copied with permission from
The Shawnee News-Star
215 N. Bell
Shawnee, OK 74801

submitted by Kay Sugg Best

published July 2, 2005

Norman resident Robert Paul Watson, 85, died Thursday, June 30.
He was born April 21, 1920, in Shawnee to Walter Gaston and Lottie May (Rippee) Watson.

During his childhood, Paul endured the hardships the Great Depression placed on his family and he helped provide food by using his skills as a gunsmith and hunting game.

Paul became a certified welder at a young age and served on United States soils during World War II. He traveled alone to Bellingham, Wash., with clearances to work for E.I. Du Pont as a welder at the top secret nuclear plant near the Columbian River.

On June 21, 1942, he married his lifelong companion, Gladys Mary "Dee" Browning in Shawnee.

The following February Dee gave birth to their daughter, Connie Rae, in Oklahoma City. While traveling as a welder for numerous operations, such as SunRay DX and Conoco, Paul and Dee were blessed with a second child, a son Dennis Paul, in April 1944. In the fall of 1945, Paul moved the family to Troy, Ohio, where he took a welding job for Combustion Engineers and endured a long, cold winter. He later worked at the OG&E Electric Power Generating Station (Horseshoe Lake station near Harrah) in 1946. He remained with OG&E for 35 years working as a welder, welding inspector and retired as a mechanical supervisor.

In 1947 Paul and Dee built a home near Bethel School and in August 1951, their third child, Patricia Kay, was born.

Although Paul had little classroom education, he was a highly self-educated man with hard-working abilities and developed a demanding attention for detail and perfection.

In 1953 Paul moved his family to Sulphur where he worked at the Arbuckle station. Paul and his family enjoyed hiking, fishing, swimming, watching the buffalo, picnicking and making special memories at the Platt National Park, now known as Chickasaw Recreation Area.

The family moved back to the Belle Isle Station in 1954 and was later transferred to Riverbank Station in Muskogee in 1956. The family encountered lots of worries that year with the Steelworkers Union strike and violence at the plant making headlines.

In 1957 Paul transferred back to the Horseshoe Station and later to the Mustang power plant in 1964.

Paul greatly enjoyed the outdoors. He admired and owned several good bird dogs. He had a passion for anything to do with shotguns, whether it was repairing, stock-making or engraving them. He had a particular specialty with quail hunting and trapshooting clay targets.

He was a longtime member and supporter of the Oklahoma Trapshooting Association. Paul was inducted into the OTA Hall of Fame and also was a member of the winning four man team representing Oklahoma at the Grand National Tournament in Vandalia, Ohio.

After Paul's retirement in 1982, he took his love of shotgun shooting to competitive trap fields in Arizona, Florida, Ohio and Texas. Traveling with his beloved Dee, he developed special friendships with other competitors. In the fall, Paul was the first to arrive and the last to leave the wildcat trap shoots.

Paul lived a long, happy, successful life, working hard providing for his family. He enjoyed nature and its beauty and touching the lives of everyone he met.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Dee on Jan. 14, 2004.

Paul leaves cherished memories with his son, Dennis P. Watson and his wife, Mary, of Oklahoma City; daughters, Connie R. Northcutt of Norman, Patricia K. Grossman and her husband, Patrick, of Arlington, Texas; seven grandchildren and spouses, Greg and Robin Watson of Blanchard, Jason and Denna Watson of Oklahoma City, Ginger and Paul Thomas of Arlington, Jennifer and Mike Marlow of Stillwater, Amy and Mark Richardson of Duncan; five great-grandchildren, Bradley Senters, Garrett and Madison Watson, all of Blanchard, Kadi and Jessi Richardson of Duncan.

Services to celebrate Paul's life will be 1 p.m. today at the South Colonial Chapel with a 3:30 p.m. committal service at Blackburn Chapel Baptist Cemetery, Bethel Acres. Services are under the direction of Vondel L. Smith and Son Mortuary in Oklahoma City.

Gail Francis Fisher

Stillwater resident Gail Francis Fisher, 49, died Thursday, June 30, in Oklahoma City.
She was born Nov. 18, 1955, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Howard J. and Iranus M. (Behrens) Baer.

She married Michael Bigler. On July 29, 1997, she married Orville Fisher in Stillwater.

Gail was a RN and CEN. She had devoted her lifetime of service to the nursing field. She spent her life helping others and loved her work as a nurse. She loved to travel and had a flare for living. She knew life was too short and so she made living fun. Gail knew how to reach out to people she worked with and she was well loved by her family and friends. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was a member of the Baha'i faith.

Gail is preceded in death by her father, Howard J. Baer, and mother-in-law, Vivian Fisher.

Survivors include her husband, Orville Fisher of Stillwater; mother, Iranus M. Baer; children and spouses, Justice and Shannon Bigler of Choteau, Joshua and Chris Fisher of Tulsa, Jasmine Bigler of Stillwater, Miranda and Jason Brown of Yale, Josie Bigler of Stillwater, and Jasper Bigler of Stillwater; two grandchildren, Josephine Jade Bigler and Victoria Elizabeth Bigler and one on the way; siblings, Christine R. Gilbert, JoAnn R. Brubaker, Marilynne J. Hahn, all of Milwaukee and Howard A. Baer of Tallahassee, Fla.

Service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Strode Chapel, Stillwater. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery, Stillwater, under the direction of Strode Funeral Home.



Margaret Lydia Bryan, 90, went to be with her Lord Wednesday, May 25, Shawnee.

She was born July 8, 1914, in Kiowa County, Okla., to Bert and Lorena Wisdom.

On Nov. 30, 1933, she married James Cecil Bryan. They moved to Mangum in 1946 where they both operated the Mangum Livestock Auction until 1977. The Sale Barn Cafe was a very popular place for lunch on Tuesdays due to Margaret's great home-cooking and delicious pies. She and Cecil moved to Shawnee in 1988.

Margaret was a dedicated homemaker and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her family.

Preceding her in death are her parents, husband, three brothers, Lee Wisdom, Wayne Shropshire and Bill Shropshire, and one sister, Burton Barnes.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Dorothy Bryan of Bluffton, S.C.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Cleburne Fails of Shawnee, Sharon and Robert Keating of Edmond; six grandchildren, Johnny Ford, Kelly Wesley, Michael Bryan, Dustin Bryan, Bryan Keating and Jennifer Keating; five great-grandchildren, Bridget Sudderth, Shelby Wesley, Berkley Bryan, MacKenzie Bryan and Willa Bryan; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Forrest Lockard; brother and sister-in-law, Elmer and Bernice Wisdom.

Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 8, at Resthaven Funeral Home.

Mary Barbara Grimes

Lifelong Shawnee resident Mary Barbara Grimes, 73, died Wednesday, June 29, at a local hospital.

She was born Nov. 5, 1931, to W.M. Jack Bell and June Noblett-Bell.

Barbara was a 1950 graduate of Shawnee High and attended Oklahoma Baptist University.

She married Don P. Grimes July 7, 1954, in her parents home with the Rev. John Wesley Raley officiating.

Barbara was a homemaker, loving wife and mother of three sons.

Barbara was delighted with beautiful clothes and fashion; she enjoyed Bridge with her friends as well as flower gardening in her yard.

She was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and the Shakespeare ladies club.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Robert Mark Grimes in 2004.

Survivors include her husband Don P. Grimes of the home; two sons and daughter-in-law, William Brock and Laurina Grimes of Woodlands, Texas, the Rev. Donald Price Grimes Jr. of Oklahoma City; brother and sister-in-law, William and Bettye Bell of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m. today at the Catholic Pastoral Center, 7501 Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City. There will be a private family memorial service at a later time.

Prague resident Oscar Lee "Hoss" Comstock died Friday, July 1, in Prague at the age of 76.

Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Prague with Bro. Tim Emmons officiating. Burial will follow at the Gable Cemetery in Prague.

Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague is directing arrangements.

published July 3, 2005

Emma Hybarger

Emma Hybarger, 83, of Shawnee passed away Friday, July 1, at a local hospital.
She was born Aug. 26, 1921, in McLoud to Andrew and Mary Nowakowski. She grew up in the McLoud area and graduated from McLoud High School.

She married Sam B. Hybarger on March 2, 1942.

Emma was a lifelong resident of the Shawnee area and was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one great-grandson, four brothers and four sisters.

She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Pat and Patty Hybarger of Tecumseh; one daughter and son-in-law, Marvann and Loren Merritt of Edmond; one brother and sister-in-law, Leo and Minnie Nowakowski of Harrah; twin sister, Emily Dunaway of Shawnee; sister, Cecelia Duggan of Prague; three grandchildren, Jeff, Angel and Sammy Hybarger of Tecumseh; two great-granddaughters, Allyson and Jeseca Scarberry of Tecumseh; and numerous other relatives.

Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Calvary Cemetery with the Rev. Maurus Jaeb, O.S.B., officiating.

Those wishing to send memorials may contribute to St. Benedict Catholic Church or their favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walker Funeral Service.



Lon J. Bowers

Lon J. Bowers passed from this life July 2 at Unity Health Center, North Campus, in Shawnee, at the age of 78.

He was born Oct. 3, 1926, in Macomb to Lena (Parsons) and Lon D. Bowers.

He married Joyce "Inez" Hale on July 13, 1964, in Sherman, Texas.

He was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He also was a member of Trinity Baptist Church of Maud, a former member of the Odd Fellows in Tecumseh and former member of the American Legion.

He retired from Tinker Air Force Base in 1979 after 34 years as a supervisor over shipping.

He also loved to fish.

He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Eugene Bowers; and one great-granddaughter, Hunter Chaffin.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce "Inez" Bowers of the home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Curtis and Paula Bowers, Lloyd and Glenda Bowers and Floyd Bowers, all of Maud; one daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and Mike Wittrock of Smithville, Texas; one brother and sister-in-law, Glen and June Bowers of Ponca City; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Jerri and Walter Brown of Fairfax, Charlotte Janway of Tecumseh and Louise Pine of Eufaula; nine grandchildren, Steven Bowers, Glen Alan Bowers, Jarrod Bowers, Suan Streeter, Jennifer Chaffin, Jackie Porterfield, Sydnee Tucker, Brytnee Tucker, Thad Tucker; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Steve Wall, Randy Crawford, Steve Wood, Jack Morris, Paul Lucy and Gene Reagan. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Pierce, Dell Williams, John Nuckolls, Tom Clark, Ray Lee and Charles Hopper.

Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Baptist Church in Maud with Wayne Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Cummings Cemetery in Maud.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund.

Arrangements are under the direction of Knight-Swearingen Funeral Home.



Barbara Anna Bounds

Lifelong Konawa area resident Barbara Anna Bounds died Saturday, July 2, at Seminole Medical Center. She was 85 years old.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Vamoosa Cemetery with Ed Bray officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pickard-Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.



Loretta Going

Loretta Going of Shawnee died Friday, July 1, at her home. She was 69 years old.
She was born July 22, 1935, in Claremore, to Harvey Jim Sr. and Mary Cornell-Jim. She grew up in Holdenville and attended Eufaula schools.

She married John Going Sr. on Feb. 26, 1955, at Indian Center Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

She was a member of First Indian Baptist Church in Shawnee. She cared deeply for her church family and enjoyed attending gospel singings.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Going Sr. in 1999; one son, John Going Jr.; one daughter, Lucy Grace Going-McCulley; two brothers, Henry Jim and Harvey Jim Jr.; one sister, Ruby Jim; one granddaughter, Danae Ramirez.

She is survived by two sons, Jimmy Going of Oklahoma City and Ronald Going of Shawnee; one sister, Dora Phillips of Shawnee; two grandsons and wives, Frank and Avis McCulley and Jonathan and Maryland Going; one granddaughter, Tiffany Ramirez; four great-grandchildren, Ryan McCulley, Logan McCulley, Tatyana Going and Hosea Ramirez.

A wake service will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Indian Baptist Church in Shawnee. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Indian Baptist Church with the Rev. Gary Hawkins, the Rev. Jimmy Anderson and the Rev. Houston Tiger officiating. Burial will follow at the Cornell family cemetery near Holdenville. Arrangements are under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.

Glenn G. Blankenship

Glenn G. Blankenship, 80, passed away July 1 in Midwest City.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl and Dave Blankenship; brother, Lynn Blankenship; sister, Billie Love; and granddaughter, Tisha Dowdy.

He is survived by two daughters, Linda Dowdy and Leatha Broderick of Arlington, Texas; one son, Glenn Blankenship of Oklahoma City; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

After leaving the U.S. Navy, he worked in the oil fields and overseas.

To comply with his wishes, no service will be held.



Florence Hansen

Florence Hansen of Meeker died Friday, July 1, in Shawnee. She was 89 years old.
Service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Elm Grove Cemetery in Perkins with Tony Cobb, Ray Dix and Bob Vanderburg officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service of Prague.



George Burton Thorpe

George Burton Thorpe of Shawnee died Friday, July 1, in Shawnee. He was 81 years old.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direciton of Gaskill Funeral Chapel.



Guy Lester Foreman Jr.

Guy Lester Foreman Jr. of Konawa died Monday, June 27, at a Dallas hospital. He was 66 years old.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at the family residence.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pickard-Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.

published July 5, 2005

Mary R. Allen, 77, died Saturday, July 2.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Resthaven Cemetery in Shawnee under the direction of Downing & Lahey Mortuary, Wichita, Kan.

Memorials may be made to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita KS 67202



Shawnee resident Jack Earl Barrett, 79, died Sunday, July 3, at a Tecumseh nursing home.
He was born April 25, 1926, in Kansas City, Mo., to Earl Lester and Velva Eulayly (Green) Barrett.

He married Fern Ratcliff Aug. 3, 1946, in Concordia, Kan.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, retired from United Foam Corp. as a supervisor of sales.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, the Elks Lodge, AARP and the VFW. He had lived in Shawnee the past 35 years and loved to play golf.

Survivors include his wife, Fern, of the home; three sons and their wives, Jack Jr. and Betty Barrett of Camarillo, Calif.; John and Kathy Barrett of Meeker and Jeff and Barbara Barrett of Shawnee; one daughter and her husband, Janet and Dwayne Scott of White Oak, Texas; eight grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Burress and Kris Steele officiating.

Walker Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

published July 6, 2005

James R. Skelton

Former Shawnee resident James R. Skelton, 94, of Augusta, Kansas, passed away Sunday, July 3, in Wichita, Kansas.
Mr. Skelton was born in Cass County, Texas, Oct. 24, 1910, to John James Frank and Lilla Florence (Steger) Skelton.

He was retired owner of Echometer Service Company and had worked at Halliburton where he tested oil wells.

On Dec. 25, 1935, he married M. Valerie (Stone) in Linden, Texas.

Survivors include his wife; daughter, Carolyn Mikish and her husband, Richard, of Augusta, Kan.; brother, John Harold Skelton; sister, Althara McDuffie; sister-in-law, Charlie Dell (Stone) Whatley, all of Linden, Texas; grandchildren, Melynnie Williams and her husband, Tom, of Tulsa, and Cathy Ryan of Andover, Kan.; four great-grandchildren, Zach and Michelle Boucher and Chelsea, Caitlyn and Chandler Williams; one great-greatgrandson, Dylan Scott Boucher; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Headley Funeral Chapel, Augusta, Kan. Service will be 11 am on Thursday at First Southern Baptist Church, Augusta. Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday at New Colony Church, Linden, Texas.

Memorials may be made to First Southern Baptist Church, Augusta, Kan., or New Colony Church Cemetery Fund, Linden, Texas.



Angel Dawn Hessman

Angel Dawn Hessman, 4, departed this life on Monday, July 4, in Oklahoma City.

She was born Aug. 23, 2000, in Shawnee to Scott Charles and Terra Ruth (Smith) Hessman.

Survivors include her parents of Paden; brother, Damion Scott Hessman of the home; sister, Savannah Christine Harless of the home; grandparents, Marqueita Beth and Steve Coon of Paden, Dewayne Scott Hesman of Prague, Janet Christine and Ronald Wayne Freeze of Paden, Ronny Joe and Gale Smith of Prague; great-grandparents, Bob C. and Sue Hessman of Paden, Charles and Ruby Adams of Paden, Dan and Ruth Smith of Prague, Doris Eaton of McAlester; aunts and uncles, Travis Joe and Rusti Smith of Prague, James Tray and Machelle Smith, and Desirea Jean Coon of Paden.

Service will be 10 a.m. Friday at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Prague with Brother Ledtky McIntosh officiating. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery in Paden under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.

Darrell M. Patterson

Shawnee resident Darrell M. Patterson, 55, died Monday, July 4, in Lexington.

He was born Oct. 1, 1949, in Shawnee to L.D. "Pat" and Sue (Coots) Patterson.

Darrell was an avid athlete in high school. He was sought after by professional baseball teams, but he made his way in football. He played for OSU and the Denver Broncos. He was a professional boxer, weight trainer and his love was working with juvenile youth programs.

He served in the U.S. Army in Okinawa, Japan.

Darrell is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Dale Lloyd in 1990.

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Jeremiah and April Patterson of Shawnee; daughter, Julie Patterson of Shawnee; brother and sister-in-law, Doyle and Terri Patterson of Hugo; five grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. today in the Mt. Olive Funeral Home Chapel in Hugo. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Bethel Acres Assembly Church. Service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Bethel Acres Assembly Church with the Rev. Lonnie Hurst officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Mt. Olive Funeral Home in Hugo.

Billy "Butch" Shannon Jr., 44, passed away Monday, July 4, in Tyler, Texas.

Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel in Purcell. Burial will follow at Wanette Cemetery under the direction of Wilson-Little Funeral Home

Chandler resident Leo E. Nelson, 74, died Monday, July 4.

Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Chandler.

published July 7, 2005

Billy Shannon Jr.  view obit

Barbara Olene Fry view obit

Edith Mae Spencer view obit

Ethel Clinkenbeard view obit

published July 8, 2005

Ted G. Batt view obit

Jackie Leon Guinn view obit

published July 9, 2005

Frankie Hopkins view obit

published July 10, 2005

John Kenneth Geuin view obit

Hazel Hartstock view obit

John F. Lacquement Jr. view obit

Pauline E. LaFoy view obit

published July 12, 2005

Betty Lou (Nelson) Cox Hamby view obit

Edward Lee Adams view obit

Ricky Tyler Brandon Phillips view obit

Hazel Evelyn Hartsock view obit

published July 13, 2005

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Reva Potter view obit

published July 14, 2005

Walter Albert Cagg view obit

Michael C. Harman view obit

Jo Smart view obit