GRUVER, Texas - Deidra Jeanette (Goff) Deakin, 53 of Gruver, died Sunday afternoon, February 21st at the Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice in Amarillo. The daughter of William Henry Harrison and Gwendolyn D. (Galbreath) Goff, Deidra was born August 2,1945 in Liberal, Kan. She grew up in Guymon and graduated from Guymon High School with the Class of 1963. She then attended college at Panhandle State University. Deidra was united in marriage to James Mann Deakin on July 18, 1971 in Gruver. Mrs. Deakin was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Gruver. She is preceded in death by her father. Survivors include her husband, Jim of the home; her mother, Gwen Goff of Guymon; five children, Chris Deakin and his wife, Jessie of Spearman, Texas, DeNetta and her husband, Larry Hagerman of Austin, Texas, Julie and her husband, Steve Babe of Wichita, Kan., Lori and her husband, David Schultz of Seattle, Washington, and Mike Booth of Gruver; 11 grandchildren; one sister, Alecia Goff of Guymon and host of friends.

Roberta Elana (Hepner) Enns, 47, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999 in Hansford County, Texas south of Guymon, Okla. The daughter of Melvin and Ruth Belveal, she was born on Sept. 6, 1951 in San Diego, Calif. Roberta graduated from the Kirtland Central High School in Kirtland, New Mexico with the Class of 1969. She graduated from Panhandle State University in 1993 with a BS degree in political science. She moved to Guymon from Farmington, New Mexico in 1986. Roberta was a member of the Latter Day Saints and manager of the Sonic Drive-In. She was united in marriage to Mike Enns on Dec. 20, 1993 in Las Vegas, Nev. Survivors include her husband, Mike of Guymon, her parents, Melvin and Ruth Belveal of Kirtland, New Mexico, her mother-in-law, Velma Enns of Guymon, one daughter Mandy Hepner Marshall of Flora Vista, New Mexico, three step-children, Robert Enns of Guymon, Tina Rae Enns and Liesa Wecker both of Emporia, Kan., one granddaughter, Haley Wecker, three sisters, Joy and her husband, Jerry Wheeler of Waterflow, New Mexico, Tammie and her husband, Jim Bacon of Farmington and her husband, Joe Fayad of Flora Vista, New Mexico, and one brother, James Belveal and his wife, Carlene of Kirtland, New Mexico.

Jack Bailey, 70, well known Goodwell resident died unexpectedly Monday morning, September 21, 1998 at his home in Goodwell. Jack was born September 21, 1928 in Muskogee, Okla. to Eugene and Etta Bailey. Jack began violin lessons at the age of six and started his professional career as a musician at the age of 16, working with Jack Beasley on KOAIA radio. In 1947, he worked at radio station KWKH in Shreveport, La. with "Pop" Echols and the Melody Ranch Boys. In the 1950's, Jack went to Gallup, New Mexico with the Benny Martin band, which was featured in the motion pictures Ace in the Hole and The Big Carnival. He joined Merle Lindsey and the Oklahoma Night Riders, later known as the Ozark Jubilee Band, with Red Foley. He also toured the West Coast with Pee Wee King in 1956. He toured with Little Jimmy Dickens, the Wilburn Brothers, Minnie Pearl and others. He backed such greats as Lefty Frizzell, Ernest Tubb and Ray Price. Later, Jack joined Frankie McWhorter to form the "Over the Hill Gang." They worked as a team for nearly 25 years, devoting their energies to keeping western swing music alive and performing at Bob Wills Days in Turkey, Texas. They were also featured at the first two years of the Cowboy Symposium at Ruidosa, New Mexico. Jack worked with many of the greats of Western Swing Music, including Leon Rausch, Curly Lewis, Glen "Blub" Rhees, Benny Garcia, Bob Koefer, Eldon Shamblin, Bob Wills and many more. On June 30, 1957 Jack married Sue Murphy at Goodwell. He graduated from Panhandle State University in 1963 with his degree in music. Jack taught music in the public school system for eleven years and gave private guitar and fiddle lessons to students from the Goodwell, Guymon and Woodward areas. He had established the Malachi Recording Studio in Goodwell. Jack served his country in the US Army during World War 11. He was a member of the Goodwell Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher. He was also a member of the Panhandle Lions Club and the Musicians Union. In October 1997, Jack was inducted into the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame. Jack is survived by his wife of 41 years, Sue, of Goodwell; one daughter, Rebecca Bailey of Midland, Texas; and one son, Robert Eugene Bailey of Pampa, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents.

George Thomas Burdge, 88, of Hooker died at his home on Thursday, October 15, 1998. George was born July 24, 1910, the second child of William Burdge and Nellie Levitt Burdge. George married Nellie Esther Harper of Coats, Kan. They had three children, Suzanne Vestal of Santa Fe, New Mexico, John Thomas Burdge of Liberal, Kan. and Lloyd Harper Burdge of Tipp City, Ohio. Nell died in September of 1962, and George later married Elizabeth (Bettie) Thompson of Hooker, adding her three children, Conley Charles Thompson of San Antonio, Texas, Sandra Sue Reed of Moore, Okla. and Pattye Clydene Cleaton of Bartlesville, Okla., to his family. George's love for agriculture began at the age of eight years when his father put him on the header barge to drive the horses as the broomcorn crop was harvested. He always said the horses knew more about the process than he did. When the family moved to town and the Burdge Implement business was opened, George learned the complexities of setting up farm equipment and, later, the methods of operating a business. He worked in the Hooker Hardware until, as he said, it was time to separate the machinery from the "pots and pan." In 1947 he and his father had the large metal building on Swem Street built, and he opened the George T. Burdge International Harvester dealership there. This business was closed in 1965; however, he continued to farm until his retirement. George was always active in the community. He was a member of the Lions' Club, the Chamber of Commerce, served as a Councilman, and also as mayor of Hooker, was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the IOOF Lodge, and served as a volunteer fireman for over 20 years. He attended PAMC at Goodwell, Okla. and graduated from Wichita Business School in Wichita, Kan. He joined the Baptist Church at an early age and served as the Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He loved music and played saxophone in the Hooker City Band in the "dirty thirties" when money and entertainment opportunities were scarce. He played the part of an "End Man" in the Hooker Minstrels for all the years they were produced. The joys of his life were his family, his home town and his many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Nellie Burdge; his wife, Nell Burdge; one sister, Maud Depuy; and three brothers, Albert, Lawrence and Robert Burdge. Survivors include his wife, Bettie Burdge, of the home; his daughter, Sue and Bob Vestal of Santa Fe, New Mexico; his sons, Tom and Kathryn Burdge of Liberal and Lloyd and Pat Burdge of Tipp City, Ohio; a step-son, Conley Thompson of San Antonio; and two stepdaughters, Sandra Reed of Moore, Okla. and Pattye Cleaton of Bartlesville, Okla. He is also survived by one sister, Nellie Hammack of Hooker; and many nieces and nephews; six grandchildren, Debra and Dave Peterson, Robert J. Vestal, John Burdge, Julie Lien, Tony and Shelly Burdge, and Matthew and Kelli Burdge; eleven step-grandchildren, Christopher and Carrie Thompson, Theresa Strait, Tara Acock, Megan and Aaron Reed, Shane and Gina Dysinger, Mike and Jon Andrade and Deanna Mayes. Also surviving is one great-grandson, Stanley Burdge, and seven step-great-grandchildren, Matthew Thompson, Brendan Dysinger, Jessica, Mellisa, Justin and Mason Andrade and Jordan Mayes.

Eva Capps Little, 93 of Ulysses, Kansas, died March 2, 1999 at the Western Prairie Care home, Ulysses. She was born March 21, 1905 in Beckham County, Oklahoma Territory, the daughter of Walter Hubbard and Myrtie Lee (Sanders) Capps. Eva was baptized in the Christian Church in Erick, Oklahoma in 1916, and continued practicing her faith through teaching Sunday school and singing in church choirs the rest of her life. Eva's childhood was spent in Erick, moving to Eureka community with her family in 1917. Eva graduated from high school in Liberal, Kansas, in 1924, attended Panhandle A & M College in the 20s and 30s and graduated from PAMC with a degree in Home Economics and Chemistry in 1959. She taught school in Beaver and Texas County before her marriage. She met Virgil A. Little while they were both teaching at Eureka Consolidated School. Eva and Virgil married on his birthday in Hooker, on July 14, 1929. After their marriage they lived in Shidler, before moving to Goodwell, on Nov. 3, 1930. They owned and operated Little's Aggie: Inn for some 18 years. Eva became a member of the Panhandle Centenary Methodist Church when they moved to Goodwell. Eva was a teacher all of her life and even after she moved to Ulysses, received great joy in sharing her life experiences with students who came to visit and learn from her while she was in the care home. Eva joined the order of the Eastern Star -when she was eighteen at Tyrone, and served as their worthy matron in 1928. She transferred her membership to Goodwell, when they moved there and working in Eastern Star continued to be one of her favorite activities until ill health forced her to move to Ulysses in 1994. Eva and Virgil raised their two children, two children. Alma Lee and Allen, in Goodwell, working in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, sponsoring activities that their children were involved in. Eva retired to Goodwell and became active in the senior citizens groups, both in Goodwell and Guymon. She traveled on various tours as well as traveling to visit relatives and grandchildren. She was always available to baby-sit and play games or tell stories to the children and wrote her live story so the great grandchildren would know Grandma Eva. She is preceded m death by her husband in 1961, one brother, and two sisters. Survivors include: two children; Alma Lee and Husband Don Powers, of Ulysses, and Allen and wife Joan Little of Oklahoma City, nine grandchildren; Teresa Hedrick, Lisa Gower, Joan Little and Van Little of Oklahoma City, Garwin Powers, Houston, Texas, Kenneth Powers, Ft. Collins, Colorado, and Ladona Mathis of Dumas, Texas, and 17 great-grand children plus many friends and acquaintances from the past 93 years.

Clair Eugene Abraham passed away peacefully on November 9, 1998 at the age of 87. He was born in Wayne County, Nebraska, to Roy Clair and Daisy Adelaide Abraham on March 2, 1911. He graduated from John Brown University and Oklahoma State University, and earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Texas in Austin. He served in the US navy for four years during W.W.II and taught mathematics at Panhandle State University in Goodwell. He then worked as a mathematician at Sandia Laboratory, retiring in 1976. "Abe" sang with the Bel Canto Choir, The Enchanters, and the N.M. Symphony Chorus, and was an active member of the First Unitarian Church. His later years were spent in Placitas. He is survived by his wife, Mildred Abraham; his brother, Rev. Harold Abraham and sister in-law, Martha Abraham; daughter Melinda Lightfoot and son-in-law, Thomas B. Miley; son James Baird Abraham and daughter-in-law, Allison Abraham; daughter, Lois Ann Abraham and son-in-law, Thomas O'Toole; daughter, Adair Landborn; and grandsons, Daniel James Abraham and Coda Anthony Hale.

Jessie J. Blair, 62, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999 in Tishomingo. Born April 11, 1936, at Enid to Clarence and Jessie Merle Jacobs Gilbert, she attended school at Felt and graduated from Panhandle A&M College with a degree in music education. She married Wendell Blair on December 25, 1958, in Guymon and taught music and kindergarten several years before moving to Tishomingo in 1975. Jessie and Wendell owned and operated Blair's Mayflower Shot in Tishomingo for over 20 years. They sold the business and retired in 1995. Jessie was a member of the Tishomingo First United Methodist Church and active in other civic activities. She was preceded in death by her father, Buck Gilbert, in 1982. Survivors are her husband, Wendell, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Sharla Blair of Midland, Texas; a daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Scott Kramer of Muskegon, Michigan; her mother, Merle Gilbert of Tishomingo; three grandchildren, Alexis and Colton Jesse Kramer of Muskegon; and Michaela Blair of Midland; a brother and sister-in-law, Ross and Janet Gilbert of Denver.

Longtime Texhoma resident, Madeline Harland, 91, died ...Tuesday, March 16, 1999 at the -Baptist St. Anthony Hospital in -Amarillo, Texas. Mary Madeline Harland was born June 8, 1907 to Carl and Bertha Muller on a farm four miles northeast of Texhoma, Okla. She graduated from Texhoma High School in May of -1924, as Valedictorian of her class. She attended Panhandle State University, and also taught fourth grade in the Texhoma Schools. On September 10, 1927, she married Otto August Harland at her. Home in Texhoma. She was a homemaker and assisted her husband in farming east of Texhoma. She was an active member of the Church of Christ in Texhoma, which her parents were instrumental in establishing in the early 1900's. She taught Ladies and Children's Bible Classes for many years. Her Christian life was exemplified, as found in the Bible in Proverbs chapter 31. She also spent countless hours in teaching and corresponding with African students in the World Bible Study Program. She was an active member of the Oklahoma Extension Homemakers Club. She and her husband supported many school activities and community projects. For more than five years, she was a resident of Gruver, Texas, a member of the Church of Christ and the Golden Agers Club. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband, Otto in 1975, and granddaughter Vonna Goodpasture, husband Mark, their children Lance and Brooke in 1991. Survivors include her brother, Carl Muller of Tulsa; and her children:, Elene Green and her husband Weldon of Gruver; Joyce Chisum of Dalhart, Texas; Paul and wife Rozilla of Texhoma, Mary Beth Blake and husband Mike of Yukon and Judy Morgan and husband Jim of Fritch, Texas. She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

B. I Carter, longtime Guymon resident, passed away early Monday morning, March 15th, 1999 at Baptist-St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo. The daughter of Esther (Dimanowski) and Glen A. Critchfield, she was born February 16, 1919 in Glasco, Kansas She was reared in Geary and graduated from Geary High School. She received a Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts in Music from Oklahoma State University and later attended Panhandle, State University in Goodwell. She was united in marriage to M. L. Carter on August 30, 1942 in Geary. The Carters moved to Guymon in 1945 where they owned and operated the Guymon Ice Plant. Carter was an active member of Victory Memorial United Methodist Church where she served as choir director for many years and was a member of United Methodist Women. With her love for music and young people, Carter taught music for 5 years at the Unity School and later taught music lessons from her home. She enjoyed watercolor and oil painting, was a member of the Delphinium and Jonquil Garden Clubs, the Club 18 Bridge Club and a charter member of the Macombo Club. Survivors include her husband of more than 56 years, M.L. Carter, of the home in Guymon; daughter - Melody Hintergardt of Guymon; cousin Esther Maxine Trayner of Ponca City; 2 granddaughters Honnie and husband, Dennis Dudley, of Guymon and Erica Hintergardt of Kansas City, Missouri; 2 great-grandsons - Nicholas and Colton Dudley. She was preceded in death by a son, Fred Carter, who died in 1991 and a brother, James Critchfield.

Melvin R. Coyle,: 69 year old Woodward resident, died Tuesday, February 16,1999, in the Woodward Hospital and Health Center. Melvin Roy Coyle was born on August 6, 1929 to Clyde Curtis and Ora Susie (Key) Coyle at Hermaleigh, Texas. Melvin attended Lenora School in 1st and 2nd grades, and 3rd through 12th grades at Taloga where he graduated in 1947. He received Christ while in Junior High School and was baptized in the South Canadian River near Taloga, and later he was baptized in the First Baptist Church in Tyrone. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Crown Heights Baptist Church. Melvin served in the United States Air Force from 1948 until 1952, spending two years in England. Melvin was a student at Panhandle State University from January 1952, until July of 1956, receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Arts. He received his Master's Degree in School Administration from Emporia State Teachers' College in Emporia, Kansas in 1964. While a student at Panhandle State, he met and married June Hennigh at Clayton, New Mexico on December 9, 1953. During Melvin's career, he taught and served as School Administrator in the following schools: Hooker and Tyrone, Oklahoma, and Syracuse, Big Bow, Sharon, Oakley, Morland, and Fowler, Kansas. In May of 1991, Melvin retired and he and June moved to Woodward. He is survived by his wife, June of the home; four sons, Duane Cole and wife, Donna of Apopka, Florida; Craig Coyle and wife, Linda of Arlington, Texas; Brent Coyle and wife, Lisa of Morrison, Colorado; Eric Coyle and wife, Roberta of Frisco, Texas; six grandchildren, Lauren, Logan, McKenzie, Madison, Evan, and Eryn Coyle; one sister, Ima Jean Hicks and husband, Kenneth of Taloga; one brother, Don Coyle and wife, Carlene, of Oklahoma City; and a host of friends and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Curtis; and two sisters, Mildred Sanders and Nelda Coyle Day.