp c/o The Church of Christ, 821 N. Duck, Stillwater, OK 74075. Alice Stetnish Alice Stetnish, 59, Billings, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, in her home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Christian Church at Billings with Kent Reubell officiating. Interment will be in the Billings Union Cemetery under direction of Dugger Funeral Home of Billings. She was the daughter of H. A. "Mutt" and Rosa Pleetus (McDonald) Journagan. She was born May 27, 1943, at Tulare, Calif. On Aug. 16, 1972, she and Eugene Stetnish were married at Yellville, Ark. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse who had worked at Enid State School and Sunnyside Nursing Home. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Billings. Prior to moving to Noble County 11 years ago, she had lived at Meno. Her father and two brothers, Leonard Ray Journagan and James E. Journagan, preceded her in death. In addition to her husband, Eugene; survivors are her mother, Pleetus Journagan; one son, Julian Eugene Stetnish; one daughter, Anna Louise Stetnish; and one sister, Rosemary Journagan, all of the home; and two brothers, Henry Journagan, Ardmore and Joseph Journagan, of Oregon. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Billings. Ethel Seago Ethel Katherine Seago, 92, Renaissance of Stillwater, died Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, in her home. Services and interment will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Ochiltree Cemetery in Perryton, Texas. The Rev. Greg Kennedy will officiate. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the local services. Arrangements in Texas are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton. She was born Oct. 12, 1910, in Gray, to Amcy E. and Grace (Coward) Pittman. She married Clarence Bluford Seago at her father's home in Gray in August 1928. He preceded her in death May 15, 2002. She attended and graduated from Union School. After her marriage, she and her husband lived in Gray, where they farmed until they moved to Stillwater in 1950. In 1957, they moved to Perryton, where they lived until they returned to Stillwater to be near their daughter, Vena Weathers. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Perryton and was an accomplished seamstress and artist. She particularly enjoyed her work with an organization for handicapped children. She was predeceased by her husband, two sons, two brothers and one sister. She is survived by two daughters, Betty Keifer and her husband, Paul, of Helena and Vena Weathers and her husband, Dale, of Stillwater; three brothers, Erlis Pittman of Spearman, Texas, Wamon Pittman and his wife, Katy, of Warden, Wash., Leonard Pittman and his wife, Johnny, of Fritch, Texas; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Memorials can be made to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74074. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . *********************************************************************** Jan. 20 Martin Montelongo Jr. Martin Montelongo Jr., 67, Stillwater, died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, in Stillwater. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in St. Francis Xavier Church. Father David Medina will officiate. Interment will be in Marena Cemetery under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Montelongo was born April 17, 1935, in Driscoll, Texas, to Martin Montelongo Sr. and Acrelia (Evara). He married Elida Montelongo in Altus. The couple later divorced. He married Wanda Montelongo on Aug. 8, 1979, in Altus. Montelongo was a Catholic and worked as a custodian. He was predeceased by his mother, father and sister. Survivors include two sons, Alfred Montelongo of Stillwater and Oscar Montelongo and wife Marie of Glencoe; a stepson, Roger Lemons of Stillwater; five daughters, Nancy Beals and husband William of Stillwater, Irma Molina and husband Johnny of Altus, Gloria Carlucci of Friendship, Linda Montelongo of Altus and Laura Montelongo of Lawton; 11 grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com *********************************************************************** Jan. 21 Etta L. Perkins Etta Louise Perkins, 60, died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, in her Stillwater home. A wake will be held at Bob Darcy and Lynne Murnane's home, 2215 West Fifth in Stillwater at 4 p.m. Sunday. Her friends are welcome. She was born June 9, 1942, in Oklahoma City, to Grace and Walter Overstreet. She attended Frederick Douglas High School and the University of Oklahoma where she was a Wilson Fellow. She was accepted to the Indiana University graduate program in history. There she specialized in Russia and wrote her Ph.d dissertation on aristocratic sponsorship of the arts. From this came several published articles in academic journals and a number of conference papers. Dr. Perkins taught at Purdue University and worked in Washington, D.C. and New York City as a researcher before coming to the Oklahoma State University History Department in the early 1980's While at OSU, she received a grant to study in St. Petersburg in the then Soviet Union and funding to research prominent African-American Oklahoma Women. She left OSU in the late 1980's. Since then she maintained a wide circle of friends while pursuing writing. She authored three mystery novels and published two volumes of poetry. A special pleasure was her regular meals with friends at Mom's. Her death left unpublished her novels and many of the poems she shared with her friends. She is survived by her sister, Linda Lewis of Oklahoma City, a niece and nephews. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nila Reed Nila Ione Reed, 75, died Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, in her home in Oklahoma City. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Strode Funeral Home in Stillwater. Interment will follow at the Lawson Cemetery in Yale. Reed was born July 28, 1927, in Ripley, to John William Mitchell and Lois Isabel Straughn Mitchell. She graduated from Ripley High School in 1946. Her grandparents and great grandparents settled in Payne County in the 1892 Sac and Fox land run. In recent years, Reed was president of Independent Accounting, Inc. in Oklahoma City. It is a tax service with clients throughout the city, including numerous families and businesses in the Asian-American community. She and her husband, Jess Barton Reed, were devoted and loving partners in life and also in various businesses, including owning and managing Capitol Hill Beauty College in the 1970s. Besides her parents, she is preceded in death by her two brothers, Corliss Mitchell and Norman Mitchell. Reed is survived by her husband; step-daughter, Karen Rae Reed, El Reno; Dan W. Reed, Oklahoma City; four sisters, Laveda Dyer, Sedan, Kan., Reva Mandeville, Stillwater, Doris Gates, Mannford, and Sue Tarver, Stillwater; sisters-in-law, Gloria Mitchell, Oklahoma City, and Mabel Louise Reed, Ft. Smith, Ark.; brothers-in-law, Gene Gates and Tommy Tarver. Reed will be remembered by her sisters as the one who invested many hours each day in personal and phone conversations that brought healing and compassion through all the passages of their lives. She is also mourned by her five first cousins, Ruth Spivey, San Antonio, Texas, Alice Clark, Brevard, N.C., Harold Straughn, Oklahoma City, Janet Mills, Mission, Kan., and Keith Straughn, Little Rock, Ark.; three nieces, Meredith Fry, Marna Drury and and Rilla Johnston; six nephews, Steven Dyer, Stanley Dyer, Jimmy Gates, Rudy Mandeville, Mitchell Tarver and Brett Tarver. All of her nieces and nephews looked at her as a source of joy, love and endless encouragement, as she showed interest in their many achievements and constantly supported them during times of loss. Pallbearers will be Steve Dyer, Stan Dyer, Mitchell Tarver, Brett Tarver, Kevin Fry and Rudy Mandeville *********************************************************************** Jan. 22 James 'Jim' Allen James "Jim" Allen, 67, Perry, died Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, in his home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the First Baptist Church in Perry. Rev. Buddy Hunt will officiate. Interment will be in Grace Hill Cemetery under direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Allen was the son of Leroy William and Mable Melissa (Peterson) Allen. He was born Aug. 13, 1935, at Aline. He was a 1956 graduate of Pawnee High School and a Noble County resident for 44 years. He and Carol Sue Crane were married Aug. 16, 1960, in Perry. He owned Jim's Welding in Perry from 1973-1992 and then was employed as a truck driver for Noble County District 3 until he retired Jan. 1, 2003. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Perry. He enjoyed fishing and woodworking. His parents and one brother preceded him in death. In addition to his wife of the home, survivors are one son, Jeffery E. Allen, Hobart; two brothers, George Allen, Enid and Emory Allen, Isabella; four sisters, Ellen Marie Fritchman, Perry, Helen Reihm, Salem, Ark., Beulah Duffy, Enid and Alfreda Ramsey, Tulsa; and two grandsons, Kyle Allen and Joel Allen, and one granddaughter, Laura Gibson, all of Hobart. Memorials may be made to Judith Karman Hospice or the charity of the donor's choice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lenes 'Danny' LeBlanc Lenes "Danny" LeBlanc, 89, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, in Grace Living Center. A rosary was said on Jan. 12 and services were Jan. 13 at St. Raphael Catholic Church. Interment was at Pine Hill Cemetery in Iowa, La. The Rev. Bill Miller presided. Strode Funeral Home directed the arrangements. He was born in Hayes, La., June 5, 1913, to Adam and Marie (Guillary) O'Blanc. He married Agnes LaComb April 19, 1941, in Calcasieu Parish, La. She died April 30, 1991. He resided in Iowa, La. and Stillwater and was a landscaper. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Stillwater and the CCI Camp. He loved gardening, telling stories about Louisiana, fishing and riding his adult tricycle. He also enjoyed visiting with friends and family and eating authentic Cajun food. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by one granddaughter, Angela Spring. He is survived by one son, Jerome LeBlanc and his wife Barbara of Humble, Texas; two daughters, Rebecca Ann Robertson and her husband James C. of Tomball, Texas and Lana Christine Ray and her husband James Edwards of Mulhall; one sister, Dora Bellard; 10 grandchildren, Kimberly Fleming and her husband Rick, Deborah Ventura and her husband John Paul, Rebecca Roberts and her husband Warren, Paula Williams and her husband David, Blane Robertson and his wife Kathy, Winfred Robertson and his wife Donna, Barbara McGlynn and her husband Mike; Shelly Spring and her life partner Mary Skinner, Jeremy Nealy and DeAnn Crisler and Christopher Ray; 29 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Blane Robertson, Winfred Robertson, Jeremy Nealy, Christopher Ray, Warren Roberts and David Williams. Honorary pallbearers were Shelly Spring and Barbara Robertson Memorials may be made to Lana Ray, 15201 West 56th, Mulhall, OK Condolences may be e-mailed the family at strodefh@aol.com or revlanaray@wmconnect.com *********************************************************************** Jan. 23 Juanita Batts Juanita Batts, 69, of Perry, died in Integris Bass Hospital in Enid Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the First Assembly of God Church in Perry. Alfred Poole will officiate. Interment will be at 2 p.m. in the Hope Cemetery near Marlow. Brown-Dugger Funeral Home of Perry is handling the arrangements. She was the daughter of Lloyd Marvin and Opal Marie (Vandegriff) Evans. She was born at Okemah Dec. 4, 1933. She and Odis Gaines Batts were married Dec. 21, 1957, at Perryton, Texas. He preceded her in death Nov. 29, 1992. She moved to the Perry community from Perryton 28 years ago. She was of the Pentecostal faith. She retired from The Charles Machine Works (Ditch Witch) in 1992 and worked as a waitress at the Depot Stop restaurant in Perry for eight years. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors are sons, Odis Ray Batts Jr. and his wife, Pamela, and Michael Dean Batts and his wife, April, all of Perry; daughters, Sherry Elaine Moser and her husband, John, Woodward, Rhonda Kay Bristol and her husband, Brian, Perry, Kathy Mae Naser and her husband, Muhib, Oklahoma City, Teresa Jean Barnard and her husband, Buddy, Perry, Brenda Gale Wheatley and her husband, Steven, Perry, Lisa Diane Morrill and her husband, John, Morrison and Shelly Renae Kuhn and her husband, Jon, Glencoe; two brothers, James Evans, Abique, N.M., and Cecil Charles Evans, Woodward; three sisters, Shirley Stafford, Spearman, Texas and Oleta Straughan and Linda Logsdan, both of Woodward; 30 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, one great-grandchild-to-be and numerous nieces and nephews. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lenes 'Danny' LeBlanc Lenes "Danny" LeBlanc, 89, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, in Grace Living Center. A rosary was said on Jan. 12 and services were Jan. 13 at St. Raphael Catholic Church. Interment was at Pine Hill Cemetery in Iowa, La. The Rev. Bill Miller presided. A memorial service will be held Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. at Grace Living Center. Strode Funeral Home directed the arrangements. He was born in Hayes, La., June 5, 1913, to Adam and Marie (Guillary) O'Blanc. He married Agnes LaComb April 19, 1941, in Calcasieu Parish, La. She died April 30, 1990. He resided in Iowa, La. and Stillwater and was a landscaper. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Stillwater and the CCI Camp. He loved gardening, telling stories about Louisiana, fishing and riding his adult tricycle. He also enjoyed visiting with friends and family and eating authentic Cajun food. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by one granddaughter, Angela Spring. He is survived by one son, Jerome LeBlanc and his wife Barbara of Humble, Texas; two daughters, Rebecca Ann Robertson and her husband James C. of Tomball, Texas and Lana Christine Ray and her husband James E. of Mulhall; one sister, Dora Bellard; 10 grandchildren, Kimberly Fleming and her husband Rick, Deborah Ventura and her husband John Paul, Rebecca Roberts and her husband Warren, Paula Williams and her husband David, Blane Robertson and his wife Kathy, Winfred Robertson and his wife Donna, Barbara McGlynn and her husband Mike; Shelly Spring and her life partner Mary Skinner, Jeremy Nealy and DeAnn Crisler and Christopher Ray; 29 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Blane Robertson, Winfred Robertson, Jeremy Nealy, Christopher Ray, Warren Roberts and David Williams. Honorary pallbearers were Shelly Spring and Barbara Robertson Memorials may be made to Lana Ray, 15201 West 56th, Mulhall, OK Condolences may be e-mailed the family at strodefh@aol.com or revlanaray@wmconnect.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foster 'Marion' Jett Foster "Marion" Jett, 97, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Church (301 E. Moses) in Cushing. Pastor Tom Stewart will preside. Interment will follow at the Fairlawn Cemetery, north of Cushing. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. Jett was born July 14, 1905, to Carrie Elsie Thomas Jett and George Washington Jett in Kremlin, Oklahoma Territory. The family moved to Hunter where he graduated from high school in 1923. He worked the wheat harvest for money to attend college. He attended Oklahoma A & M (Oklahoma State University) for two years until his money ran out. He later graduated from Wichita Business College, Wichita, Kan. His first job was with the Globe Refinery in Tonkawa. When his job was phased out, rather than lose a good man, Globe transferred him to Cushing in 1928. In 1931 he met and married May Newham of Cushing. Their only child, Beverly, was born in 1932 in a house that is still standing on the corner of Seventh and Noble. The house had been built by Ed H. Newham, who owned Newham Oil Company and who served on the committee that built the First Presbyterian Church in Cushing. He then went to work for Cushing Refining and Gasoline Co., which became Midland Co-op, where he worked for 22 years and eventually became a vice president. In 1940, the family moved to 947 E. Walnut. He later went to work for Gibble Oil Company and he and Earl Gibble formed Gibble-Jett Gas Company. He eventually bought out Earl Gibble's interest and moved the renamed Jett Gas Company to 1520 E. Main where he operated until 1977 when he sold the company and retired. He was an active and enthusiastic member of Rotary, which he joined in 1963 and served as president in 1969. Rotary honored him by making him a Paul Harris Fellow. Jett was a former director and treasurer of the Oklahoma L.P. Gas Association, member of the Cushing Chamber of Commerce, elder and treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Cushing and an honorary member of the F.F.A. He did charitable work for the Salvation Army and other charitable organizations too numerous to mention. He is survived by his daughter, Beverly, and her husband, Henry Cullins, along with two grandchildren, Steve and Chris Cullins; Chris' wife, Janice, and their two sons, Joshua and Travis Cullins. He also is survived by many nieces and nephews in the Hunter area. Pallbearers will be Bob Brooks, Steve Cubbage, Oliver Kinzie, Frank Cochran, Josh Billings and Jim Daves. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Louise Bryan Mary Louise Bryan, 63, of Cushing, died Tuesday, Jan, 21, 2003, in the Stillwater Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Palmer Funeral Home Chapel in Cushing. Interment will follow at the Fairlawn Cemetery, north of Cushing. Rev. Darrell Newby will preside Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. She was born May 17, 1939, in Cuthbert, Texas, to William Luther and Hettie Frances (Green) Grant. At the age of 11 months she moved to California with her family. She grew up in Shafter/Bakersfield area. She graduated from Salinas High School. She married George James Bryan in Salinas, Calif., Jan. 30, 1959. They lived in Salinas until moving to Oklahoma in 1977. In 1987 they moved to Springfield, Mo., and lived until returning to Oklahoma in 1997 to live and retire. She was a homemaker and also worked for her daughter at Erwin's Office Supply in Cushing until she became ill. She was saved and baptized at an early age. She was Pentecostal and filled with the Holy Spirit. She enjoyed being around family, liked to sew, cook, read, do needlework, write (articles, poems, letters), bowl, play games, movies, sing, music and many other activities. She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Hettie and Luther Lecompte; sister, Beatrice; and brothers, Claudie, Monkey, Bob, Kenny, Beryl and Neill. Survivors include her husband of the home; sons, Randy Bryan and wife Cherie of Yale, Harlan Bryan and wife Crystal of Waxahachie, Texas; daughter, Trudy Evans and husband Brian of Cushing; brothers, Billy Grant of Wafford Heights, Calif., Buddy Grant of Paris, Calif., Max Grant of Cedarville, Ark.; sister, Reba Vaughn of Bakersfield, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Kellie and husband Joshua Cheek of Long Beach, Calif., Adam Bryan and Kayla Dees of Cushing, Hannah Bryan and Ethan Bryan of Waxahachie, Texas, Cory Evans of Cushing and Sara Evans of Edmond. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Harold 'Hap' Prough Harold Andrew Prough (Hap), died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003. A celebration of his life will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Eastern Heights Christian Church. All ministers attending are asked to bring their Bibles; sit together; and to form an honor guard as the casket is taken out. The family will be holding a private interment at the Cushing cemetery Friday afternoon under the direction of Trout Funeral Home. He was born July 1, 1937, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Andrew John and Edith Ione (Ozmun) Prough. His second birth "of the water and the spirit" occurred when he was a freshman in high school at Norfolk, near Yale. In 1960, he graduated from Midwest Christian College, Oklahoma City, with a five-year bachelor of theology degree. He married Janet Johnson in Cherryvale, Kan., April 7, 1957, and spent the next 45 years introducing himself as Hap and Jan as "Mishap." He and his wife began their first ministry at Wellston. The Northeastern Evangelizing Association asked him to start a new church at Okmulgee. He agreed. Within five years - from a nucleus of 10 people led by a 25-year old Hap - the church had grown sufficiently to underwrite his salary and break ground for the construction of Town and Country Christian Church. The same evangelistic association asked him to start a new church at Ponca City. A nucleus of 14 was already meeting (three couples plus two young mothers and six children). In five years his salary was underwritten, land was purchased and Eastern Heights Christian Church was under way. He viewed Matthew 28:19-20 as the only vision a church needed: he "taught, baptized and taught." His vision of taking the light of Christ to the lost soon expanded beyond Ponca City. He challenged the leadership of E.H.C.C. to commit to give to missions 50 cents of every dollar received. This vision, in time, was realized. Mission works in Thailand and in South Africa were particularly dear to his heart. In recent years, he traveled often to Africa preaching and working with the missionaries. He was a rural mail carrier for 30 years and was an avid student of history, archaeology and geography, having led tours to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Prough was preceded in death by his father and his granddaughter, Abigail. He and his wife had five children and nine grandchildren; son, Scott and wife, Christy, and their children, Alexandra and Lucille of Oklahoma City; son, Greg, of the home; son, Chris and wife, Susanne, and children, Christian, Ian, Brach, Adler, Catherine and Yorke, of Tulsa; son, Jonathan and wife, Carrie of Oklahoma City; and daughter, Angela Prough of Wichita. He is also survived by a "Second Family." In his 33 years at Eastern Heights he introduced, encouraged and shepherded countless "brothers" and "sisters" into the family of God. He viewed these fellow believers as being part of his extended family. He will rejoice in the day when he can be reunited with both of his "families". Pallbearers will be Jon Prough, Larry Prough, Bill Prough, Gary Miles, Charles Stuckey, Jim Albright, Bob Wilson, Wayne Kraft, Don Myers, Jim McDaniel, Gary Heick and Don Horner. (Overflow facilities with audio and video feed will be available with access from the lower level south door of the church, if needed.) In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the North Burma Christian Mission in care of Eastern Heights Christian Church, 5100 Lake Road, Ponca City, OK 74601. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Garnett Gladys Grindstaff Garnett Gladys Grindstaff, 92, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, in Stillwater Medical Center. Visitation at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home will be Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Services, with Dr. William Inglish presiding, will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. She was born on the family farm near Glencoe Feb. 5, 1910, to Milton and Lydia (Stockwell) Johnson. She attended Eureka Consolidated school. She married Earl C. Grindstaff June 9, 1928, in Perry. He died in 1976. After living in several cities, the family returned to Stillwater where her husband was in the furniture and grocery business. She will always be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will also be remembered for sincerely caring about all her friends and neighbors. She was a member of the First Christian Church. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by two sisters and three brothers. She is survived by one son, Kendall E. Grindstaff and his wife Lucille of Stillwater; one daughter, Carol J. Overton and her husband Bob of Stillwater; six grandchildren Rick Grindstaff, Kirk Grindstaff, Robert B. Overton and his wife Nancy, and Tamara Overton, all of Stillwater, Kendall Overton and his wife Twila of Oologah and Lori Taylor and her husband Chad of Tulsa; and six great- grandchildren, Parker, Lacy, Ashlee, Mallory, Bobby and Samuel. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 411 West Mathews, Stillwater, OK 74075. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solomon Tommy Bentley Solomon Tommy Bentley, 93, Coyle, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, in Stillwater. Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Friends Chapel Church. Pastor Merl Kinser will officiate. Interment will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Bentley was born Dec. 26, 1909, to Bert and Effie (Bainey) Bentley on a farm south of Progress School House in Payne County. He attended Progress School, Goble School and Coyle Public School. He enjoyed animals and could often be heard whistling a tune while he worked. He was a farmer and dairy operator raising Guernsey cattle. He also owned a flock of California White Leghorn chickens and produced eggs for the Stillwater Hatchery and Roper's Stillwater Hatchery for over 50 years. Bentley was married April 3, 1937, to Doris Viola McGuire. With the exception of three years in rural Stillwater and one year in Mehan Valley, the couple spent their entire married life of 65 years together on a farm northeast of Coyle. He was a member of the Baptist Church, the Oklahoma Guernsey Cattle Association and AARP for many years. He is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Earnest, Everette and Vearis; four sisters, Alpha Cowger, Ollie Longan, Annabel Townsend and Betty in infancy. Bentley is survived by his wife of the home; one daughter, Glennda Bateson and husband Leon, Stillwater; son, Tommy Bentley and wife Jan, Perkins; five grandchildren, Kim Cowles Randolph and husband Jason, Morrison, Brent Bateson and wife Jeana, Morrison, Brian Bentley and wife Monica, Glencoe, Allison Campbell and Jennifer Bentley, Coyle; five great grandchildren, Caden Cowles, Jase Randolph, Hunter and Hannah Bateson and Haylee Campbell; two brothers, C.A. Bentley and wife Norma, Coyle, and Lloyd Bentley and wife Sue, Ponca City. Pallbearers will be Wayne Boyce, Fred Schneider, Wayne Whitmore, Kenneth Sexton, Roy Focht and Kelvin Majors. Honorary pallbearers will be Leonard Lowe, Wyman Bostain, Richard Rogers, Leon Bostain, Ed Cundiff and Harold Martin. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com *********************************************************************** Jan. 24 Cletus Sollars Longtime Cushing businessman Cletus Sollars, 79, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, in Cushing Regional Hospital. Services, with Dr. Lonny Lee, pastor, presiding, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the First Baptist Church in Cushing. Interment will follow in the Euchee Valley Memorial Park Cemetery. Davis Funeral Home, Cushing, is directing the arrangements. He was born Feb. 26, 1923, in Avery, to Riley and Flossie (Titus) Sollars. He attended grade school at Happy Valley and graduated from Cushing High School with the class of 1941. He served in the South Pacific as quartermaster with the Army's 84th Division. He was discharged in 1946. He married Colleen Edwards May 28, 1949, in Drumright. The couple had one son. The couple spent their first 10 years in Cushing and in Wyoming, working for Shell Pipeline. They returned to Cushing in 1958 where they owned and operated the Sollars Electric Company for 37 years. The company primarily did oil field electrification in and around Cushing. He was a member of the First Baptist Church since 1948. He was an ordained deacon in 1980 and taught high school youth and adult men Sunday school. He enjoyed farming and working with cattle. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Earl Sollars; and two sisters, Ella Mae Sollars and Sissie Sollars. In addition to his wife of more than 53 years, he is survived by one son, Donnie Sollars and his wife Lou Ann of Cushing; a grandson, David Sollars of Cushing; one brother, Ervin Sollars and his wife Opal of Stillwater; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asa Cavett Asa Dale Cavett, 63, of Perry, died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, in his home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Perry. Rev. Marvin Warren will officiate. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. in Highland Cemetery at Pawnee, under direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home of Perry. Cavett was the son of W. Earl and Ruby (Wright) Cavett and was born Feb. 23, 1939, in Pawnee County. A 1957 graduate of Pawnee High School, he has resided in Noble County since 1969. He had worked as a barber in Perry before he retired and also had been involved in farming. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Army and was of the Baptist faith. He and the former Sally Fox were married in Pawnee County Oct. 19, 1995. One brother, Ronald Cavett, and his parents, Earl and Ruby Cavett, preceded him in death. Survivors are his wife of the home; two daughters, Angela Cross, Perry and Rhonda Meek, Orlando; one step-daughter, Marty Coldiron, Perry; two brothers, Bob Cavett, Pawnee and Richard Cavett, Stillwater; five sisters, Betty Campbell, Earlene Justus, Wanda Waters and Dianna Newman, all of Pawnee and Jo Johnson, of Minnesota; and eight grandchildren. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terry Wayne Craven Tryon resident Terry Wayne (Loaf) Craven, 43, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003. Memorial services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Tryon. Brother Marvin Skinner will preside. He was born in Oklahoma City April 1, 1959, to Mr. and Mrs. Durrel Craven. The family moved to the Tryon area in 1962 where he attended the Tryon First Baptist and was baptized into the faith. He attended Tryon Grade School and graduated from Perkins-Tryon High School in 1977. While he was in high school he was employed at Ralph's Packing in Perkins. He attended Okmulgee Tech. He was married to Marcele Pittser of Shamrock. The couple had two children, Destony Rochelle and Samuel Durrel Craven II of Cortez, Colo. He moved back to Oklahoma to attend Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech to learn diesel mechanics and was a butcher at a major Oklahoma City grocery chain until he graduated. He returned to the Tryon area in 1998 where he resided until his death. In addition to his children, he is survived by his parents, Durrel and Beverly Craven of Tryon; sisters, Patty Welch and her husband Tommy of Tryon and Cheryl Murphy of Del City; brother, Alvin Craven and his wife Carolyn of Carney; two grandchildren, Jonathan and Justus; and a number of nieces, nephews and friends. *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** ***********************************************************************