Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Bizzell rites Wednesday
Funeral services for Marjorie “Marge” Bizzell will be held in Cordell Oklahoma at 2:00 p.m. October 15th 2003 at the First Methodist Church. Officiated by the Reverend Gary White. Burial will be at the Page Cemetery in Foss, Oklahoma under the direction of Jack Loftiss Funeral Home. Marjorie Bruner was born July 15, 1922, in Cloud Chief, Oklahoma and married Austin Wayne Bizzell in Foss. Marjorie was a dedicated, loving wife and mother. She was a talented writer, seamstress, cook, and gardener. Beginning in 1950, she served beside Austin in his ministry as pastor of Methodist churches at Navina, Lexington, Billy Hooten Memo-rial, Jones, Aline, Pond Creek, Medford, Jenks, Grove, Forgan, Carnegie, Wynnewood, and Laverne. She was a member of the Oklahoma Meth-odist Conference and a lifetime member of the WSCS. Marjorie spent her life teaching and guiding both young and old and was loved by everyone who met her. Her kind, gentle spirit and love for God, her family, and friends will live on. She is survived by one son, Jim Bizzell and wife Cheryl of Tulsa; two daughters, Marsha Layne and husband Terry of Tulsa, and Ruth Adams and husband Bill of Plains, Kansas; one grandson, Brian Austin Bizzell and wife Olivia of Owasso; five granddaughters, Karla Hula Bradshaw and husband Ron, Ann Amerin and hus-band Max, Kristen Franze and husband James, Heather Adams, and Amber Adams; four great grandsons, Adam and Drew Bradshaw, Jake and Dalton Amerin; one great granddaughter, Cheyane Adams; and one step-granddaughter, Megan Duncan. Also surviving is an extended family including Matt Duncan and wife Carolyn and their sons Jonathan and Garrett, and Dr. Mark Duncan and wife Susan and their children Faryn and Eli. Marjorie was the oldest of ten children born to S.L., and Lola Bruner and is survived by her brothers Richard, wife Irene; Bob, wife Doris; Leonard, wife Shirley; Don, wife Kate; Raymond, wife Bonnie; and two sisters, Betty Snider and husband Dale, and Iris Frey. Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Reverend Austin W. Bizzell; two infant sons, Charles Wayne and David Austin; her parents, S.L. and Lola Bruner; two brothers, Kenneth and Ronald Bruner; and one son-in-law, James Michael Glenn. The fam-ily requests contributions be made to the Reverend Austin W. Bizzell Ministerial Scholarship Fund at Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder. Oklahoma City, OK 73106. Paid Obituary

Saturday, October 11, 2003
Retired Washita County official Sharp has died Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, at his home in Cordell. He was born on Sept. 11, 1921 near Lake Valley, the son of W.B. Sr. and Effie (Davis) Sharp. Sharp had lived in the Cordell area most of his life, moving from Sentinel to Cordell in 1965. He was a member of the Fourth and College Church of Christ, VFW Post 4613, American Legion Lowell Sarter Post 134 and the County Officers and Deputies Association. Sharp served in the U.S. Air Force from Sept. 19, 1942 to Feb. 6, 1946, achieving the rank of tech sergeant. He was Interment will be in the Lawnview Cemetery at Cordell under the direction of the McClure Funeral Home of Cordell. Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home; three daughters, Cheryl Lively and her husband, Richard, of Cordell, Carol Corbett and her husband, Jack, of Cordell, Christie Cannon and her husband, Rick, of Edmond; a sister, Juanita Richardson of Midwest City; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. The family suggests that those who desire may make memorial contributions in Sharp’s honor to the Cordell Christian Home.

Myrle Hewitt rites Sunday
Graveside services for Myrle Hewitt, age 91 of Clinton, will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Custer City Masonic Cemetery with Clinton minister Doyle Kinney officiating. Hewitt married Ralph Hewitt in 1934. A talented seamstress, she monogrammed for neighbors and schools all around. She was an active member of the First Christian Church where she belonged to the Loyal Brean Sunday School Class and the CWF group. She also was a member of the Rook Club and Garden Club, loving to garden. Preceding her in death, along with her husband, were a brother, Frank Hewitt, Sr.; and sisters, Pearl Shivley, Pansy Shepherd, Jane Sterner, Lela Essary, Eula Senior and Willa Essary. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kiesau-Marler Funeral Home of Clinton. Survivors include her daughter, Mary Ann Peacock of Rock Port, Texas; a sister, Lola Fox of Clinton; grandchildren, Joel Peacock and his wife, Leslie, of Denver, Colo., Elizabeth Peacock and Barret Karr of Austin, Texas; great grandchildren, Lara Karr, Jordan Peacock, Daniel Peacock; a niece, Jean Fortner and her husband, Gerald; many other nieces and nephews; and a special friend and caregiver, Vi Sawatzky.

Thursday, October 09, 2003
Ola Weichel rites Sunday
Funeral services for Ola Weichel, age 96 of Clinton, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Christian Church with minister Doyle Kinney officiating. Weichel married Arthur “Artie” Weichel on Dec. 12, 1928 in Colony. They lived in Corn, Independence and Stafford for many years. Ola assisted her husband on the farm with plowing and farming. Upon retirement, they moved into Clinton. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Weichel enjoyed sewing and gardening. Cooking was her therapy. died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003, at McBride Bone and Joint Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was born on Aug. 20, 1913 in Logan, Beaver County, Okla., the son of Murray and Anna Matilda (Shenke) Baker. He grew up in Custer County and attended grade school at Gyp before graduating from Arapaho High School. Later, he attended Keen’s Business College. He was died Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, in Dallas, Texas. She was born on Nov. 12, 1912, the daughter of F.E. and Olivia Shanks. She was reared on a farm north of Hydro. After earning degrees from Southwestern Teachers College and Scarritt College in Tennessee she became a Methodist missionary. She preached and taught for 20 years in Cuba and for 14 years in Costa Rica. She had spent her retirement years in Dallas, Texas. Shanks never died Monday, Oct. 6, 2003, due to an illness. He was born on May 23, 1945 at Clinton and lived most of his life in south Oklahoma City, graduating from U.S. Grant High School and serving in the U.S. Army. The thing he loved most was classical and spiritual music, especially southern gospel. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kiesau-Marler Funeral Home of Clinton. Survivors include his mother, Ida M. Jantz of Oklahoma City; a sister, Sydney Bond and her husband, Bill, of Griffin, Ga.; nieces, Dana Porritt and her husband, Tom, of Kenai, Ark., Marie Porritt and her husband, Scott, of Fairbanks, Ark., Allison Longnecker and her husband, Erick, of Jonesboro, Ga., Carla Tisdale and her husband, Chad, of Fayetteville, Ga.; a nephew, Reid Bond of Rome, Italy; uncles, aunts and friends living at the Grace Living Center in Oklahoma City. Preceding him in death were his father, Herman Jantz of Oklahoma City; his grandparents, David and Marie Kliewer of Clinton; and two aunts, Mary Ann McKenzie and Viola Hulseberg of Oklahoma City.

Saturday, October 04, 2003
Parker dies
Funeral services for Verda Ruth Parker, age 91 of Cordell, were held Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Cordell with burial in the Sap-pington Cemetery at Cordell. Parker died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Smith Mortuary in Derby, Kans. with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Survivors include her husband, Kenny, of Derby, Kans.; daughters, Deanna Stasiewicz and her husband, Eddie, of Wichita, Kans., Debbie Mulley and her husband, Chuck, of Derby, Kans.; grandchildren, Christopher Mullen, Jennifer Stasiewicz, Ma-thew Mullen, Elizabeth Stasiewicz; and her mother, Annabell Elliott of Clinton. The family suggests that those who desire may make memorial contributions in Dorothy Dodson’s honor to Victory in the Valley, 3755 East Douglas, Wichita, KS 67218.

Krystal Sells funeral held
Funeral services for car accident victim Krystal Sells, daughter of Johnny and Brenda Sells of Senti-nel, were held Saturday morning in the Dick West Auditorium of Sentinel High School with Craig Towery officiating. Krystal Interment was in the Sentinel Cemetery. Survivors include her parents, Johnny and Bren-da Sells; a maternal grandmother, Wanda Britton of Sentinel; paternal grandparents, Kenneth and Nadine Sells of Carnegie; a paternal great grandmother, Alice Skinner of Carnegie; a maternal great grandmother, Lola Smith of Sentinel; a sister, Amy Michelle Wilhelm and her husband, Brandon, of Bentonville, Ark.; a half brother, Shane Ruben Sells of Clinton; and many cousins, aunts and uncles. The family suggests that those who desire may make memorial contributions in Krystal’s honor to the Sentinel School Athletic Department.

Thursday, October 02, 2003
Jess Karber rites Friday
Funeral services for Jess Ray Karber, 77, of Corn, will be held Friday, October 3, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. in Pine Acres Mennonite Church in Weatherford with Pastor Don Morris officiating. Burial will follow in Corn Mennonite Brethren Cemetery under the direction of the Lockstone Funeral Home of Weatherford. Karber was born to Harry H. and Luella (Wiens) Karber on Dec. 13, 1925, in Balko, Okla. and married Doris Margaret Flaming in Corn. After living in Denver for a short time they moved to Balko. In 1955, they relocated to Shatter, Calif. and remained there until 1977. They then farmed near Shattuck moving before moving to farm near Weatherford in 1984. In 1991 he moved to Corn and continued to farm in the Weatherford area until retiring in 2000. Jess enjoyed golf and being outdoors. Memorials may be made to Tabor College. Survivors include two sons, Lyndon Dale Karber of Houston, and Gregory Alien Karber and wife Jeannie of Cyprss, Texas; two daughters Teresa Ann Bowman and her husband Brad of Clearwater, Kan.; and Joyce Elaine Parker and her husband Bryan D. of Thibodaux, Louisiana; one brother, Eugene Karber and his wife, Ramona of Enid; a sister, Lola Jost and her husband. Harry of Balko; and ten grandchildren. His parents and his wife preceded him in death.

Ethel Stockton rites set
Funeral services for Jess Ray Karber, 77, of Corn, will be held Friday, October 3, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. in Pine Acres Mennonite Church in Weatherford with Pastor Don Morris officiating. Burial will follow in Corn Mennonite Brethren Cemetery under the direction of the Lockstone Funeral Home of Weatherford. Karber was born to Harry H. and Luella (Wiens) Karber on Dec. 13, 1925, in Balko, Okla. and married Doris Margaret Flaming in Corn. After living in Denver for a short time they moved to Balko. In 1955, they relocated to Shatter, Calif. and remained there until 1977. They then farmed near Shattuck moving before moving to farm near Weatherford in 1984. In 1991 he moved to Corn and continued to farm in the Weatherford area until retiring in 2000. Jess enjoyed golf and being outdoors. Memorials may be made to Tabor College. Survivors include two sons, Lyndon Dale Karber of Houston, and Gregory Alien Karber and wife Jeannie of Cyprss, Texas; two daughters Teresa Ann Bowman and her husband Brad of Clearwater, Kan.; and Joyce Elaine Parker and her husband Bryan D. of Thibodaux, Louisiana; one brother, Eugene Karber and his wife, Ramona of Enid; a sister, Lola Jost and her husband. Harry of Balko; and ten grandchildren. His parents and his wife preceded him in death.

Bowman rites to be Saturday
Graveside Services for Mrs. Johnnie Belle Bow-man, 90, former Custer County resident, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Clinton Cemetery with Rev. Stanley Daniels officiating. Johnnie Belle Bowman was born April 2, 1913 to John and Hattie (Brazier) Jennings and married Paul D. Bowman in 1931 at Cold Springs. They made their home in Butler where they farmed north of town until they moved into Butler in 1943. She worked at the Butler School Cafeteria and the Fox Grocery Store before they moved to Clinton in the early 1960’s and she was employed at a Clinton nursing home for a short time. Her husband preceded her in death in 1985, and she moved to Oklahoma City and lived in the Bap-tist Village until her death. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Burial will be under the direction of the Stanley-Lee Funeral Home of Clin-ton. Survivors include a daughter, Darlene Koch of Oklahoma City; a son, Bo Bowman and his wife, Peggy, of Lawton; a sister, Ruth Stephens of Califor-nia; and two brothers, Os-car Jennings and his wife, Audrey, of Del City and Sill Jennings and his wife, Loudean, of California; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. The family has suggested that those who desire may make memorial contribu-tions in her honor to the Adams Service Care As-sistance Fund, 9700 Nash-burn, Oklahoma City, OK 73162.

Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Edmonds rites to be Thursday
Funeral services for Jarrett Edmonds, age 94 of Clinton, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the First Christian Church with minister Doyle Kinney of-ficiating. James Jarrett Edmonds was born on Sept. 26,1909 in Rocky, the son of Jim Williams Edmonds and Ada Mae (Bannister) Edmonds. He married the former Miss Pauline Darnell March 22, 1940, in Clinton, and they made their home in Clinton until her death in 1988. He worked in an auto supply business until he enlisted into the Air Corps in 1942, serving in the military during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after which he began a career in the auto business and was in business for himself from 1947 until 1955. He then joined Corwin Robinson as co-owner of an auto parts store until 1982. He later died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, in Cordell. He was born on Sept. 23, 1920 one mile west of Lake Valley. After meeting his future wife, Agnes Lorene Russell, at a junior-senior banquet in Burns Flat, the couple married the couple at his home in Clinton. A.J. worked for the Cordell Beacon for 29 years. In 1970 he opened Adams Printing in Cordell, operating it until he sold it on March 1, 1984. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Cordell, having served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He also was a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club and had served on the Cordell City Council after winning election to that post. In his free time, Adams enjoyed fishing, golfing, working in his shop and playing his guitar. Survivors include his wife, Agnes Lorene Adams of Cordell; a daughter, Shirley Ann Young and her husband, Andy, of Norman; grandsons, Todd Andrew Young of Norman, Robb Andrew Young and his wife, Kristi, and son, Chris, of Norman; great granddaughter, Morgan Raye Young of Norman; sisters, Minnie Dell Housbeck and her husband, Paul, Wanita Hendrix and her husband, James.

Friday, September 26, 2003
Larry Burton funeral set
Chapel services for Larry Burton, age 56 of rural Arapaho, will be held 3 p.m. Saturday in the Stanley-Lee Funeral Home Chapel in Clinton with Robert Burton officiating. Larry Burton was born March 16, 1947, in Mansfield, Ark., the son of Earl and Ellen (Winford) Burton. He died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, at the Grace Living Center in Clinton. He was born on May 10, 1921 in Sallisaw, the son of Clayton and Nannie Pruitt. He was reared in the Watonga area and was the oldest of 10 children. Pruitt served in World War II and was stationed in Germany and Austria. He was a member of the American Legion for more than 50 years. Pruitt married for 53 years. He was a salesman at Morrison Wholesale for more than 20 years, and his hobbies included fishing, hunting and gardening. Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents and wife, were an infant sister, Irene; sisters, Julia Smith and Shirley West; and brothers, Orlie and Buford Pruitt. Services will conclude in the Arapaho Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Marler Funeral Home in Clinton. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Ann Stermer, and her husband, Steve, of Arapaho; a son, Mark Pruitt, also of Arapaho; three grandchildren, Miranda Stermer, Cory Pruitt and Paul Stermer; a brother, John Pruitt of Oilton; three sisters, Lorene Greene and her husband, Earl, of Drumright, Yvonne Cunningham and her husband, Bud, of Fairview, La-Donna Manley and her husband, Fred, of Denison, Texas; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Roman Nose services set
Funeral services for Theodore Mar Roman Nose, age 52 of Crescent City, Calif., will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Hammon First Assembly of God Church with Rev. Dolan Ivey officiating. A traditional Indian all night wake will begin at 7 p.m. this evening at the church. Roman Nose died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, at the Grace Living Center in Clinton. He was born on May 10, 1921 in Sallisaw, the son of Clayton and Nannie Pruitt. He was reared in the Watonga area and was the oldest of 10 children. Pruitt served in World War II and was stationed in Germany and Austria. He was a member of the American Legion for more than 50 years. Pruitt married for 53 years. He was a salesman at Morrison Wholesale for more than 20 years, and his hobbies included fishing, hunting and gardening. Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents and wife, were an infant sister, Irene; sisters, Julia Smith and Shirley West; and brothers, Orlie and Buford Pruitt. Services will conclude in the Arapaho Cemetery un-der the direction of the Kiesau-Marler Funeral Home in Clinton. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Ann Stermer, and her husband, Steve, of Arapaho; a son, Mark Pruitt, also of Arapaho; three grandchildren, Miranda Stermer, Cory Pruitt and Paul Stermer; a brother, John Pruitt of Oilton; two sisters, Lorene Greene and her husband, Earl, of Drumright, Yvonne Cunningham and her husband, Bud, of Fairview; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Monday, September 22, 2003
Schimmel services set
Funeral services for Thelma Olivia Schimmel, age 82 of Arapaho, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Arapaho Methodist Church with Rev. Kent Wood officiating. Schimmel married Gary Kirk on Aug. 6, 1977, also at Blair. Mrs. Kirk earned a Bachelor of Education de-gree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a Master’s in Special Education from the Uni-versity of Central Okla-homa. She and her husband made their home at Arapaho where she was in her 24th year of teaching. They were parents of two daughters and enjoyed spending time together as a family. Mrs. Kirk supervised the gifted and talented pro-gram at the Arapaho School and was the aca-demic coach for the fifth and sixth grades. A member of the Freewill Baptist Church of Clinton, she taught Sunday school and assisted in counseling at church camps and with the women’s auxiliary. She and her husband were en route to Wood-ward to a church missions conference with three friends when she was killed. Her husband and the friends were all injured in the accident, and a Woodward woman driving the other car also was killed. Mrs. Kirk is survived by her husband, Gary, and her two daughters, Kathe, a seventh-grader, and Jeri, a fifth-grader, all of the rural Arapaho home; her parents, Ivan and Haruko McClanahan, Moore; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Michel and Carol Mc-Clanahan, Oklahoma City, and Patrick McClanahan, Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Caroll Harris, Oklahoma City; her mother-in-law, Juanita Kirk, Elk City; a brother-in-law, Mac Kirk, and his wife, Sue, Nor-man; a sister-in-law, Caro-lyn DeCarolis, and her husband, Lou, Golden, Colo.; and nine nieces and nephews: Mark, Anthony, Kyle, Clayton, Tyler, Chad, Jace, Kara and Katy. Burial will be in the Ara-paho Cemetery under di-rection of Kiseau Marler Funeral Home of Clinton. Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may donate to an Arapaho school scholarship being set up in Mrs. Kirk’s name at the Custer County Branch of Oklahoma Bank and Trust in Arapaho.

Friday, September 19, 2003
Motorcyclist's rites Saturday
Funeral services for Jason Wayne Hestand, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Gotebo. People’s Cooperative Funeral Home of Lone Wolf is planning to release a full obituary later. Funeral services are pending for Fred Big Horse, Jr., age 66, who died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003, at the Kindred Care Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was born on Jan. 21, 1937 in Clinton, the son of Fred Sr. and Laura (White Tur-tle) Big Horse. Growing up in Clinton, Big Horse attended school here and had worked as a barber at the Clinton Vet-erans Center. He was died early Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was born on July 7, 1918, the daughter of Amsy and Lillie (Size-more) Hartman. After marrying Kenneth Knowlton on Oct. 4, 1934 at Boise City, the couple made their home in California and New Mexico before moving to Clinton in 1985 to be near family. She had worked as a sales clerk at Montgomery Ward. Preceding her in death were her parents; and her husband in 1986. Arrangements are under the direction of the Stanley-Lee Funeral Home in Clinton. Survivors include a daughter, Hazel Knowlton of Clinton; three sisters, Amy Booth of Yukon, Frances Hartman of California, Annie Hartman of Arizona; two grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

Fred Behnke rites Friday
Funeral services for Fred Behnke, age 92 and a longtime Clinton resident, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Peace Lutheran Church at Bessie with Rev. David Darling officiating. Behnke married Helen Klump. He was a charter member of the Peace Lutheran Church, and helped build the building. Preceding him in death, along with his parents and his wife in 1998 were two brothers, Reinoldt and Phillip; and two sisters, Lena and Opal. Burial will conclude in the Peace Lutheran Cemetery under the direction of the Stanley-Lee Funeral Home of Clinton. Survivors include a daughter, Angelina Redden of Newcastle; two grandchildren, Rhonda Redden of Bartlesville, Randy Redden of Houston, Texas; and six great grandchildren. The family suggests that those who desire may make memorial contributions in Behnke’s honor to the Peace Lutheran Church.

Funeral set for Bentley
Funeral services for Alice “Maye” (White) Bentley, age 81 of Clinton, former long-time Rush Springs resident, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Southern Baptist Church at Rush Springs. Bentley married William Lloyd Bentley on Nov. 23, 1941. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband on June 4, 1968; and by five brothers and two sisters. Interment will be in the Rush Springs Cemetery under the direction of the People’s Cooperative Funeral Home of Lone Wolf. Family visitation is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Southern Baptist Church at Rush Springs. Survivors include three sons, Glen Roy Bentley of Rush Springs, Wayne Lloyd Bentley and his wife, Carol, of Clinton, Jimmy Allen Bentley and his wife, Ann, of Hobart; three grandchildren, Kalera Ray Lynn Weyrick and her husband, Jake, James Lloyd “J.L.” Bentley and his wife, Kristy, and Amber J. Bentley; two great grandchildren, Zora and Daz K. Weyrick; a brother, Sam White; and numerous nieces and nephews.