Payne Co OK - Obit Index for September, 2002 for the Stillwater News Press, http://www.stwnewspress.com/ ****************************************************** Thanks to http://www.stwnewspress.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright, http://www.stwnewspress.com/ http://files.usgwarchives.net/ok/payne/obits/newspress/nov01.txt ****************************************************** 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/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/payne/payne1.html ****************************************************** Stillwater News Press: http://www.stwnewspress.com/ ****************************************************** Sept. 1, 2002 Nelda Clinesmith Nelda Jane Clinesmith, 79, of Enid, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2002, in Stillwater after a progressive illness. Services, directed by Paul Anderson of Sunnybrook Christian Church, will be held at Strode Chapel at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Interment will be at Fairlawn Cemetery in Stillwater. She was born July 23, 1923, to Wallace and Cleo Laughlin of Oklahoma City. Her mother died when she was a small child. Her stepmother was Norma Laughlin. She attended Oklahoma City public schools before moving to Enid her senior year in high school. She attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater and later married Richard Clinesmith in Enid. He owned Clinesmith Furniture, which was founded in Enid in the late 1930's. After her two daughters were grown, she went back to school at Phillips University and received her education degree. She taught social studies and geography for 15 years at Longfellow Junior High in Enid before she retired. She was an avid reader and a life-long lover of the arts. She made sure her daughters experienced her passion for music, painting and sculpture. She loved to listen to music and especially Pavarotti and selections from the Three Tenors. She was a longtime sports fan and loved to attend professional baseball games. She moved to Stillwater in 1998 and attended as many Oklahoma State University Cowboy sporting events as her health would allow. Her diverse interests in sports figures included two favorites, Andre Agassi and Tiger Woods. She lived a simple and prudent life, but left her two daughters their greatest gifts in life, which was her introduction of Jesus Christ to them at a very young age. She was a longtime worker in the Garfield County Republican Party and a member of the First Methodist Church in Enid. She attended Sunnybrook Christian Church weekend services at Golden Oaks. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard; a sister, Wilma Barnes of Tulsa; and her youngest daughter, Kathy Castillo of Los Angeles, Calif. She is survived by one daughter, Linda Anderson and her husband Paul of Stillwater; two grandsons, Luke Anderson and his wife Terri of Frisco, Texas and Seth Anderson of Houston, Texas; one sister-in-law, Orvetta Clinesmith of Denver, Colo.; one son-in-law, Mike Castillo of Los Angeles, Calif.; and her longtime friend Dutch Diesterweg of Enid. Pallbearers will be Luke Anderson, Seth Anderson and members of the Sunday night prayer group. The family requests that contributions in lieu of flowers be made to Sunnybrook Christian School. Margaret Catherine Casey Margaret Catherine Casey, 85, of Stillwater, died Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002, at Stillwater Medical Center. Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Strode Funeral Chapel. George Peterson and Richard May will officiate. Interment will follow at Fairlawn in Stillwater under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors Sunday afternoon at 1108 W. 44th. Visitation at Strode Funeral Home will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. She was born Aug. 22, 1917, to John Thomas and Margaret Luvina (Sumner) Casey in Stillwater. She lived in Stillwater except for the years she spent in the ministry. She was a non-denominational minister. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Flossie Casey. She is survived by two brothers, Thomas Aaron Casey, Stillwater and John Mark Casey of Winterville, Ga.; and four sisters, Hattie Ruth Casey, Ella Luvina Casey, Dollie May Keith and Mary Anna Thompson, all of Stillwater. Pallbearers will be her nephews, John Keith, Wayne Keith, Dan Keith, David Casey, Richard Casey, Fred Beekmann, Peter deBoer, Tommy Gardner and Aaron Keith. Honorariums will be Luin Leisher, Otto Hildebrand, James McEntire and Adam Makin. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at ****************************************************** Sept. 02, 2002 Margaret Catherine Casey Margaret Catherine Casey, 85, Stillwater, died Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002, in Stillwater Medical Center. Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Strode Funeral Chapel. George Peterson and Richard May will officiate. Interment will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery in Stillwater under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. The family received visitors Sunday afternoon at 1108 W. 44th. Visitation at Strode Funeral Home will be today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Casey was born Aug. 22, 1917, to John Thomas and Margaret Luvina (Sumner) Casey in Stillwater. She lived in Stillwater except for the years she spent in the ministry. She was a non-denominational minister. She was predeceased by her parents and one sister, Flossie Casey. She is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Thomas Aaron and Peggy Casey of Stillwater and John Mark and Donna Casey of Winterville, Ga.; four sisters, Hattie Ruth Casey, Ella Luvina Casey, Dollie May Keith and Mary Anna Thompson, all of Stillwater; and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be her nephews, John Keith, Wayne Keith, Dan Keith, David Casey, Richard Casey, Fred Beekmann, Peter deBoer, Tommy Gardner and Aaron Keith. Honorariums will be Luin Leisher, Otto Hildebrand, James McEntire and Adam Makin. Condolences can be e-mailed to ****************************************************** Sept. 03, 2002 Mac E. Beadles Mac E. Beadles, 68, of Perry, died at his home early Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Perry with Rev. Tim Boggess officiating. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Fredonia City Cemetery in Fredonia, Kan., under the direction of Timmons Funeral Home. Beadles was the son of Ellis Mac and Ruth Lillian (Bales) Beadles. He was born Aug. 19, 1934, in Fredonia, Kan. He was a 1952 graduate of Fall River Rural High School and a 1985 graduate of the Kansas Law Enforcement Academy. He married Peggy Palmer Aug. 19, 1953, in Fredonia, Kan. He had been a resident of Noble County for six years. He and his wife moved to Perry from Greenwood County, Kan. He worked in farming, ranching, construction and retired as a conservation officer from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Dec. 31, 1995, after 16 years of service. After retirement, he worked part-time at Big J Pump and Supply in Perry. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Perry and the Kansas Peace Officers' Association. He was also a member and past Worshipful Master of the Greenwood 163 Masonic Lodge of Fall River, Kan. His father preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of the home; two daughters, Sherri Huneycutt and her husband Tim, of Edmond and Kristi Johnson and her husband Scott, of Perry; two grandchildren, Kaelee Johnson of Hobbs, N.M. and Tate Johnson of Perry; and his mother Ruth Beadles of Perry. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Perry or the Judith Karman Hospice of Stillwater. ****************************************************** Sept. 04, 2002 Linda Reamy Linda Reamy, 52, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, at her home in Perry. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in the Chapel of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home in Perry. Pastor Steve Smith will officiate. A committal service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at the El Reno Cemetery. She was born Oct. 10, 1949, in El Reno to Billy Leslie and Ellen Louise (Stevens) Baker. Reamy was a graduate of El Reno High School and El Reno Junior College. She moved to the Perry community from Moore 21 years ago. On Aug. 8, 1992, she and Billy Gene Reamy Jr. were married in Las Vegas, Nev. She owned and operated Perry Lanes for 13 years before retiring in 1994. She previously had been employed at Tinker Air Force Base Her mother preceded her in death. In addition to her husband of the home, she is survived by one son, Alan J. Lewis, Perry; her father, of El Reno; one sister, Leslie R. Dye, El Reno; and her step-father, Byron Vietzke, El Reno. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sylvia Wilmore Sylvia Pauline Wilmore, 83, Stillwater, died Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002, in Stillwater. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Methodist Church in Mountain View. Rev. Bruce Govett officiated. Burial followed in the Mountain View Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Hackney Funeral Home in Mountain View. Wilmore was born Nov. 2, 1918, near Binger, to William Oscar and Viola (Stump) Jones. She moved with her family to a farm north of Mountain View in the 1930s, where she graduated from high school. Wilmore married C.C. "Bob" Wilmore Feb. 24, 1941, in Chickasha. The couple made their home on the family farm near Mountain View. He died in 1968. She continued to live on the farm until 1982 when she moved to town. Wilmore was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She worked extensively with the United Methodist Women on the local, district and state levels, and was a delegate to several national meetings. As a member of the UMW, she also helped cook for weekly Rotary Club meetings for about 35 years. She was an avid reader and helped establish and work with the Addie Davis Library. She was a member of the Twentieth Century Club as well as several other women's clubs in Mountain View. She moved to Stillwater in 1998 to be near her daughters. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one brother, Thermon. Wilmore is survived by her son, Rex Wilmore and wife, Lynn, Santa Fe, N.M.; two daughters, Anne Couger and husband Gordon, Stillwater, and Susan Rackley and husband Emmet, Stillwater; six grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barbara Embry Barbara Cordelia Embry, 90, Yale, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002, in the Stillwater Medical Center. Services were held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Yale. Interment was at Lawson Cemetery. Brother Michael Dershem and Rev. Steve Loop officiated. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home of Pawnee. Embry was born Oct. 8, 1911, in Maramec, to James and Cordelia (Tull) Cannon. She was reared in the Maramec area, attending grade school and high school there. She married Clarence Embry Sept. 18, 1938, in Maramec. The couple would have been married 64 years this year. She attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, finishing with an elementary certificate. Embry taught at Lone Elm, Blue Valley and Maramec during World War II. She was saved and baptized at a young age in the Maramec First Baptist Church. In 1973, she joined the First Baptist Church in Yale. She was a devoted wife and homemaker and enjoyed embroidering. She is preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Nora and one brother, Quincy. She is survived by her husband of the home; sister, Vida Grace Lentz, Pawnee; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Faye Churchill Faye Elizabeth Churchill, 101, died Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002, in Stillwater. Services, with Pastor Wayne Sanmann presiding, will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Southside Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. She was born in McKinley Sept. 10, 1900, to William Alvin and Clara Josephine (Mangold) Lynn. She married Menzo Jay Churchill Oct. 5, 1916, in Guthrie. He died Oct. 9, 1980. She grew up in McKinley and moved to Stillwater where she attended school. Her family later moved to Guthrie. In 1952, the family moved to Stillwater where she worked in a housekeeping department at Oklahoma State University. She later worked at a laundry mat on 17th and Perkins Road. She lived in or near Perkins or Stillwater all her life. She loved to garden and enjoyed cooking. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a son, Clinton Jay; an infant daughter, Lillie Gwendolen; three brothers, one sister, two sons- in-law and one grandson. She is survived by three daughters, Allie (Bounds) Griffin of Madera, Calif, Donna Lou Graham and her husband Gene of Wichita, Kan.; a daughter-in-law, Violet Churchill of Tulsa; 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be Menzo Bounds, Gary Bounds, David Bounds, Ron Churchill, Steve Churchill and Regan Graham. Memorials may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, Inc., P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frankie Smith Frankie Smith, 94, of Stillwater, died at her home Monday, Sept. 2, 2002. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at University Heights Baptist Church with Paul Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. She was born in Genoa, W. Va., April 13, 1908, to Mott and Georgia (Milem) Webb. On Aug. 8, 1927, she married George Bartram in West Virginia, who died in 1963. Her second marriage was to C. Ray Smith July 26, 1971, in Ponca City. He died Feb. 16, 1978. She moved to Stillwater in 1970 and worked as a dietitian for several years and in 1971 operated a day care nursery. Smith also owned real estate in Stillwater. She loved to grow irises in her yard and enjoyed being a homemaker. She loved cooking, cleaning, sewing and gardening. Smith was proud to be related to Loretta Lynn on her father's side of the family. She taught her children to always love one another and to not be a quitter and always finish what they started. She was a member of University Heights Baptist Church. In addition to her two husbands she was also predeceased by five brothers and five sisters. Survivors include one son, William E. Bartram and his wife Dolores of Haysville, Kan., and one daughter, Quanita Schatz and her husband Paul of Stillwater; seven grandchildren, Dinah, Mike, Kip, Kim and Dina Schatz and Billy and Gary Bartram; 12 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Irene Holbrook and her husband Garnett of Huntington, W.Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gladys Blecha Gladys V. Blecha, 83, Stillwater, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, at Westhaven Nursing Home in Stillwater. Graveside services will be Friday at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry at 2 p.m. Pastor Wanda Murray will officiate. The family will receive visitors Thursday at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. Blecha was the fourth of eight children born to Floyd Raymond and Fannie Fern (Shoaff) Dudley in Coffeyville, Kan., Nov. 25, 1918. She married Alfred M. Blecha Oct. 5, 1935, in Enid. He died July 11, 1996. She attended schools in Seminole. After she was married, the couple made their home on a farm northeast of Perry. They moved to Stillwater in 1960. An accomplished seamstress, she entered county fairs with her sewing and canning earning many ribbons. She was a multi-talented crocheter as well as a creative cake decorator. She was also known for her outstanding knowledge and talent in creating beautiful flower gardens. Blecha had a lifelong thirst for knowledge which she passed on to her daughters. She also had a love of history which served her well in genealogy and antiquing. One of the high points of her life was researching her family's genealogy on a trip to Europe. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Perry Rebeccah Lodge, where she was the past noble grand, and the Perry VFW Auxiliary, where she was president. She was also active in a home demonstration club, 4-H, PTA and school and musical activities for her daughters. In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Martin and Charles; three sisters, Helen Dudley, Shirley Burroughs and Jeanne Berger; and one granddaughter, Robie Gayle Smith. Blecha is survived by her three daughters, Janice Dunlay and husband Dennis, Perkins, Gayle Austin, Stillwater, and Patti Wiley, Ponca City; seven grandsons, Rev. Jon Dennis and wife Sonny, Tacoma, Wash., Michael Dudley, Perkins, Derin Dunlay, Canyon, Texas, Steven Smith and wife Becca, Plano, Texas, Bryan Smith, Stillwater, Mark Smith, Purcell, Brett Wiley and wife Sarah, Falls Church, Va.; One granddaughter, Rene, Austin, Lake Jackson, Texas; 12 great grandchildren; one sister, Nellie Hipsher, Perry; one brother, Bill Dudley and wife Frances, Eufaula; three brothers-in-law, Frank Blecha and wife Bernita, Enid, Kenneth Blecha, Perry, Col. (ret) Robert Berger, Fair Oaks, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Ila Dudley, Tampa, Fla. and Jessie May Dudley, Vacaville, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer's Asso., 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, Ill. 60611-1676; or the Judith Karman Hospice, 915 S. Main, Stillwater, 74058 ****************************************************** Sept. 05, 2002 Gladys Blecha Gladys V. Blecha, 83, Stillwater, died Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002, at Westhaven Nursing Home in Stillwater. Graveside services will be Friday at Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry at 2 p.m. Pastor Wanda Murray will officiate. The family will receive visitors Thursday at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. Blecha was the fourth of eight children born to Floyd Raymond and Fannie Fern (Shoaff) Dudley in Coffeyville, Kan., Nov. 25, 1918. She married Alfred M. Blecha Oct. 5, 1935, in Enid. He died July 11, 1996. She attended schools in Seminole. After she was married, the couple made their home on a farm northwest of Perry. They moved to Stillwater in 1960. An accomplished seamstress, she entered county fairs with her sewing and canning earning many ribbons. She was a multi-talented crocheter as well as a creative cake decorator. She was also known for her outstanding knowledge and talent in creating beautiful flower gardens. Blecha had a lifelong thirst for knowledge which she passed on to her daughters. She also had a love of history which served her well in genealogy and antiquing. One of the high points of her life was researching her family's genealogy on a trip to Europe. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Perry Rebeccah Lodge, where she was the past noble grand, and the Perry VFW Auxiliary, where she was president. She was also active in a home demonstration club, 4-H, PTA and school and musical activities for her daughters. In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Martin and Charles; three sisters, Helen Dudley, Shirley Burroughs and Jeanne Berger; and one granddaughter, Robie Gayle Smith. Blecha is survived by her three daughters, Janice Dunlay and husband Dennis, Perkins, Gayle Austin, Stillwater, and Patti Wiley, Ponca City; seven grandsons, Rev. Jon Dennis and wife Sonny, Tacoma, Wash., Michael Dunlay, Perkins, Derin Dunlay, Canyon, Texas, Steven Smith and wife Becca, Plano, Texas, Bryan Smith, Stillwater, Mark Smith, Purcell, Brett Wiley and wife Sarah, Falls Church, Va.; one granddaughter, Rene, Austin, Lake Jackson, Texas; 12 great grandchildren; one sister, Nellie Hipsher, Perry; one brother, Bill Dudley and wife Frances, Eufaula; three brothers-in-law, Frank Blecha and wife Bernita, Enid, Kenneth Blecha, Perry, Col. (ret) Robert Berger, Fair Oaks, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Ila Dudley, Tampa, Fla. and Jessie May Dudley, Vacaville, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer's Asso., 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, Ill. 60611-1676; or the Judith Karman Hospice, 915 S. Main, Stillwater, 74074. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Brookshire Thomas Walter Brookshire Jr., died Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Central Baptist Church with Rev. John Waterloo officiating. Burial followed in the Resthaven Park Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Brookshire was the son of Thomas Walter Brookshire Sr. and Lula Bear Brookshire of Cushing. They were longtime dairy farmers and a had a strong Christian influence to their nine children. Brookshire was the baby of the family. He met Nancy Emma Turpen on summer as she was visiting her hometown, Cushing. He was convinced she was the love of his life and followed her to Vega, Texas, the year he graduated with honors from Cushing High School. Brookshire refused to leave her yard until she agreed to marry him Nov. 9, 1940; they were together for 59 years until her death in 1999. He and his wife lived in Los Angeles, Calif., during his service in the Army during World War II. They returned to live in the Cushing area near his family, then briefly lived in McPherson, Kan., before making their home in Ponca City and raising their family. Brookshire was an excellent provider for his family and his jobs over the years included Conoco, where he gauged tanks; Ponca City Water and Light Company; maintenance at Lakeside Golf Course; and a lawn business with his sons. He drove the Sunday school bus for years. He went with fellow church members on mission trips where he used his considerable skills to help build churches. He had a quick ready smile, a strong handshake or a big bear hug for everyone. Brookshire was a knowledgeable mechanic, skilled woodworker and an avid gardener, with an orderly workshop. His grandchildren still enjoyed the hundreds of small cars he collected to share with them and the scale model roads and city he built. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his five brothers, Bill, John, Cecil, Carst and Ralf Brookshire; and two sisters, Deloris Massey and Glendean Mercer. Brookshire is survived by his sister, Opal Updegraft, Cushing; five children, Tommy Ray Brookshire of the home, Phillip and wife Linda Brookshire, Ponca City, Roy and wife Peggy Brookshire, Stillwater, Kenneth Brookshire, Grake, Colo., and Glenda James, Red Rock; nine grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, Carlo Wayne and Roberta Bales and daughter Andrea, Piper and Ron Davis and children Hannah, Cassi, Colin, Chad and Ronni, William and Ona Brookshire and daughter Allison, Tiffany and Dewayne Givens and children Wesley, Kayla and Seth, Troy Brookshire, Pallas and Paul Jenkins and children Quillan, Parker and Barrick, Ti'la and Bruce Bailey, Tina James and Brian James and 12 nieces and nephews. Casket bearers were Jerry Nash, Dewayne Givens, Frankie Daniels, Paul Jenkins, Jamie Cowan and Bruce Bailey. Memorial contributions may be made in Brookshire's name to Central Baptist Church Children's Ministries, 618 E. Hartford, Ponca City, Okla. 74601. ****************************************************** Sept. 06, 2002 Thomas Lairmore Thomas Roy Lairmore, 47, Stillwater, Monday, Sept. 2, 2002, in St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Strode Chapel. Cremation to follow the services. Arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Lairmore was born Feb. 19, 1955, in Jefferson City, Mo., to Thomas Loyd and Margie Marie (Yates) Lairmore. He married Terri Graca in 1977; they later divorced. He then married Patricia Winters; they also divorced. He worked with drywall. Lairmore enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, swimming and boating. He will be remembered for his expertise and gifted ability as a drywall worker. Lairmore is survived by his wife, Crystal Lee Harley Rogers; parents; two sons, Troy Lairmore, Austin, Texas, Matt Haley, Austin, Texas; four daughters, Christie Vargas, Chicago, Ill., Brandi Lairmore, Janesville, Wis., Crystal Lairmore, Marshall and Laci Lairmore, Marshall; four grandchildren; and one sister, Ronda Cay, Perry. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com ****************************************************** Sept. 07, 2002 Ernestine VanDeventer Ernestine VanDeventer, 81, of Pawnee, died Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002, in Pawnee. Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Pawnee, the Rev. Susan Ross and Eugene Farrar officiating. Burial will follow at Skedee Cemetery. She was born April 18, 1921, in Kinta to Charles Southern and Bessie (Wood) Southern. On July 6, 1942, she married Russell O. VanDeventer in Ponca City. She moved to Morrison from Skedee in 1992. VanDeventer was a member of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. She loved her family friends, her dogs and gardening. She was a member of United Methodist Church. VanDeventer was predeceased by her husband; her parents; two daughters, Tara Kay VanDeventer and Carol Sue Funkhouser. Survivors include three children, Randy VanDeventer and his wife Lynn of Owasso, Doretta Riley and her husband Larry of Morrison and Rick VanDeventer and his wife Kathy of Skedee; 12 grandchildren, Reid VanDeventer and his wife Ginger of Tulsa, Julie Mullinax and her husband Rod of Owasso, Cara Lynn and her husband Bob of Tulsa, Deanna Funkhouser of Morrison, Colton Riley of Morrison, Ericka VanDeventer of Collinsville, Rustyn VanDeventer of Collinsville, Haylee VanDeventer of Skedee, Brittney Garton of Skedee, Clinton Garton of Sapulpa, Bobby Funkhouser and his wife Robyn of Pawnee and Danny Funkhouser and his wife Tina of Bentonville, Ark., Also, eight great-grandchildren, Macy, Mady, Stacy, Trenton, Kendra, Erika, Cailey and Chelsea; brothers and sisters, Gladys McCray of Pawnee, Thelma Lee Baucom and her husband Carl of Glencoe, Sam Southern and his wife Doris of Pawnee, Bill Southern of Fairfax and Pasty Hickson and her husband Bailey of Cleveland, plus a number of other relatives. Memorials may be made to Caring Hands Hospice, 1212 Fourth St., Pawnee, OK 74058. Luda Mae Coughran Luda Mae Coughran, 84, died Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002, at her residence. Services will be Monday at 10 a.m. in the Stillwater Church of the Firstborn with Brothers Jerry Whitman and Butch Rowley in charge. Burial will follow Monday at 2 p.m. in the Sunny Lane Cemetery in Del City, under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. She was born May 11, 1918, to Delton and Mattie Kello McClain in Mena, Ark., and was reared and educated in Arkansas. She married Ulysses Coughran on Oct. 8, 1932, in Arkansas, coming to Oklahoma in 1933, settling in the Carnegie area and later in Oklahoma City. Coughran attended the Church of the Firstborn, she enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, gardening and raising her family. Her home was always open to whomever wanted to come by, to eat or just visit. She was predeceased by her husband in June 1984; one son, Bob Coughran; one daughter, Lorene White; one brother and one sister. Survivors include five sons, J.W. Coughran and his wife Metta of Enid; James Coughran and his wife Ginna, and Melvin Coughran, all of Little Axe; David Coughran and his wife Mary of Noble and Troy Coughran and his wife Della of Midwest City; Also, three daughters, Wanda Huckabay of Ripley, Madeen McGuffin and her husband Troy of Midwest City and Christine Carr and her husband Jessie of Noble; three sisters, Loda Coughran and Madie Garcie, both of Oklahoma City and Dorothy Marshall of Bethany; three brothers, Gerald McClain of Oklahoma City, D.W. McClain of Merced, Calif., and R.C. McClain of Del City; 40 grandchildren; 59 great-grandchildren; six great-great-granchildren; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . Edwin Holba Edwin L. Holba, 89, died Thursday, September 5, 2002 at Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 10, 2002 in the chapel of Brown- Dugger Funeral Home. Kent Reubell will officiate. Burial will be in Grace Hill Cemetery. Holba was born to Frank and Mary (Kulfa) Holba Dec. 15, 1912 in Perry. He and the former Florence Ruth Hicks were married at Perry on May 11, 1947. Mr. Holba served in the United States Army and was engaged in farming in the Perry community. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, David and Darlene Holba, Stillwater and James and Marie Holba, Billings; three granddaughters, Amie Duvall, Kiowa, Kan., Michelle Newman, Medicine Lodge, Kan., and Amanda Holba, Billings; and one grandson, Robert Holba, Stillwater. His wife, Ruth; his parents; two brothers and one sister preceded him in death. Memorial contributions may be made to the Perry Senior Citizens Center. Stanley Cook Stanley Lee Cook, 67, of Cushing, died Tuesday September 3, 2002 at the Cushing Regional Hospital. Services will be held at 11a.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Agra. The Rev. Roger Shaw will preside. Interment will follow at the New Zion Cemetery in Chandler. Serving, as pallbearers will be George Sanders, Jr., Jason Chapman, Kent Ables, Travis Truesdell, Craig Retherford and Robbie Bolin. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. He was born Aug. 28, 1935 in Pawnee to Clayton and Irene (Kelty) Cook. He was married to Carla Sinor Smith on Sept. 14, 1957 in Clayton, N.M. He was an Engineering Operator for Local Union #627. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Agra; Elks Lodge in Cushing and was a Veteran serving in the United States Army. Cook loved to fish, do yard work and like to go to garage sales. He was preceded in death by one son. Survivors include his wife Carla of the home; three daughters, Doris Jean Ingram of Cushing, Debbie Lee Pruitt of Cushing and Amber Dee Sanders of Tryon; three brothers James Cook of Cushing, Charles Cook of Oklahoma City and Dudley Cook of Cushing; two sisters Kathy of Edmond and Lucy of Texas; 15 grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. ****************************************************** Sept. 08, 2002 Louise Cleveland McAllister Louise Cleveland McAllister, 72, died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Arlington Memory Gardens. Bill Eisenhour Funeral Homes, Inc., is handling the arrangements. She was born March 31, 1930, in Shidler, to Everett and Gertrude (Meyer) Cleveland. She graduated from Stillwater High School in 1948. She was employed by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission for nine years and worked the remainder of her career in retail sales. She retired from Whitehall Jewelers in 1997. Survivors are her husband, Brian McAllister; her children, Steve Arthurs and wife Marilyn, Mike Arthurs, Debi Sanders and her husband Mike and Roger Arthurs; 15 grandchildren, Jason, Mindy, Ryan, Brandy, Stephanie, Adam, Jordan, Sarah, Joshua, Shelby, Jacob, Zachary, Kimberly, Carrie and Christina; three great- grandchildren, Alec, Owen and Brooke Lynn; and two brothers, George Cleveland and wife Karldene of Stillwater and Tom Cleveland and wife Loretta of Edmond. ****************************************************** Sept. 09, 2002 Eula Mary Taylor Eula Mary (Grant) Taylor, 87, Cushing, died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002, in Cushing Regional Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Palmer Funeral Home Chapel in Cushing. Interment will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery north of Cushing under the direction of Palmer Funeral Home. Taylor was born June 22, 1915, in Oxford, Ark., to William and Mary (Ware) Owens. She received her early education in Oxford. She married James Homer Taylor on March 28, 1933, in Oxford. They made their first home in Oxford and lived there until moving to Yakima, Wash., in 1948. They moved to Cushing in 1952. Taylor worked as a housekeeper for the Dr. George Smith family and the Milt Thompson family in Cushing. She was a member of First Christian Church. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband in 1983; 12 brothers and sisters; one granddaughter; and by one great grandson. Survivors include one daughter, Sue Boling and her husband C.A. of Cushing; one son, Bobby Taylor of Tulsa; five grandchildren, Kevin Boling of Cushing, Mark Boling of Oklahoma City, Janna Shaffer of Dallas, Texas, and Michael Taylor and Charles Taylor, both of Tulsa; and seven great-grandchildren. ****************************************************** Sept. 10, 2002 Geraldine NMI 'Jerry' Leigh Geraldine NMI "Jerry" Leigh, 82, Stillwater, died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002 at her home. Graveside services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Interment will be at Glencoe IOOF Cemetery. The Rev. Kevin Bayless will officiate. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Mrs. Leigh was born on May 4, 1920 in Asher to Arthur Lee and Mary Ellen (Brown) Cooper. She attended Ripley and Eureka schools, graduating from Eureka High School. She attended Ponca City Beauty College after high school. She married Gail Leigh on Oct. 14, 1942 in Stillwater. Two months after she was married, her husband was sent to Africa with the 5th Armored Division. While he was gone, she worked as a cook in a dormitory for the WAVES in Stillwater. For many years she worked as a meat wrapper for Douglas Big Country Store. She was a member of the Church of Christ of Glencoe. She is predeceased by her parents, two sisters and two brothers. Mrs. Leigh is survived by her husband; son, Danny Leigh and wife Mary, Cushing; daughter, Sharon Jean Bell, Glencoe; one grandchild, Jimmy Bell, Glencoe; and one sister, Grace Hanna, Cushing. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lola Lavada Carlson Lola Lavada Carlson, 87, died Monday, Sept. 9, 2002, in Stillwater. Services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Marshall's Funeral Home in Alva. She was born on a farm southwest of Seiling on Dec. 3, 1914, to Samuel J. and Daisy Cathryn Morrison. She graduated from Richmond High in Dewey County and from Northwestern State Teachers College in Alva. She married Edward Lee Carlson on June 1, 1936, at Taloga. The couple had five children. She was a lifelong member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as were her parents. She was also a member of the Rebekah Lodge in Alva. In both organizations, she served in many offices and capacities. She and her husband were in the wheat farming business. Because of failing health, she moved to Stillwater in 1999. As the first member of her family to graduate from college, she passed on to her children a love for reading and encouragement to educational excellence. In addition to her husband of 40 years, she was predeceased by her parents, eight brothers and sisters and an infant daughter, Marie Ann. Survivors include a younger sister, Euleta O. Flynn of El Paso, Texas; three daughters, Carol Katherine Anderson and her husband Art of Whittier, Calif., Louise Edna Field and her husband Ron of Stillwater, and Beverly Jane of Abilene; a son, Glenn Alvin and his wife Linda Marguerite of Cypress, Texas; six grandchildren, Valerie Mixon, Tyler Carlson, Charlotte Prewitt, Chad Field, Lori Stuart, and Jeffrey Stuart; four great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and personal friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goldie M. Harris Goldie M. Harris, 93 of Perry, was the daughter of John and Hulda (Wade) Melvin. She was born on August 12, 1909 in Orlando, and died Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 at the Perry Nursing Home. Mrs. Harris married Archie Harris on May 8, 1938 in Perry. She attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and was a cook at Sooner's Corner Restaurant for 20 years. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at the Brown-Dugger Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jesse Phillips officiating. Interment will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Harris is survived by three sons, Clifford Seal and his wife Elisa, of San Francisco, Calif., Earl Seal of Flint, Mich. and Calvin Seal and his wife Carol, of Gladwin, Mich.; one foster daughter, Frances Melvin and her husband Dan, of Perry; 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by one daughter, Wanda Fischer, in 1952, and her parents. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hazel Lucille (Dilley) Gammon Hazel Lucille (Dilley) Gammon, 72, died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002, in Midwest City. Services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Yale. Interment will follow at Lawson Cemetery in Yale. Rev. Amil Auston will preside. Poteet Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. She was born at her parents' home in Pawnee on Aug. 31, 1930, to Hazel Pearl (Simmons) and Auto Clem Dilley. She married Delmar Gammon on June 1, 1952 in Pawnee County. In 1963, the couple moved to Midwest City from Maramec. She loved to cook and help her family and friends. She was a member of the Bethel Temple Assembly of God Church in Del City. She was predeceased by her father and a brother, Bobie Jack Dilley. Survivors include her husband of Midwest City; her mother, Pearl Dilleyof Maramec; one son, Dwight Gammon and his wife Sandie of Stillwater; three granddaughters, Tammy Major and her husband Greg of Fort Fairfield, Maine, and Crystal Gammon and La Tresa Gammon, both of Stillwater; a great-granddaughter, Rena Major of Fort Fairfield; two sisters, Marie Lane of Glencoe and Bessie Moebius of Yale; a brother, Raymond Dilley of Maramec; and a number of other relatives and many friends. Pallbearers will be Ronnie Dilley, John Dilley, Greg Dilley, Reese Lane, Dustin Dilley and Eugene Moebius. Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Martin and Jevon Nasalroad. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Verna Lorene Arterbery Chandler resident Verna Lorene Arterbery, 84, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002. Services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Chandler. Rev. Rick Blackwell will preside. Interment will follow in the Oak Park Cemetery in Chandler. Parks Brothers Funeral Service is directing the arrangements. She was born on May 14, 1918, in Pontiac, Mo. to Etsel and Etta (Lantz) Clarkson. She married William J. Arterbery on April 9, 1943. He died in 1989. She worked for the Lincoln County Assessor's office for many years and was a member of the First Baptist Church. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a brother. Survivors include two sons, Darrell Arterbery and his wife Pam of Chandler and Paul Arterbery of Stillwater; one sister-in-law, Geraldine Clarkson of Chandler; two grandsons, Andy Arterbery of Stillwater and Adam Arterbery of Denver, Colo.; two granddaughters, Amanda Armitage of Claremore and Sissy Goforth and her husband Russell of Yukon; and other relatives and many friends. ****************************************************** Sept. 11, 2002 NONE ****************************************************** Sept. 12, 2002 James Russell James Donald Russell, 42, of Perry, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002 at the Perry Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Brown- Dugger Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Boone offici ating. Interment will be at the Morris Heights Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. He was born to Charles F. Russell and Carolyn L. Graef on Nov. 16, 1959 in Oklahoma City. He is survived by one daughter, Jennifer Lee Rojas and her husband Louis G., of Perry; two sons, James A. Russell of Perry and Jacob L. Russell of Orlando; his mother, Carolyn L. Weeks of Perry; his father, Charles F. Russell of Texoma; one brother, Timi D. Littleton of Perry; and two sisters, Tami Gilhouse of Eufaula and Carol Wyatt of Perry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martha Evans Martha Darlene Wells Evans, 72, died Monday Sept. 9, 2002, in Cushing. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Palmer Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at the Fairlawn Cemetery North of Cushing. She was born Dec. 4, 1929, in Cushing to Fred and Stella Gibson Wells. She graduated from Cushing High School with the class of 1947. On Nov. 20, 1948, she married Billy Frank Evans in Cushing and to this union; they had two boys Blaine Allen, and Brian Douglas. She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Cushing for many years until her illness caused her to be inactive. She had been church secretary for six pastors over the years. She was a member of the Cushing Genealogy Society, secretary of the Pioneer Club and caretaker of the Pioneer Log Cabin in the City Park. She also volunteered many years for her husband Bill, at the National Guard Armory. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Floyd (Buck) Wells, her parents, Fred and Stella Wells, and her husband Bill on Sept. 20, 1997. She is survived by sons Blaine of Paducah, Ken., Brian and his wife Trudy of Cushing; grandchildren, Alicia Wayland of Fayetteville, Ark., Sara Evans of Cushing, Cory Evans of Cushing, Jami Minney of Muskogee, Jay Evans of Cushing and step-granddaughter Kayla Dees of Cushing; several great-grandchildren; former daughter-in-law Libby; sisters-in-law, Stella Evans and Marie Wells; mother-in-law, Rose Evans; and brother-in-law Jack Evans. Funeral services are under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cora Husband Cora Louise Husband, 82, Perry, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002 at Green Valley Nursing Home. Graveside rites will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, 2002, at Starkey Cemetery near Saint Jo, Texas. Arrangements will be under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home of Perry. She was born to E. Lige and Cora (Nail) Weatherford. She was born Nov. 18, 1919 in Stoneburg, Texas. She attended school in Stoneburg, Texas. On June 21, 1942, she and Norland Nard Husband were married in Terrell. For approximately 20 years, she worked as a nursing aide at Four Star Nursing Home and Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Midwest City and Green Valley Nursing Home in Perry before retiring at age 75. She is survived by three sons and two daughters, Jackie Husband and his wife, Deborah, Saint Jo, Texas, Marty and Bruce Henke, Orlando, Thomas Husband and his wife, Glenna, Del City, Randall Husband and his wife, Lisa, Midwest City and Ovana Hilderbrand, Perry; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norland; four brothers; four sisters; her parents; and one son-in-law, David Hilderbrand. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deloris Rodgers Deloris Hattie Rodgers, 78, of Agra, died Tuesday Sept. 10, 2002 at her home North of Agra.. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the First Born in Cushing. Brother Wayne Tibbett and Brother Bob Jasper will preside. Interment will follow at the Parkland Cemetery in Parkland. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. She was born Aug. 24, 1924 in Chandler to Daniel Ray and Maud (Charity) Herrmann. She received her early education in Lincoln County at the Victor School and attended the Kendrick High School. She was a homemaker and was a member of the General Assembly and Church of the First Born. She was married to Jesse Delbert (J.D.) Rodgers on Feb. 14, 1943 in Cushing. They had lived in the Cushing- Agra area since that time. She was a homemaker. Survivors include husband J.D. Rodgers of the home; two sons Donald Ray Rodgers and wife Louise and Dorman Rodgers and wife Bonnie both of Agra; two daughters Evangelin A. Hamilton and husband Ernest of Cushing and Sharon Fay Neal and husband Virgil of Henryetta; three brothers Elvis Herrmann of Parkland, Arnold Herrmann of Chandler and Mondis Herrmann of Grand Junction, Colo.; one sister Etta Worthy of Agra; 17 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Julius, Reford, Doyle and Jimmy; and by sisters Freda James, Marie Morris and Edna Gladden. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Lee Isenberg David Lee Isenberg, 48, of Cushing died Tuesday Sept. 10, 2002 in Cushing. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Palmer Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at the Parkland Cemetery in Parkland. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. He was born July 12, 1954 in Hominy to Walter and Lucille (Bruce) Isenberg. He received his early education in Hominy and was a graduate of the Hominy High School Class of 1972. He had lived in the Hominy and Pawhuska area prior to moving to Cushing in 1990. He owned an Air Duct Cleaning service in Stillwater. He is survived by his parents Walter and Lucille Isenberg of Cushing; two brothers, Jim Hargrave and his wife Marilyn of Madison, Ala. and Freddie Saladin and wife Susan of Elk City; one sister Sue Ray and her husband Ocie of Collinsville; and numerous nieces and nephews ****************************************************** Sept. 13, 2002 Morris "Bob" Flournoy Morris "Bob" Flournoy, 78, died Sept. 10, 2002, in Ripley. Funeral ser vices will be held at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Grave side of the Mt. Hope Ceme tery North west of Ripley. Services are under the di rection of the Palmer Funer al Home of Cushing. He was born Oct. 23, 1923, in Wagoner to James Edgar and Clara Flournoy. Flournoy graduated from Muskogee high school and later got a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Tulsa. After debuting on radio as a singer who once won a contest in high school Morris went to work as an announcer on KBIX in Muskogee in 1941. He volunteered for the Air Force when World War II broke out and served 37 months, most of the time as a radio announcer in special services. He was employed at KCRC in Enid as a newsman and sportscaster while in the Air Force. Morris joined WHAS-WHAS-TV, in Louisville in 1945 and remained with the Kentucky station until 1952 when he became news director of KOTV in Tulsa. While in Louisville he had what he considered one of the highlights of his career. Flournoy recorded Talking Books for the Blind, which were placed in the Library of Congress in Washington and are available to the blind in libraries across the nation. In 1956, Oklahoma governor Raymond Gary appointed him to the Governor's Committee for the Blind. Flournoy was also an announcer with KVOO in Tulsa before coming to the WKY staff in August if 1953. He joined the state health department public relations department for a short period, and then came back to WKY in June 1956. When WKY radio news department was formed in 1956, Bob took over the reins. His news department was honored in 1960 by the Associated Press Radio and Television Association with a second place national award for outstanding exchange of news through the AP. He had served as president of both the Associated Press and United Press International associations in Oklahoma. Flournoy was the only Oklahoma newsman to cover former Soviet Premier Khrushchev's coast-to-coast visit to the U.S. in 1959. He reported on the 1960 Democratic National convention from Los Angles and the 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco. He was in Dallas only a few hours after President Kennedy's assassination and spent two tiring days gathering facts and interviews that were beamed back to WKY listeners. Thousands of Oklahomans grew up accustomed to awakening to his quietly dramatic voice each weekday morning. His 7 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. newscast on WKY had been Oklahoma's top-rated radio news show for many years. Flournoy had also been in charge of the Oklahoma City University's journalism department and taught as many as three classes a day in the 60's. Despite his numerous activities his first love remained announcing. He'd been in radio since he was 17. In his spare time Flournoy was an avid photography bug and spent a considerable amount of time developing and printing photos. He loved to fish, as did his wife Eunice. Morris is survived by the following people from Ripley: his daughter Sharon R. Holman and her husband Charles Holman, his son, John D. Flournoy, his granddaughter, Kelli Kay Ross and her husband Willis Ross, his grandson Chase Blair Huston and his wife Brandy Huston, his great-grandchildren; Cody Dean Sheehan and Kellin Charles Sheehan. The following people from Oklahoma City also survive Morris: his daughter Carolyn Mann, granddaughter Shannon R. Thompson and great-grandson, Carson G. Thompson. He is also survived by one sister, Vivian Belcher of Tahlequah and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Mary Lorraine, two brothers, Vernon and Grover Flournoy and two sisters, Yula Flournoy and Lorraine Stuart. One year ago he lost his adored wife, Eunice Mary. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Ripley Public School Library, 406 E. Cook, Ripley, OK, 74062. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Floyd Hendrix Floyd Emory Hendrix, 88, died Monday Sept. 9, 2002, at his Stillwater home. No services are planned at this time. He was born on Feb. 9, 1914 to Earnest and Etta Sue (Newport) Hendrix. He was raised in the Cushing- Pawnee area and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1933. He married Virginia Hobbick on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1932 at Hutchinson, Kan. He worked for Gulf Oil Corp. until World War II when he enlisted in the 17th Construction Battalion (Sea Bees). He served in both the North Atlantic and the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in Nov. 1945. He and his wife lived in several places after the war including Kansas, Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. They came to Stillwater in 1964. He was manager of Frontier Bowling Lanes for 15 years He was a volunteer for Sheltered Work Shop, Senior Center and Mobile Meals. He also was a week end volunteer at Lakeside golf course when he became ill. He enjoyed golfing, bowling country and gospel music. In addition to his wife of the home he is survived by many good friends and golfing and bowling buddies; a sister-in-law and her husband Mary and Harley Volkmann of Great Bend, Kan. Condolences may be e mailed the family at strodefh@aol.com ****************************************************** Sept. 14, 2002 Melba Felber Melba Faye Felber, 66, of Stillwater, died at Stillwater Medical Center, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. John's Catholic Church, Father Kenneth J. Harder officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in Bison under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. A rosary will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Felber was born July 11, 1936, in Curtis to George and Faye (Griffith) Rutledge. She was raised north of Mooreland where she graduated in 1954. In 1953, she married Nyle Nard Hawkins in Mooreland. A second marriage was to Chester Theodore Felber on Aug. 11, 1957, in Tucumcari, N.M. She followed her first husband through his military career, and moved to Dallas, Texas; Seline, Texas; Hope Ark., and Garden City, Kan., where he died. She moved to Freedom and attended Enid Business College, where she met her second husband. They moved to Bison where she was a housewife and worked for Ernest Brothers Shoes. In 1973, they moved to Midwest City where she managed a Winchell's Donut House. In 1975, they moved to Stillwater where she opened the Winchell's Donut House and worked for IGA Bakery until her health kept her at home. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, oil painting, reading and ceramics. She was a member of St. Johns Catholic Church, and Professional Business Women's Association. Felber was predeceased by her fist husband; one brother, Wayne Rutledge; and two infant brothers. Survivors include her husband; two sons, Kerry Hawkins and his wife Alena of Ramona, Calif., Chester Felber II of Waukomis; six daughters, Judy Duffield and her husband Charles, and Donna Pearce and her husband James, all of Fritch, Texas; Christina Gilpin and her husband Andy of Perkins, Nancye Cunningham of Grapevine, Texas, Michelle Norton and her husband Riley of Shawnee and Debra Davidson and her husband Terry of Portland, Ore,; Also, 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; one sister, Bessie Gonsor and her husband Bud of Woodward; also, best friend of Vivian Hunsinger, Marcella Sepeda, Jennifer Williams, Russell Brashears and Ruby Travis. Pallbearers will be Mike Gonsor, Jerry Gonsor, Mike Gonsor Jr., Mark Miller, Ray Holland, Don Yandell, Steve Booze and Al Lakanu. Leda Poelman-Lovatt Graveside services for Leda K. Poelman-Lovatt, 86, will be today at 1 p.m. at Highland Cemetery in Pawnee, the Rev. Les Washnock officiating. Services are under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home of Pawnee. She died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nev. She was born July 26, 1916, in Pawnee to Joseph Warren and Cora B. (Lake) Harrison. Lovatt had lived in Pawnee as a young adult and attended public schools. She worked for Westinghouse for 30 years in Van Nuys, Calif., and after her retirement in 1990 moved to Las Vegas. She had a great love for life and was a fun-loving person. Lovatt was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Larry Lovatt and her son, Richard Vance. Survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Clara Bergstrasser Clara Marie Bergstrasser, 98, of Stillwater, died at her home Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002. Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church, Dr. Emlyn Ott, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Private family burial will take place before the service at the church. She was born July 28, 1904, in Orlando, to Fred Ernst and Ottilia (Schronk) Trompler and lived in the Stillwater area while growing up. She started school near Pryor, then attended Cottonwood, Pleasant Valley and Council Valley schools near Stillwater. On Dec. 10, 1925, she married Arthur Paul Bergstrasser in Stillwater. Bergstrasser's hobbies were sewing, needlework, crocheting, cooking and gardening. She had worked as a cook at Stillwater High School and as a housekeeper at Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She was a homemaker and member of Salem Lutheran Church. She was predeceased by her husband, March 2, 1979; one son, LaVern; and one grandson, Timothy. Survivors include one daughter, Janice Wolff and her husband Victor of Bartlesville; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great- grandchildren; one sister, Gertrude Linsenmeyer and her husband Walter of Glencoe. Memorials may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater 74076, or to Salem Lutheran Church, 101 S. Duck, Stillwater 74074. James Blankemeyer Mass of Christian burial for James "Jim" Thomas Blankemeyer, Ph.D., 59, of Guthrie, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Guthrie, the Rev. Denis G. Hanrahan officiating. A prayer vigil will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. at Davis Funeral Chapel. Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home of Guthrie. Blankemeyer died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, at Logan Hospital and Medical Center in Guthrie. He was born Aug. 31, 1943, in Cincinnati, Ohio., to Paul (Doc) and Rita (Bird) Reobke Blankemeyer. He married Deborah H. Hamilton on Feb. 15, 1992, in Stillwater. Blankemeyer lived in Stillwater from 1977 until 1999 when he moved to Guthrie. He was a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at Oklahoma State University from 1977 until present. He graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1977 with his Ph.D. degree in biology and minor in mathematics. He graduated cum laude with honors and was honored as University fellow. He was vice president and systems analyst for research and development at Logic Corporation. Blankemeyer publicized about 42 peer-reviewed papers and monographs. He also developed and patented two products. He was a a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Physiology Society, American Chemical Society and American Association of University Professors. Blankemeyer helped students get into veterinary school and medical school. He also helped teachers with hands-on inquiry base science. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Guthrie. Blankemeyer enjoyed traveling with his family, especially in Europe, loved the ocean, sailing, race cars and the Braves baseball tam. His hobbies included collecting model airplanes, fixing up old cars, and teaching children love for these hobbies. He loved jazz and the arts. Survivors include his wife of the home; children Michael Blankemeyer and wife Carole and first grandchild, Claire, of Pennsylvania; Jason Barber of Tulsa and Candace Barber of Guthrie; brothers, Paul Blankemeyer and wife Sharon of Ohio; Gerry Blankemeyer and wife Tori of Ohio and a number of aunts and uncle. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, God's Food Bank of Guthrie of Action Inc., of Stillwater for the Christmas Store. ****************************************************** Sept. 15, 2002 Dr. Carl Estes Dr. Carl Estes, 66, of Stillwater, died Friday, Sept. 13, 2002 at his home in Stillwater. Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Sunnybrook Christian Church. Paul Anderson will officiate. There will be a formal visitation at Strode Funeral Home today from 5:30 to 7 p.m. He was born July 2, 1936 to Raymond Bryan and Mayme Louvena (Jackson) Estes in Oklahoma City. He was a native of Moore, where he met his wife, Margaret, in high school. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma University in 1958 and later his Master of Science in 1950 and his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University, all in industrial engineering. He retired in 1991 from OSU, School of Industrial Engineering and Management, as department head. During that time, he served his county in the U.S. Naval Reserves. Between his master's and doctorate, he worked for Southwestern Bell for eight years in several locations in Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Cecil and Ronnie Estes; and one grandson, Raymond Estes III. He is survived by his wife Margaret of the home; one daughter, Louvena Scott and her husband Darrell of Tulsa; two sons, Raymond Estes and his wife Anna of Farmers Branch, Texas and Kyle Estes of the home; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Patsy Shroyer and her husband, Clyde of Noble. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Sunnybrook Christian School, 421 E. Richmond Rd., Stillwater, OK 74075 or Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . Viola Barnett Viola Marie (Nance) Barnett, 91, of Stillwater, died Friday, Sept. 13, 2002 in Grace Living Center. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church. Dr. Matt Miles will officiate. Interment will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. She was born Oct. 12, 1910 to Tom C. Creager and Rosa Belle (Harris) Creager in Perkins. She married Marvin T. Nance on March 3, 1930 in Chandler. He preceded her in death on Jan. 8, 1976. She then married Forrest Barnett on April 28, 1977 in Stillwater. He preceded her in death on March 9, 1998. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and worked in food service and in the educational system. She was a member of the Odd Fellows at Rebecca Lodge. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, two daughters and two sons-in-law. She is survived by one son, Tom Nance and his wife Rosemarie of Stillwater; one daughter, Neva Griggs of Surprise, Ariz.; two step-daughters, Mary Lou Moffet and her husband Davis of Bull Head City, Ariz., and Emma Arrington of Trinidad, Colo.; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lawrence Creager and his wife Pearl of Glencoe, Tommy Lee Creager and his wife Loa Lee of Pawnee; and three sisters, Elsie Nichum of Hominy, Ina Tannahill of Pawnee and Edna Groom and her husband Cleo of Glencoe. Pallbearers will be Alan Creager, Rex Creager, Roger Creager, Dale Creager, Ronnie Tannahill and Kendall Buntin. Memorials can be made to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . Hila Schmiedbauer Hilda Schmiedbauer, 89, of Mulhall, died Thursday, September 12, 2002 at her home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Mulhall Christian Church with Rev. Gilbert Forrest officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery under direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. She was born to Alvin Rolando and Ollie (Alderson) Smith on Feb. 4, 1913 at Ricardo, N.M. She and John M. Schmiedbauer were married at Guthrie on Sept. 29, 1934. She was a housewife and a member of the Mulhall Christian Church. Survivors are one son, Charles Dean Schmiedbauer, Oklahoma City; three daughters, Doris Jeanne Cronin, Perry; Mary Elizabeth Cunningham, Yukon; and Joy Lynne Waldroop, Oklahoma City; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband, John, on May 6, 1975; one son, William (Bill) Wayne Schmiedbauer; one grandson; her parents; two brothers and two sisters ****************************************************** Sept. 16, 2002 Bertha Ritthaler Bertha Bernice Ritthaler, 84, Perry, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, in Green Valley Nursing Home. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Grace Hill Cemetery with the Rev. William Metz officiating. Services are under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Ritthaler was the daughter of Rudolph and Alta Katherina (Lesh) Ritthaler. She was born Oct. 10, 1917, in Sumner. She was valedictorian of her graduating class at Sumner High School and was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her parents, a brother and a sister. She is survived by three nephews, Robert Ritthaler and his wife Judy, Leon Knori and his wife Ruth and Sam Knori, all of Perry; and one niece, Sandy Cockrum and her husband Randy of Perry. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hila Schmiedbauer Hila Schmiedbauer, 89, Mulhall, died Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002, at her home. Services will be at 2 p.m. today in Mulhall Christian Church with the Rev. Gilbert Forrest officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Schmiedbauer was the daughter of Alvin Rolando and Ollie (Alderson) Smith. She was born Feb. 4, 1913, in Ricardo, N.M. She married John M. Schmiedbauer in Guthrie on Sept. 29, 1934. she was a housewife and a member of Mulhall Christian Church. Her husband died May 6, 1975. She was also predeceased by one son, William Wayne "Bill" Schmiedbauer; one grandson; her parents; two brothers; and two sisters. Survivors include one son, Charles Dean Schmiedbauer of Oklahoma City; three daughters, Doris Jeanne Cronin of Perry, Mary Elizabeth Cunningham of Yukon and Joy Lynne Waldroop of Oklahoma City; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great- grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Wells Ruth Caroline Wells, 81, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, in St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Pastor Carlton Riemer officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Wells was born Nov. 10, 1920, in Cushing to J.E. and Flora (White) Courtright. She attended Cushing schools. She married Earl Grant Wells on Aug. 6, 1936, in Cushing. They lived in Cushing and Ponca City and moved to Stillwater in 1965. Wells was an LPN at Bassett Clinic in the Cushing Hospital and also in Stillwater. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church. Her hobbies included crafts, crochet, reading and her grandchildren. She was predeceased by parents, her husband, a grandson, a great-grandchild and a brother, Edson Franklin Courtright, who died in World War II. Survivors include one son, Doug Wells of Kissee Mills, Mo.; one daughter, Mary Britton of Perkins; six grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be grandsons Doug and Earl McDaniel, Mike Wells, James McDaniel, Douglas Lee McDaniel and Zachary Cavett. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Viola Barnett Viola Marie (Nance) Barnett, 91, Stillwater, died Friday, Sept. 13, 2002, in Grace Living Center. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church of Stillwater. Dr. Matt Miles will officiate. Internment will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Barnett was born Oct. 12, 1910, in Perkins o Tom C. and Rosa Belle (Harris) Creager. She married Marvin T. Nance on March 3, 1930, in Chandler. He died Jan. 8, 1976. She married Forrest Barnett on April 28, 1977, in Stillwater. He died March 9, 1998. Barnett worked in food service and the educational system. She was a member of First Baptist Church and Odd Fellows at Rebecca Lodge. She was predeceased by her parents, two husbands, two daughters and two sons-in- law. Survivors include one son, Tom Nance and wife Rosemarie of Stillwater; one daughter, Neva Griggs of Surprise, Ariz.; two step-daughters, Mary Lou Moffett and husband Davis of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Emma Arrington of Trinidad, Colo.; two brothers, Lawrence Creager and wife Pearl of Glencoe and Tommy Lee Creager and wife Loa Lee of Pawnee; three sisters, Elsie Nichum of Hominy, Ina Tannahill of Pawnee and Edna Groom and husband Cleo of Glencoe; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Alan Creager, Rex Creager, Roger Creager, Dale Creager, Ronnie Tannahill and Kendall Buntin. Memorials may be sent to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, Okla., 74074. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billy Joe Reynolds Billy Joe Reynolds, 76, Stillwater, died Saturday, Sept. 14, 2002, at his home. Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in First Christian Church in Perkins. The Rev. Leonne Worcester will officiate. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Reynolds was born March 22, 1926, in Perkins to Albert Jack and Mary Blanche (Frame) Reynolds. He attended school in Perkins and Hobbs, N.M., and graduated from Perkins High School in 1946. Before graduation, he went into the Army Air Corps/Air Force and served with the Fifth Air Force in Japan for 1-1/2 years. He returned to Perkins at the end of 1947. He married Doris Ruth Fagan on Aug. 12, 1951, in Guthrie. At that time, he was working with the Foster Drilling Co. before beginning working with Remy and Shepherd Furniture Store (later changed to Shepherd Carriage House) in sales and repair. He retired in 1989. After retirement, he loved to make toys for his grandchildren. He was a master wood worker and called his woodworking shop "Bill Bilt." He also worked part- time for his brother-in-law, Dennis, in his business. He loved to camp and play dominoes and loved being with his grandchildren and watching them play sports. He was a member of Country Road Good Sam Travel Club and First Christian Church and a past member of the Moose Lodge. He was predeceased by his parents; one sister, Imogene Taylor; and one son-in- law, James H. Taylor. Survivors include his wife, of the home; three daughters, Patricia Platt and husband Stephen of Lander, Wyo., Billie Sue Taylor of Perkins and Marsha Harris and husband Greg of Stillwater; five grandchildren, Dustin Platt and wife Jennifer, Chelsea Harris and Chad Harris, all of Stillwater, Jason Taylor of Las Vegas, Nev., and Stephanie Platt of Lander, Wyo.; and a nephew, Billy Miller Widmeyer. Pallbearers will be Country Road Good Sam Club members Vergie Elmore, Ray Norrie, Floyd Hawk, Leon Bostian, Bill Lowery and Edsel Hall. Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Fagan, Richard Fagan, Leonard Lowe, James Mayberry, John Scheihing, Sam Kautz, James Harrison and Frank Eades. Memorials may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, Okla., 74076. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com ****************************************************** Sept. 17, 2002 Robert Inselman Robert (Bob) Inselman, 67, of Willis, formerly of the local area, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, at Willis. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home with Pastor Richard Borisenko officiating. Interment will be in Grace Hill Cemetery at Perry. He was born March 24, 1935, at Lucien, to William and Alice (Brown) Inselman. He was a graduate of Perry High School. On Sept. 29, 1954, he and the former Clydean McBride were married at the home of her parents in rural Perry. Before retiring, he owned and operated Inselman Drilling Fluids. His favorite pastime was fishing. Inselman's parents preceded him in death. In addition to his wife, Clydean, of the home, survivors include two daughters, Sheila Inselman, of the home, and Sally Clowser and her husband, Jimmie, Oklahoma City; two sons, Jerry Inselman and his wife, Gwenda, Fort Worth, Texas, and Terry Inselman and his wife, Karen, Ardmore; 10 grandchildren; three great- grandchildren; his father-in-law, Claude Dowell, Perry; one brother, Billy Inselman and his wife, Lillie, Wilson; one sister, Connie Clements and her husband, Allen, Ardmore; a sister-in-law, Cheryle Leach and her husband, Calvin, Mulhall; and two brothers-in-law, Ben McBride, Crane, Mo., and Tom Dowell, and his wife, Betty, Dallas, Texas . Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bryan Scott Brown Bryan Scott Brown, 28, of Oologah, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Nazarene in Cushing. Rev. Michael Davis will preside. Interment will follow at the Euchee Valley Memorial Park Cemetery east of Cushing. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. He was born Dec. 12, 1973, in Tulsa, to Terry and Joyce (Gatlin) Brown. He received his early education in Prattville and Owasso. He attended and was a graduate of the Kingwood High School in Kinwood, Texas, with the class of 1992. He worked in the fabrication business. He loved to ride motorcycles, hunt and loved sports. Survivors include his parents of Oologah and one brother, Tony Demby Brown and wife Lauren of Lorenzo, Texas; four aunts and two uncles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Otis Allen Nugent Longtime business owner Otis Allen Nugent, 68, of Cushing, died Sunday Sept. 15, 2002, at the St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Christ, Ninth and Linwood, in Cushing. Ken Murrell will preside with interment to follow at the Fairlawn Cemetery north of Cushing. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. Born March 6, 1934, in Ripley to Thomas and Emma (Goodenough) Nugent, he received his early education in Cushing. He was married to Rose Heizelman April 2, 1955, in Cushing. Nugent had worked for Kerr McGee until 1970 and then for Texaco until 1980. In 1984 he opened Nugent Autos in Cushing. He was a member of the Church of Christ. Nugent was preceded in death by his father, brother, Charles and one brother-in- law, Harvey Wright. Survivors include his wife Rose of the home; one son, Randy Nugent and wife Becky of Cushing; one daughter, Brenda Butcher of Cushing; mother, Emma Nugent of Cushing; brother, T.W. Nugent of Tulsa; sister, Darlene Wright of Cushing; and grandchildren, Terra Nugent, Dustin Nugent, Tony Nugent, Kyle Butcher and Kayla Butcher, all of Cushing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patricia Johnson Patricia Ann Dooley Johnson, 54, Jennings, died Monday Sept. 16, 2002, at the Stillwater Medical Center. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Fairlawn Cemetery. Rev. James Eubank of the Assembly of God Church in Pawnee will officiate. Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. Johnson was born Nov. 30, 1947, to Earl O. "Cotton" and Virginia L. Munson Dooley in Cushing, where she was reared and educated. She was united in marriage to Robert Moore in 1964. He preceded her in death July 3, 1996. She was married to Walter C. Johnson in November 1996 in Miami. She worked for Benny Vassar for many years prior to working for Spiritbank for 10 years. She was baptized into the Perkins Church of the Firstborn March 21, 1982. She enjoyed fishing and collecting Barbie dolls. In addition to her first husband, she is preceded in death by her father, one son, Wesley Gene Moore and brother, Glen Dale Dooley. Johnson is survived by her husband of the home; her mother of Cushing; children Bobbie Myers, Cushing, Michelle Elliott, Cleveland, Chad Johnson, Cleveland, and Justin Johnson, Tulsa; three brothers, Robert "Bob" Dooley, Terry Dooley and Jerry Dooley, Cushing; sister, Kay Rogers, Drumright; four grandchildren, Vincent Myers, Casey Elliott, Cody Elliot and Errica Johnson; several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Condolences may be e-mailed to the Johnson family at davisfhcushing@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. John Thomas Dr. John E. Thomas, 88, retired professor and head of the Botany Department at Oklahoma State University, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, at Rosewood Care Center. No services are planned, according to Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. Thomas was born July 15, 1914, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Homer and Cassel (Phillips) Thomas. He attended and graduated from Youngstown High School and became an Eagle Scout. He was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Fraternity while a student at Ohio State University where he received his bachelor's degree in 1941. While pursuing his studies at Ohio State, he was a member of Phi Epsilon Phi, the honorary botanical fraternity and Gamma Sigma Delta, the Agricultural Honor Society. He then began working on his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin where he was in the Phi Sigma Biological Society and Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. Thomas earned his Ph.D. in 1947 in plant pathology and remained there where he was involved in research studies. Thomas married Della Farmer Feb. 1, 1942. The family moved to Stillwater in the spring of 1950 where he accepted a position at Oklahoma A&M. Throughout his career he served as faculty council counselor from 1958-61, faculty council chairman from 1961-62 and faculty council secretary from 1962- 78. Thomas was named Outstanding Agricultural Instructor in 1958 and also was a recipient of the Fellows Award from the Oklahoma Academy of Science. In 1980 Thomas retired as professor and head emeritus in the Department of Plant Pathology at OSU. Among his interests, he was actively involved as a den master in local scouting activities. Upon his retirement, he assisted his wife at the Caravan Books Annex. Thomas was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Carlyle Thomas. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Tom Thomas and wife Mary, and Peter Thomas and wife Kathy, and one daughter, Susan Thomas, all of Stillwater; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; one sister, Virginia Fankhauser and husband, Will, of Canton, Ohio, and a sister-in-law, Ginny Thomas of Youngstown. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000, Chicago, Ill., or American Heart Association, Heartland Affiliate, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, KS 66601-1653. ****************************************************** Sept. 18, 2002 Richard Ledbetter Richard Forrest Ledbetter, 69, former Stillwater resident, passed away at his home in Cleveland Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday at the Western Heights Baptist Church with Rev. David Head officiating. Burial will be at Osage Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home of Cleveland. Ledbetter was born Sept. 24, 1932, in Osage to Charlie and Edna (Lawrence) Ledbetter. He moved as an infant with his family to Stillwater where he obtained his education. He married Wilma Maxwell Aug. 16, 1953, and was later divorced. Ledbetter began employment with the City of Stillwater in 1953 for the sanitation department, working along side his father. He later transferred to the waste water management department and remained employed until December 1977 when he moved to Texas. Upon moving to Texas, he was employed by the City of Arlington as chief engineer of the water treatment plant. He remained in that capacity for nearly 18 years until his retirement in 1995. He married Virginia (Welch) Arnold of Independence, Kan., Aug. 23, 1991. The couple moved to Cleveland in 1995, making their home at 404 North D. Ledbetter was an active and faithful member of the Western Heights Baptist Church in Cleveland. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. He is survived by his wife, Virginia of the home; five daughters, Linda Ledbetter, Cleveland, LaDonna Kuekelhan, Cleveland, Pam Williams, Whitney, Texas, Cathy O'Mara, Elk City, Kan., and Sandy Ledbetter, Irving, Texas; two sons, Richard L. Ledbetter, Arlington, Texas, and Forrest (Bud) Ledbetter, Cleveland; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; five sisters, Dorothy Morris, Stillwater, Shirley Shank, Stillwater, Margaret Knox, Rex, Ga., Wilma Mayfield, Stillwater and Alma Barbaree, Summerville, S.C.; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Visit the online obituary and guest book for Richard Ledbetter at http://www.chapman-black.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debroah Royce Debroah Royce, 53, of Cushing, died Monday, Sept. 16, 2002, at her home in Cushing. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Church of the First Born in Cushing. Interment will follow at the Parkland Cemetery in Parkland. Services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. Born Aug. 28, 1949, in Cushing, to Harold and Elsa (Earnest) Stevens. She had lived in Alturas, Calif., prior to moving to Cushing. She had worked as a cook at Harrison school in Cushing. She was a member of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn and took care of church members that were ill. She enjoyed gospel music. One sister, Alona Sue Stevens, preceded her in death. Survivors include, one son, Travis Everett Royce and his wife Vickie of Cushing; his parents of Cushing; two brothers, Durward Stevens and wife Thelma of Bristow and Harold (Buddy) Stevens and his wife Carol of Tulare, Calif.; sisters, Sharron Smith and husband Bud of Cushing, Mona Lybarger of Lowell, Tawanna Partridge of Cushing and Sonja Billingsley and husband Marty of Cushing, numerous nieces and nephews. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Woelfel Mary Frances Woelfel, 94, died Sunday, Sept. 15, 2002, at Brandon Woods Retirement Community in Lawrence, Kan. Memorial services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Brandon Woods in Lawrence. Interment will be at a later date in Stillwater. Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence is directing the arrangements. She was born in McAlester March 24, 1908, to James C. and Edna Hefley Washinka. She spent her childhood in Tyler and Greenville, Texas. She graduated from Wesley Junior College in Tyler. After teaching school for a brief time, she attended Oklahoma State University where she belonged to Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She married Warren C. Woelfel in Stillwater July 30, 1933. He died in 2001. After leaving Stillwater, the couple lived in Columbus, Ohio; Galveston, Texas; Columbia, Mo.; Ponca City; Pittsburg, Kan; Tucson; and Green Valley and Prescott, Ariz. She was a homemaker and was active in local school and arts organizations including long-time service as an officer in the Tucson Opera Guild. Survivors include a son, James Woelfel of Lawrence; three granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. Memorials may be made to the Foundation for Hospice Care, C/O Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 West 13th Street, Lawrence, Kan. 66044-3402. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pauline Bannon Pauline F. Bannon, 93, died Friday, Sept. 13, 2002, at Salem, S.C. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Strode Chapel. Rev. B. Gordon Edwards will officiate. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Brannon was born July 17, 1909, in Center, Ky., to John Waddy and Mary Olive (Curry) South. She moved to Oklahoma with her parents as a child. She graduated from Bartlesville High School with honors. After graduation, she worked as a secretary in the local county agricultural extension office in Bartlesville, where she met her husband, Luther Brannon. They married Sept. 30, 1930, in Bartlesville, just as the first signs of the Great Depression were beginning to appear. From that date forward, they functioned as a team. In 1938, her husband accepted a position as a secretary-manager of the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association and moved to Stillwater. He joined the Oklahoma Agricultural Extension Services at Oklahoma A&M College in 1940. With the exception of overseas assignments in Europe (Marshall Plan), Ethiopia (OSU and Foreign Aid Program) and Vietnam (Foreign Aid Program), the couple lived in Stillwater continuously. While Luther was in the Navy during World War II, Brannon worked as an assistant home demonstration agent for Payne County. When her son, Russell, was in high school, she began taking classes at OAMC, completing a baccalaureate degree in home economics, with a major in family life and child development. While in college, she was a a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Nu. She also served for a time as president of the Sigma Chi Mothers Association. When the Tri Delta Sorority established a chapter at OSU in 1962, she was one of six people chosen for initiation. She was also active in PEO and an active member of the Presbyterian Church. She loved to play bridge and was an accomplished player, participating in several bridge groups. She was an avid reader throughout her life and seldom missed working the crossword puzzles in the local newspaper wherever she was. Until shortly before her death, she continued to care for herself in her South Carolina home, where she enjoyed the flower and vegetable gardens, watching the variety of birds, squirrels, rabbits and and other wildlife that frequented the area near her house. Dining at the local Thai restaurant was a favorite outing, as were trips in the John Deere "Gator" along trails in the wooden area. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends whose lives she influenced. She is preceded in death by her husband, who died Oct. 19, 1996. Brannon is survived by her son, Russell Brannon, Salem, S.C.; two grandchildren, Shaun Brannon, Austin, Texas and Scot Brannon, Seattle, Wash.; two great grandchildren, Tristan and Dana, Austin; and and one sister, Claudine Smith and husband M.D., Florida. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, 524 S. Duncan, Stillwater 74074 or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com ****************************************************** Sept. 19, 2002 Tracey Shawn Cox Tracey Shawn Cox, 23, of Tuttle, died Monday, Sept. 16, 2002, at his college home in Stillwater. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Tuttle First Baptist Church. Rev. Nathan Streber and Rev. Todd Littleton will officiate. Shannon Ferrell will give the eulogy. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Tuttle. Services are under direction of the Binyon Funeral Home of Blanchard. Cox was born March 4, 1979, at Edmond. He was a 1998 valedictorian graduate of Tuttle High School and was class vice-president. While in high school he was active in the state and national honor societies and served as vice-president and also served as vice-president of the Student Council. He was active in the 4-H Club where he also served as a state officer. He was a four year letterman in wrestling and a two time state qualifier. He was a active member of the Tuttle Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Students Against Drunk Driving where he served as president. Following graduation he attended Oklahoma State University where he was on the President's Leadership Council, Student-Alumni Board and Mortar Board Society. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and also served as the program director for the Orange Peel Committee. He had been honored as one of the university's Top Ten Freshman. He was also an active member of the Countryside Baptist Church of Stillwater. Survivors include his parents, Tom and Andrea Wilson of Tuttle; twin brother and his wife Casey S. and Megan Cox of Tuttle, brother and his wife Jay T. and Rachel Wilson of Mustang, sister, Robyn L. Wilson of Moore, brother, Tim Nichols of Oklahoma City; grandmother, Neoma Wilson of Edmond; nieces, Taylor Nichols and Kayla Wilson; nephews, Robert and John Thomas Wilson. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, Oklahoma State University, 205 4-H and Youth Development Building, Stillwater, Okla 74078. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pauline Brannon Pauline F. Brannon, 93, died Friday, Sept. 13, 2002, at Salem, S.C. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Strode Chapel. Rev. B. Gordon Edwards will officiate. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Brannon was born July 17, 1909, in Center, Ky., to John Waddy and Mary Olive (Curry) South. She moved to Oklahoma with her parents as a child. She graduated from Bartlesville High School with honors. After graduation, she worked as a secretary in the local county agricultural extension office in Bartlesville, where she met her husband, Luther Brannon. They married Sept. 30, 1930, in Bartlesville, just as the first signs of the Great Depression were beginning to appear. From that date forward, they functioned as a team. In 1938, her husband accepted a position as a secretary-manager of the Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association and moved to Stillwater. He joined the Oklahoma Agricultural Extension Services at Oklahoma A&M College in 1940. With the exception of overseas assignments in Europe (Marshall Plan), Ethiopia (OSU and Foreign Aid Program) and Vietnam (Foreign Aid Program), the couple lived in Stillwater continuously. While Luther was in the Navy during World War II, Brannon worked as an assistant home demonstration agent for Payne County. When her son, Russell, was in high school, she began taking classes at OAMC, completing a baccalaureate degree in home economics, with a major in family life and child development. While in college, she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Nu. She also served for a time as president of the Sigma Chi Mothers Association. When the Tri Delta Sorority established a chapter at OSU in 1962, she was one of six people chosen for initiation. She was also active in PEO and an active member of the Presbyterian Church. She loved to play bridge and was an accomplished player, participating in several bridge groups. She was an avid reader throughout her life and seldom missed working the crossword puzzles in the local newspaper wherever she was. Until shortly before her death, she continued to care for herself in her South Carolina home, where she enjoyed the flower and vegetable gardens, watching the variety of birds, squirrels, rabbits and and other wildlife that frequented the area near her house. Dining at the local Thai restaurant was a favorite outing, as were trips in the John Deere "Gator" along trails in the wooden area. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends whose lives she influenced and who knew and loved her. She is preceded in death by her husband, who died Oct. 19, 1996. Brannon is survived by her son, Russell Brannon, Salem, S.C.; two grandchildren, Shaun Brannon, Austin, Texas and Scot Brannon, Seattle, Wash.; two great grandchildren, Tristan and Dana, Austin; and and one sister, Claudine Smith and husband M.D., Florida. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, 524 S. Duncan, Stillwater 74074 or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lucy Baker Lucy Olive Baker, 91, Sapulpa, died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at the Church of Christ in Glencoe. Interment will be at the Union Cemetery. Kenneth Mantle will officiate. Poteet Funeral Home of Pawnee is handling the arrangements. Baker was born Dec. 19, 1910, in rural Glencoe to Howard and Fanny (Marrs) Olinghouse. She attended grade school at Star a Star rural school and graduated from Glencoe. She married Raymond "Ray" Dayton Baker June 12, 1929, in Pawnee; he preceded her in death July 26, 1990. In April 1948, the couple purchased the Bunn's Store in Glencoe and it became the Baker's Dry Goods. They operated it until 1985, when they closed it. Besides her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents, brother, Bacil Olinghouse and sister, Beulah Murphy. Baker is survived by her daughter, Betty Applegate and husband Kenneth, Sapulpa; son, Jerry Baker and wife Janis, Wichita, Kan.; four grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; plus a number of relatives and friends. ****************************************************** Sept. 20, 2002 Wandalee Basore Wandalee Hinkle Basore, 76, a former Stillwater resident, died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002, at her home in Powder Springs, Ga. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Monday at West Cobb Funeral Home Chapel in Marietta, Ga. Rev. James R. Struthers, retired pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater will be officiating. She was born Wandalee Hinkle June 19, 1926, in Drumright. As a teenager and college student during the war, she sang with big bands. She graduated Miami High School in 1944 and attended Oklahoma A & M on a vocal music scholarship, singing at official events attended by then-university president Henry G. Bennett. She also played percussion in the college band and worked on the student newspaper, eventually becoming the first woman editor of The Daily O'Collegian. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1948. She then married Bennett Basore, an engineering graduate and World War II veteran. The two left Oklahoma for Boston, where he pursued a doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1948-52. It was during that period that she made acquaintance with the medical staff that would later help her to have children. Basore, a mother of three and grandmother of five, would often say she regarded her children as her greatest achievement. To overcome infertility, she underwent several experimental surgeries and hormonal treatments in the 1950s in Boston, under the direction of Dr. John Rock, who would later invent the birth control pill. The treatments were successful, providing breakthrough advances in the treatment of infertility. She gave birth to her first child in 1956. Two other children followed in 1958 and 1967. All three survive her. After 1952, the Basores moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where he worked as a scientist for Sandia National Laboratories and she served as editor of The Blast, the government lab's in-house publication. In 1961, the family moved to Bethesda, Md., where she raised children and he worked in arms control for the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Throughout this period she was also active in the Presbyterian church, serving as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and in evangelism. In 1967, expecting their third child, the Basores returned to Stillwater where he worked as a professor at Oklahoma State University and she managed the household and child-rearing. In 1979, the couple divorced. During the early 1980s, she worked briefly as a religion editor at the Stillwater NewsPress and in the business offices of The Daily O'Collegian and The First Presbyterian Church. In 1989, she retired to Tucson, Ariz. She lived there until 2001, when she and her daughter, Peggy Waterfall, together built a house they would share in Powder Springs, Ga. Throughout her life, she was an avid follower of current events and maintained a deep, personal faith in God. She is predeceased by her father and mother, Henry and Cecil O. Hinkle; her brother, William H. Hinkle; and her former husband, Bennett Basore. Survivors include her children, Paul Basore of Sydney, Australia, Peggy Waterfall of Atlanta, Ga., and Polly Basore of Wichita, Kan.; a sister, Peggy Hagan, of Phoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren, and her cat, Franklin. The family suggests that memorial donations may be made to Wellstar Community Hospice, 4040 Hospital West Dr., Austell, Ga., 30106. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bernice Going Bernice Katherine (Pattison) Going, 82, a lifetime resident of Stillwater, died Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2002, in Kingwood, Texas, a Houston suburb. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, with Dr. B. Gordon Edwards and Rev. Trudy R. Morphew officiating. Graveside services will follow in Lawson Cemetery in Yale. Services are under the direction of The Bernhardt's Strode Funeral Home in Stillwater. Going was born Feb. 12, 1920, in Quenemo, Kan., to Percy and Ellen Pattison. At an early age, she moved to Shidler, where she received her education and was high school homecoming queen. She married Norman L. Going June 30, 1937, in First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, where she was a lifetime member. She served as president of Presbyterian Women from 1995 to 1997 and was recently awarded the prestigious honorary (lifetime) membership in Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Church (USA). She was active in the Rebecca Assembly of Oklahoma of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and served as warden (1967), vice president (1968) and president (1969) of that statewide organization. Going was devoted to the people and organizations of Stillwater with whom she served for so long. She and her husband also enjoyed travels with these organizations throughout the United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She is survived by her husband; two sons, Norman E. Going of Jacksonville, Fla., and Larry Lee Going of Kingwood, Texas; a daughter, Kathleen Gail Rowland of Wichita, Kan.; four grandchildren, Larry Lee Going and Darren Gale Baker, both of Dallas, Cecil Lawrence Going of Houston and Christian Norman Going of Jacksonville; a great-granddaughter, Bailey Jewel Going of Dallas; and two sisters, Polly Dodson of Dallas and Percelene Seybold of Crawfordsville, Ind. Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, Sixth and Duncan, Stillwater, Okla., 74074. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com ****************************************************** Sept. 21, 2002 Homer Henry Curtis Homer Henry Curtis, 86, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002, at Stillwater Medical Center. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Alva Church of God, Pastor Bob Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Hill Cemetery north of Waynoka under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Curtis was born Dec. 16, 1915, in Waynoka to Harry Willoughby and Lynna V. (Simpson) Curtis. He attended school in Waynoka where he graduated and also attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University. On March 15, 1938, he married Lois Edna Hinderliter in Alva. They made their home in Waynoka where they farmed and ranched and he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. In 1958 they moved to Cherokee and, in 1959, to Alva where he worked as a meat cutter at Northwestern. In October 1996 they moved to Stillwater to be near their daughter, Laureene. Curtis was a member of the Alva Church of God where he served as a trustee and on the building fund committee. He loved to fish. He was predeceased by one daughter, Dana Kay Curtis, and two brothers, Glenn Simpson Curtis and Eland Marquette Curtis. Survivors include his wife of Stillwater; one son, Dennis Curtis of Owasso; two daughters, LaVon Hoefer and her husband Roger of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Laureene Gantz and her husband Roger of Stillwater; and eight grandchildren, Ron Hoefer and his wife Erin of Top Sham, Maine, Reesa Lacher and her husband Henry of Torrance, Calif., Randall Gantz and his wife Jill of Amarillo, Texas, Ryan Gantz and his wife Stephanie of Norman, Rachelle Martin and her husband David of Stillwater, Corey Curtis of Stillwater, Cole Curtis of Owasso, Justin Curtis of Owasso and other relatives. Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Alva Church of God Building Fund. Bernice Going Visitation for Bernice Katherine (Pattison) Going, 82, a lifetime resident of Stillwater who died Wednesday, will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 at Strode Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. Edgar (Sonny) Lee Holloway Edgar Sonny Lee Holloway, 52, of Yale, died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002, at the Cushing Regional Hospital. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Assembly of God Church in Yale. Rev. Randall Newby presided. Interment followed at the Lawson Cemetery north of Yale. Services were under the direction of the Yale-Palmer Funeral Chapel. He was born Aug. 12, 1950, in Mooreland, to Dale and Donna (Colt) Holloway. He was a graduate of the Bartlesville High School class of 1968. He married Carol Gazaway Nov. 21, 1980, at Miami. They moved to Yale in 1986 and have since resided. Holloway was employed with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Yale. Holloway enjoyed hunting, working on cars and playing softball. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Vietnam. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Justin K. Holloway and Travis Holloway, both of Yale; one brother, Jimmie Dale Holloway and wife Judy of Bartlesville; one sister, Sharon Eden and husband Glen of Dewey; and his parents. ****************************************************** Sept. 22, 2002 Betty Ann Riley Pawnee resident Betty Ann Riley, 60, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002. Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church in Pawnee. Rev. Mike Brien will preside. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery in Pawnee. Poteet Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. She was born in Lela March 11, 1942, to Emery Marcus and Rena Mae (Herrian) Sanders. She was reared in the Morrison and Lela area and graduated from Morrison High School May 13, 1960. On May 14, 1984, she married Charles Leroy Riley in Pawnee in her brother-in- law, Eddie's house. The couple made their home in Pawnee. She did work for the Pawnee Bill Trading Post from the late 1970's until 2001. She was a waitress in several of the Pawnee restaurants. She loved to feed and water the wild birds in her front yard, loved her flowers and plants, playing the piano and most of all she loved her grandchildren. She was predeceased by her father of Lela and a brother, Richard of Stillwater and her grandparents. She is survived by her husband of Pawnee; three sons, Paul Herring and his wife Tina of Alexandria, Neb., Kenny Herring of Pawnee and James Herring of Konawa; a daughter, Rose Price of Tulsa; her mother of Pawnee, a sister, Margie Kelly of Willow Springs, Mo.; five brothers, Robert Sanders of Premier, W.Va., Ernest Sanders of Ponca City, Raymond Sanders of Glencoe, William "Bill" Sanders of Lela and Joe Sanders of Pawnee; six grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and a number of other relatives and many friends. John Patton John Calvin Patton, 91, died Friday, Sept. 20, 2002, at Rosewood Care Center. Graveside services, with Rev. Danny Friend presiding, will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Fairlawn Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born in Stillwater Oct. 22, 1910, to William Isaac and Maude Ercy (Malone) Patton. He married Ora Freda Friend Dec. 6, 1932, in Pawnee. He was born and lived his entire life in Stillwater. He attended Stillwater schools through the 10th grade and completed his GED many years later. He worked at many occupations including farming, seismograph, agriculture, Oklahoma State University Agronomy Farm, Stillwater Mill and also operated the Echo Barber Shop. He built a house, planted a tree and raised his children. His life was complete. He was a member of the Reorganized Latter Day Saints. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three sisters, three brothers and one son, John Russell Patton. He is survived by his wife; one son, William Asa Patton of Oakland, Calif.; a daughter, Betty Jane Warren of Tulsa; four grandchildren, Michael Robert Warren, Lea Ann Warren Blackwell, Jason William Patton and John Edward Patton; and two great-grandchildren, Brittany Paige Solomon and Jason Lee Blackwell. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at . ****************************************************** Sept. 24, 2002 Jerry Gay Jerry Howard Gay, 63, Ponca City, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002, in Oklahoma City. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Strode Chapel with Tom Short officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Gay was born Sept. 28, 1938, in Bristow to Eual Howard and LaDoris Evelyn (Picquette) Gay. He graduated from Stillwater High School then went into law enforcement and served 22 years as a police officer in Ponca City, where he retired as lieutenant detective. On April 22, 1988, he married Gail Payne in Austin, Texas. They resided in Stillwater for 10 years before moving to Ponca City. Gay loved to trap shoot, quail hunt and have cookouts with family and friends. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Masonic Lodge and FOP and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was predeceased by his father and one son, Jeffrey Howard Gay. Survivors include his wife; his mother; one son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Linda Gay of Oklahoma City; one daughter and son-in-law, Shelly and Anthony Williams of Ponca City; one stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Bobby and Nicole Payne of Ponca City; one stepdaughter and stepson-in-law, Angela and James Barnes of Ponca City; eight grandchildren, Christopher Gay, Brandi Gay, Ashley Payne, Tyler Barnes, Matthew Williams, Zachary Barnes, Kyce Payne and Logan Barnes; one brother and sister-in-law, Thomas Michael and Marilyn Gay of Stillwater; and one sister and brother-in-law, Linnie Suezette and Charles Branton of Austin, Texas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Ledbetter Richard L. Ledbetter, 47, died Friday, Sept. 20, 2002, in Cleveland, while he was preparing to attend his father's funeral. Services for Ledbetter and his father, Richard F. Ledbetter, will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Western Heights Baptist Church in Cleveland with the Rev. David Head officiating. Interment will be in Osage Cemetery under the direction of Chapman- Black Funeral Home. Ledbetter was born Jan. 11, 1955, in Stillwater to Richard Forrest and Wilma Maxwell Ledbetter. He was raised in Stillwater and graduated from Stillwater High School. He participated in the U.S. Army ROTC and attended basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood. After finishing his schooling he worked at the Sonic Drive- In in Stillwater for nearly four years. He married Nancy Jean Butler July 30, 1977, in Stillwater. They moved to Perkins when he began working for Dr. Pepper Co. After the birth of their daughter, Mandy, they moved to Arlington, Texas. The couple had five children, Scott, Marandia, Rhonda, Christopher and Lisa. In 1978, Ledbetter began working for the City of Arlington in the public utility department. His job for the next 24 years included repairing and reading meters as a utility man for the water utility department of Arlington. He retired June 21, 2002. He was an avid collector of country music and had an extensive collection of eight track tapes and records, including a significant number of movies. He was also a gun collector and enjoyed hunting and fishing. His favorite hobby, however, was spending time with his children and grandchildren. In addition to his wife, survivors include four children, Marandia Ledbetter, Rhonda Smith and her husband Raymond, Christopher Ledbetter and Lisa Ledbetter, all of Arlington; seven grandchildren; one brother, Forrest "Bud" Ledbetter of Cleveland; five sisters, Linda Ledbetter and RaDonna Kuekelhan, both of Cleveland, Pam Williams of Whitney, Texas, Cathy O'Mara of Independence, Kan., and Sandra Ledbetter of Irving, Texas; his mother; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Patton John Calvin Patton, 91, died Friday, Sept. 20, 2002, at Rosewood Care Center. Graveside services, with the Rev. Danny Friend presiding, will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Fairlawn Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. Patton was born in Stillwater Oct. 22, 1910, to William Issac and Maude Ercy (Malone) Patton. He was born and lived his entire life in Stillwater. He attended Stillwater schools through the 10th grade and completed his GED many years later. He married Ora Freda Friend Dec. 6, 1932, in Pawnee. He worked at many occupations including farming, seismograph, agriculture, Oklahoma State University Agronomy Farm and Stillwater Mill. He also operated the Echo Barber Shop. He built a house, planted a tree and raised his children. His life was complete. He was a member of the Reorganized Latter Day Saints. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three sisters, three brothers and one son, John Russell Patton. He is survived by his wife; one son, William Asa Patton of Oakland, Calif.; a daughter, Betty Jane Warren of Tulsa; four grandchildren, Michael Robert Warren, Lea Ann Warren Blackwell, Jason William Patton and John Edward Patton; and two great-grandchildren, Brittany Paige Solomon and Jason Lee Blackwell. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dakota Lee Rodgers Dakota Lee Rodgers, infant son of Jarrett Wade Rodgers and Randi J. Lemmons, died Friday, Sept. 20, 2002, in Cushing Regional Hospital. Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in First Baptist Church in Cushing with the Rev. Mark Jackson officiating. Interment will follow in Harrell Cemetery under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. Rodgers was born May 10, 2002, in Cushing Regional Hospital. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his grandparents, Susie Exton of Cushing and Greg and DaLinda Rodgers of Drumright; his great-grandfather, Joe Exton of Cushing; one brother, Hayden Rodgers of Cushing; and several aunts, uncles and other relatives. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at davisfhcushing@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bess Kime Bess Kime, 77, Perry, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002, in Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church of Perry with the Rev. Buddy Hunt officiating. Burial will follow in Grace Hill Cemetery under the direction of Brown-Dugger Funeral Home. Kime was born June 8, 1925, in Van Buren, Ark., to John Virgil and Etta Faye (Buster) Williams. She was valedictorian of her 1943 graduating class at Perry High School. She retired as an insurance clerk for Charles Machine Works and was a member of First Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher for 60 years. She enjoyed cats and bicycling and was an avid bowler. She won numerous medals in the Oklahoma Senior Olympics. She was predeceased by her parents and eight brothers and sisters. Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Paul Haxton of Stillwater and Kathy and Larry Bridges of Perry; one son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Debbie Kime of Tulsa; three brothers, Thell Williams of California, Velmer Williams of Wichita, Kan., and Denver Williams of Del City; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Perry or Humane Society of Stillwater ****************************************************** Sept. 24, 2002 Retes Hunsucker Retes Hunsucker, 74, died Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, at his Stillwater home. Services, with Rev. Norman Richmond presiding, will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Highland Park Freewill Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born in Hoyt Feb. 22, 1928, to Harim and Sammie Sallie (Busbee) Hunsucker. He married Lola Joyce Jones Dec. 30, 1947. After she died, he married Elsie Elvina (Bearry) Turner Sept. 2, 1989, in Eureka Springs, Ark. He attended schools in the country area and worked on his parents' farm. He was one of 12 children. After completing six years of school, he was self-educated. He served two years in the Marine Corps. during the Korean War. He preached for more than 30 years and pastored in four Freewill Baptist Churches. He was also a sewing machine salesman and sold storm shelters. He was a member of Highland Park Freewill Baptist Church. He was predeceased by his parents, four sisters, four brothers and his son, Ronnie Eugene Hunsucker. In addition to his wife of Stillwater, he is survived by one daughter, Rita Joyce Long of Broken Arrow; step-children, Irene Fancher of Stillwater and Michael Turner of Stillwater; two brothers, Hiram "Shorty" Hunsucker of California and Arnold Samuel Hunsucker of California; and one sister, Helen Lee Ponder, also of California; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Charles Bridges, Mike Collier, Jerry Cook, Jerry Cramer, Dave Heaton and Gene Longworth. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at strodefh@aol.com ****************************************************** Sept. 25, 2002 Dr. Ross Jewell Dr. Ross Lyman Jewell, 88, of Cushing, died Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, at the Cushing Regional Hospital. Memorial services will be held Sunday during the worship service at the First Christian Church in Cushing. John Malget will preside. Services are under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. Jewell was born Sept. 28, 1913, in Emmett, Idaho, to William G. and Ada Hopper Jewell. He received his early education in Blue Rapids, Kan., and also at the Thorton Township High School in Chicago, Ill. He graduated from the school of veterinary medicine at Kansas State University. He received his M.D. in family practice from Kansas University. He practiced medicine in Kansas until he retired in 1985. He was married to Mary Margaret (Rodgers) Oct. 26, 1940. They lived most of their married live in Kansas and moved to Cushing in 1985. Dr. Jewell was a member of the First Christian Church in Cushing. Survivors include his wife of the home in Cushing; two sons, Ralph Edward Jewell of Cushing and David Ronald Jewell of Chicago, Ill.; one sister, Charlotte Haferkamp of Seattle, Wash.; and three grandchildren Nathan Jewell, Bennett Jewell and Jessica Jewell, all of Broken Arrow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Merle Tate Merle Edwin Tate, 64, Yale, died Monday, Sept. 23, 2002, at his home. No services are scheduled for Tate. Arrangements are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home. Tate was born Dec. 25, 1937, in Kilgore, Texas, to Roy and Doris (James) Tate. He married Dorothy Albin May 26, 1963, in Beaver. The couple divorced. He also lived in Enid, where he was a volunteer for the Sunshine Ministries. He is preceded in death by his parents. Tate is survived by his son, Mike Edwin Tate; daughter, Ramona Yvonne Tate Dickenson; four grandchildren, Jared Michael Tate, Derreck Kyle Gay, Casey Wayne Gay and Kayla Nichole Dickenson; three brothers, Wayne Tate, Leroy Tate and Glenville Bolls. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Donnie Thurman Stillwater resident Donnie Ray Thurman, 44, died Friday, Sept. 20, 2002, at Stillwater Medical Center. Graveside services were at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow. A Celebration of Life services was held Wednesday at a friend's home. He was born in Tulsa Oct. 15, 1957, to Henry Terry and Billie Jo (Sullivan) Thurman. He lived at home until 1964 when he moved to The Hissom Memorial Center. In July 1979, he moved to Hearthstone in Stillwater where he lived until he moved to Supported Living with Stillwater Group Homes. He loved listening to and playing rock and roll music, especially KISS, attending concerts, Harley Davidson stuff, his family and his long-time friend, Jojuana Moses. He worked at the New York Bagel Shop, Gibsons and El Chico. He was predeceased by his father. In addition to his mother and friend Jojuana Moses, he is survived by two brothers, Terry and Troy Thurman, his sister, Karen Morrow and niece, Amy Wheeler, all of Sand Springs; nieces, Kimberly Shawn Thurman and Sara Dawn Thurman; two great-nieces, Beatrice King and Meleah Thomas; a number of aunts, uncles and cousins; and his Stillwater Group Home Family. Memorials can be made to Stillwater Group Homes, Inc., 114 West 8th, Stillwater, 74074. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jessie Stelte Jessie Marie Stelte, 80, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002, at her Springfield, Ill., residence. Graveside services, with Father Kenneth J. Harder presiding, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Carney Cemetery. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. A special service, with Rev. Troy Benitone presiding, was held Tuesday at Staab Funeral Home in Springfield. She was born in Carney April 22, 1922, to George T. and Adeline Ellis Allen. She married Frank Vincent Stelte Jan. 29, 1941. He died July 9, 1979. She lived in Springfield since 1941. She taught kindergarten at St. Agnes Catholic School and seventh grade at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School. She also worked at Visual Handicapped Management, Inc. and Heritage House. She was a member of St. Agnes Church . She was the Springfield president of AARP and the former president of United Commercial Travel. She was also former Ladies Auxiliary president of VFW Post 755 and banquet manager of VFW Post 755. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by one daughter, Joanne Myren, a brother, George E. "Bud" Allen, one sister, Melba Chandler and two grandchildren. Survivors include five sons, Clarence E. Stelte and his wife Myra of Upland, Calif., John A. Stelte of Irving, Texas, Frank T "Tom" Stelte and his wife Linda of Pawnee, Ill., Charles R. "Bob" Stelte and his wife Peggy of Pawnee, Ill. and Joseph H. Stelte and his wife Cindy of Springfield; two daughters, Susan Barrington and her husband Glen of Springfield and Catherine A Smith and her husband Dr. Gilbert Smith of Polar Bluff, Mo.; two brothers, Robert N. Allen and his wife Twyla of Choctaw and Wayne Allen and his wife Geraldine of Perkins. Memorials may be made to VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, Springfield, Ill., 62704. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clyde Holman Former Cushing resident and long time Okmulgee oil man Clyde Joseph Holman, 71, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at McClendon-Winters Funeral Home Chapel, 303 East Seventh in Okmulgee. Interment will follow at the Okmulgee Cemetery. He was born Dec. 7, 1930, in Omaha, Neb., to Clyde and Eunice Holman. He grew up in Cushing. He was in the Navy and served in the South Pacific and China aboard the aircraft carrier Rendova. He held an LLB from Woodrow Wilson College of Law and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. He was affiliated with the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, Southwest Kansas Royalty Owners' Association, Petroleum Club of Tula, National Association of Royalty Owners, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the Selective Service Board. He had been a member of the Tulsa Men's Club, Masonic Lodge and Rotary. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Okmulgee and a supporter of Wycliffe Bible Translators. In addition to his wife, Patricia, he is survived by a sister, Lois Leftwich; children, Greg Holman, Susie Abney, Patrick Holman, Glede Holman and step-son, David Carter; nine grandchildren, Dillon Holman, Roxanne Wueste, Rick Abney, Deanna Rhea, Patrick Joehugh Holman, Mark Holman, Clifford Holman, Christopher Holman and Courtney Holman; a great-grandchild, Jordan Abney; and many friends. Memorials may be made to the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center or the American Cancer Society, C/O McClendon-Winters Funeral Home, 303 East Seventh, Okmulgee ****************************************************** Sept. 26, 2002 Fred Long Jr. Lifetime Pawnee resident Fred James Long Jr., 51, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002. Services, with Rev. Rick Edwards presiding, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Poteet Funeral Chapel in Pawnee. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery in Pawnee. Poteet Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born in Pawnee Sept. 24, 1950, to Fred James Long Sr. and Pearl (Brown) Long. He married Nora Long June 10, 1971, in Skedee. He attended Pawnee schools and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1969. He then attended Okmulgee Tech and graduated in 1972. He loved to go hunting, fishing, camping and painting ceramics. He worked as a derrick hand for Haliburton and Hill. He was predeceased by a sister, Palma May Long and a brother, James Franklin Long. In addition to his wife of the home, he is survived by two sons, Jesse James Long of Pawnee and William Long of Mannford; five grandchildren, Johnathan Long of Glencoe, Jessica and Jackie Long of Pawnee and Taylor and Brennan Long of Mannford; his parents of Pawnee; two sisters, Rose Corle of Norman and Marie Bardt of Wyandotte; a brother, Walter Long of Lawrence, Kan.; and a number of other relatives and many friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Francis Kovach A funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Norman, Saturday at 11 a.m. for Dr. Francis Joseph Kovach. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, July 19, 1918, to Anna Roch and Joseph Kova_s. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Paz m ny P,ter University of Budapest, Hungary. He later graduated Summa Cum Laude by the Albertus Magnus University of Cologne, West Germany, and was granted the Ph.D. in Philosophy. Dr. Kovach taught at three colleges from 1953-1962, from 1962 to 1964 he taught at Villanova University, and he came to the University of Oklahoma in 1964 and taught for 24 years until his retirement in 1988. His areas of specialty were medieval metaphysics, philosophy of beauty and art, philosophy of science and ethics. He was fluent in more than 10 languages. He was the author of three books and 36 articles and papers written in German, English and Portuguese. Additionally he was published in a number of journals, proceedings and books. He married Elizabeth Th"k"ly in 1941 in Hungary. In 1951 he emigrated to the United States with his wife and their two children, Akos and Elizabeth, and became a proud naturalized citizen in 1957. He was considered the world's leading authority on St. Thomas Aquinas and was listed in the Who's Who in America and in the 2000 Men of Achievement. Among his many accomplishments, he entered a national contest in 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio, and won third place for his composition of Ave Maria. He and his wife also headed a school for Hungarian refugees in Germany for two years. He was an accomplished artist, with some of his works hanging in the National Museum in Hungary. He enjoyed writing music, listening to classical music and drawing. Towards the end of his life he liked to take walks, travel and work in the garden. He especially enjoyed trips to Arizona and recently returned from a trip to Hungary in 2001 where he was able to visit his boyhood schools, family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife in 1988, an infant son, Francis and a daughter, M ri and his brother, Tibor Kova_s. He is survived by a brother, Vincent Paul Kovach of Budapest, Hungary and a sister, Maria Taiko of Dorog, Hungary, five children, Elizabeth Cowan and her husband Jim of Dallas, Texas, his son, Akos and his wife Shean of Stillwater, his son, Leslie and his wife Sherri of Houston, Texas, his daughter, Agi Lurtz and her husband Jon of Norman, his son, Tom and his life partner, Will Weir of Norman; eight grandchildren, April Wilkin and her husband Brian of Katy, Texas, Elizabeth Heid and her good friend David Dodd of Stillwater, Andy Cowan, of Austin, Texas, Akos Paul Kovach of Stillwater, Jessie Kovach of Houston, Sean Lurtz of Norman, Chris and Laura Humphrey of Norman; and five great- grandchildren, Hanna, Rachael and Sarah Heid of Stillwater and Kailey and Lindsey Wilkin of Katy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sept. 27, 2002 Leora Chilton Leora Gelene Chilton, 75, died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, at Stillwater Medical Center. Services, with the Rev. Bob Vaught presiding, will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. She was born in Covington Jan. 16, 1927, to Lawrence F. and Alice (Culie) Smith. She married Ralph B. Chilton May 20, 1950, in Elida, N.M. She attended school in Tryon, Spring Valley and Eureka and graduated from Stillwater High School. She graduated from Oklahoma A and M in home economics and taught home economics in Elida, Rattan and Perry. In 1952 the couple moved to Oklahoma and for a number of years owned and operated Ralph's Furniture Mart on South Main Street. They later developed the Summit Addition, southwest of Stillwater. At the time of her death she was retired. She loved doing for her family, gardening, reading, bird watching and attending church. She had been a member of Southside Baptist Church since her college days. She was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Lewis Keith Chilton. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Milton Wayne Chilton and his wife Judy of Las Vegas, Nev., and Gary Lynn Chilton and his wife Karen, also of Las Vegas; one daughter, Cheryl Anne Chilton of Stillwater; four grandchildren, Jason, Jeremy, Crystal and Chris Chilton of Las Vegas; two brothers, Frank L. Smith of Stillwater and Marvin Smith of Roxton, Texas; and one sister, Twyla Winterhalter of Stillwater. Memorials may be made to Southside Baptist Church, 1223 South Perkins Road, Stillwater OK 74074 or Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at strodefh@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph 'Fred' Amen Joseph Frederick "Fred" Amen, 95, died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, in Wichita, Kan. Services, with the Rev. Albert May presiding, will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Poteet Funeral Chapel in Pawnee. Interment will follow at Masham Cemetery in Pawnee. Poteet Funeral Home is directing the arrangements. He was born in Pawnee Dec. 13, 1906, to Ezekiel Hennan and Rosie Ellen (Beeson) Amen. He married Verba Inez Oldham June 4, 1935, in Stillwater. In 1987 the couple moved to Wichita. He was a member of the last class to graduate from Oklahoma A and M and taught in Oklahoma and Kansas public schools for 37 years. He was predeceased by his parents, four brothers and two sisters. In addition to his wife of the home, he is survived by a daughter, LaVerba Gaulding of Wichita; two sons, Dan Joe Amen of Stillwater and Lloyd Fred Amen of Zuni, N.M.; three granddaughters, Michalle Gaulding of Wichita, Ambre Stirtz of Emporia, Kan. and Janelle Ballard of Stillwater; and a number of relatives and many friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Esther Garber Esther Evelyn Garber, 91, Wichita, Kan., died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002. Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Big Creek Church of the Brethren with Rev. John Holderread officiating. Burial will follow in the church yard cemetery Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. Garber was born April 25, 1911, in Timnath, Colo., to William John Sears and Elsie Anderson Sears. She was reared and educated in Leon, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Samuel A. Garber Aug. 1, 1931, in Princeton, Mo. The couple lived in several different states where he pastored. Eventually, they moved to Cushing in 1985. Her husband died April 15, 1990. Garber was a member of the Big Creek Church of the Brethren and over the years had been very involved with numerous church activities. She was a former volunteer for the hospice program and for many years was involved with 4-H. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by three sisters, Stella, Helen and Ethel. Garber is survived by her children, William F. Garber and wife Marilois, Mukilteo, Wash., Ardoth E. (Pat) Hilton, Wichita, Kan., and Linda S. Schrader and husband Karl, Wichita; brother, Bill Sears and wife Dodie, Big Fork, Mont.; 10 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Condolences may be e-mailed to the Garber family at davisfhcushing@aol.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sept. 28, 2002 Justin Newcity Justin Alan Newcity, 17, of Cushing died Thursday Sept. 26, 2002 at his home in Cushing. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Oilton Christ Fellowship church in Oilton. Pastor Gary Karlan will preside and interment will follow at the Euchee Valley cemetery east of Cushing. Beverly Willingham will sing, "Jesus Loves Me", Joyce Beagley will sing, "The Lord's Prayer" and Kelli and Olivia McBride will provide a musical selection on their violins. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. He was born June 21, 1985 in Cushing to Chris Newcity and Shannon (White). He spent his life surrounded by family and friends who loved him. Justin blessed everyone who new him. Survivors include, his mother and step-father, Shannon and Dennis McBride of the home; his father, Chris Newcity of Oklahoma City; one brother, Jeremy Newcity; step-brothers, Brandon, Derek, Andrew, Christopher, Benjamin and Jackson McBride; maternal grandparents, Gary and Susann Branstetter of Cushing, Ruby White of Hot Springs, Ark., Judy McBride of Oilton; maternal great-grandparents, Dorothy Myers of Enid, Raymond Branstetter of Chester, Mary White of Alva and Leonard Lauener of Oilton; paternal grandparents Marietta and Don Watkins of Agra, Ed and Nancy Newcity of Russellville, Ala. and numerous uncles, aunts other relatives and friends. Ronald Brown Jennings resident Ronald "Ronnie" Brown, 52, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002. Visitation at the Davis-Yale Chapel, 107 North Main in Cushing will be Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., Sunday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Lawson Cemetery. Davis-Yale Chapel is directing the arrangements. He was born on May 2, 1950, in Yale. He attended school in Yale and graduated from Yale High School with the class of 1969. He married Sandra McKinney in 1970 in Yale. He moved to Arkansas in 1971 where he lived until returning to Oklahoma in the late 1980's. He was a talented carpenter and was known as a gifted musician and played the drums, fiddle and banjo. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents Horatio and Essie Brown and his maternal grandparents James Oney and Mary Ross. He is survived by his father and step-mother Myron and Billie Brown of Yale; mother and step-father Dorothy and Dewey Willard of Oilton; one daughter, Tammie Brown of Cushing; a son, Robby Brown of Yale; step-daughter, Terrie Masters and her husband Dale of Cushing; step-son, Rodney McKinney and his wife Rhonda of Drumright; seven grandchildren, Cody and Kaylon Masters of Cushing, Ki McKinney of Drumright, Auston Brown of Cushing and Desirae Brown, both of Cushing; Brooke Brown of Cushing, and Clara Brown of Ramon, Wash.; two brothers, Johney Brown of Jennings and James Brown and his wife Jessie of Yale; a sister, Rebecca Withiam and her husband Doug of Cushing; two step-brothers, Burl Shephard of Ponca City and Elton Willard and his wife Brenda of Cushing; three step-sisters, Terrie White of Langston, Kan., Sherry Alsip of Yale and Lisa Shephard of Yale; five nephews, Johney Ray Brown, Michael Brown and Jason Brown all of Yale, Kenneth Brown of Stillwater and Bryan Withiam of Cushing; two nieces, Bonnie Brown of Yale and Kimberly Withiam of Cushing; and a number of other relatives and friends. Casket bearers will be Johney Ray Brown, Michael A. Brown, Kenneth Franklyn Brown, Jason Spencer Brown, Bryan Withiam and Kimberly Withiam. Honorary casket bearer will be Bonnie J. Brown. Condolences may be e-mailed the family at . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sept. 29, 2002 Lela Boyd Lela Nellie Boyd, 91, of Stillwater, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at her residence. Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Strode Funeral Chapel. Pastor J.B. Bond will officiate. Interment will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, southwest of Stillwater. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the services. She was born Sept. 1, 1911, near Yale, to T.J. and Pearl (Ballinger) Ellington. She married Leo George Boyd Oct. 7, 1930, in Stillwater. He preceded her in death Oct. 11, 1988. She attended Battle Ridge and Brockman schools in Payne County through eighth grade. She lived on the family farm until her marriage to Leo. She and her husband lived in Payne County where they farmed until she moved to Stillwater in 1996. While on the farm, she raised chickens and sold eggs to the Stillwater Hatchery and she also raised a large garden. She was very artistic, liked music and enjoyed sewing. She knew the importance of education and made sure her children were educated, and she enjoyed learning alongside them while they were in school. She attended Countryside Baptist Church and was a member of the Eureka Home Demonstration Club. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one grandson, Steven Clary. She is survived by four daughters, Vona Parrish, Ina Faye Clary, Ona Childers and her husband, Keith and Betty Boyd, all of Stillwater; two sons, Forrest and wife Mary Joyce of Cleveland and Laurence of Sand Springs; nine grandchildren, Lisa Tanner, Kendall Boyd, Donnie, Beverly, Dennis and Roberta Clary, Lorna Miller, Brenda Bullard and Brian Childers; and four sisters, Thelma Stocker of Pawnee, Beula Flager and her husband, Claud, of Stillwater, Neva Roark of Blackwell and Erma McBrain of Blackwell. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . Mack L. Braziel Jr. Mack L. Braziel Jr., 83, of Perkins, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at Stillwater Medical Center. Services will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Wellston Christian Church. Kenny Violette will officiate. Interment will follow at New Zion Cemetery in Davenport. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the services. He was born Jan. 6, 1919, in Quay, to Mack Braziel Sr. and Marqaurite (Jondahl) Braziel. He married Viola Mae Tunnell June 30, 1938, in Drumright. She preceded him in death Oct. 14, 1997. Braziel attended schools in Davenport. He graduated from high school in 1937. After high school, he began working for Texaco where he worked for over 43 years. He retired from Texaco in 1986. He loved to garden, fish and hunt. He was a member of the Perkins Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers, one sister and one son, Eddie Darrell. He is survived by two sons, Jerry and his wife Margaret of McLoud and Mack Braziel III and his wife Deanna of Wellston; one sister, Patsy Staley of Arlington, Texas; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------