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Helen Webber-Wildcat Bell
TAHLEQUAH - Funeral Services for Helen Webber-Wildcat Bell, 68, of Braggs will be 2 p.m. July 6, 2004, at Emmanuel Pentecostal Holiness Church in our neighboring community of Braggs. Officiating will be Rev. Ted Rogers.
Serving as pallbearers will be her sons, RL, Jack, Tom, Danny, and Andy Bell, and son-in-law Randall Hicks. Honorary pall bearer will be Jimmy Alvin Chappell. Interment
will follow in the White Cemetery, Gore, Okla., under the care of Green Country Funeral Home, Tahlequah.
Mrs. Bell was born Aug. 8, 1935, on Wildcat Mountain, Muskogee County, the daughter of Squirrel Webber-Wildcat and Polly Tee-Hee. She passed from this life on June 30, 2004, at Muskogee.
Helen enjoyed spending time with all of her grandchildren, loving and giving to others, gardening, bead work, quilting, and attending church.
Predeceasing her are her husband, Robert Lee Bell; a son, Hurbert Lee Bell; her parents; and two sisters, Mattie Drum and Ella Porter.
She is survived by five sons, R.L. Bell, Jack Bell, Tom Bell, Danny Bell, and Andy Steven Bell; a daughter, Cherokee Jewell Hicks; two brothers, Tom and Luman Wildcat; two sisters, Nellie Donelson and Rosella Hooper; many grandchildren, as well as a host of other relatives, friends, and love ones. Mom will be missed by her family and friends who loved her dearly. Her compassion for others will always be remembered.
Green Country Funeral Home, 203 S. Commercial Road, Tahlequah, 458-5055.
John Allen "Black Hat" Bennett Jr.
TAHLEQUAH -- Services for John Allen "Black Hat" Bennett Jr. will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, July 5, 2004, at Reed-Culver Chapel with Rev. Bobby Botts officiating. Burial will follow at Holland Cemetery under direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be C. D. Morse, Lester Belt, Jr., James Carter, Tim Harris, Ben Harris and Hubbard Stanley. Honorary pallbearers will be Harrold Thomas, Terry Garner, Wayne Garner, John Garner, Leroy Gifford, Bobby Coldwell and Dennis Coldwell.
John Allen "Black Hat" Bennett Jr. was born on Oct. 28, 1950, to John Allen Bennett Sr. and Lydia Gertrude (Moss) Bennett in Muskogee. He left this life on July 1, 2004, in Muskogee, at the age of 53 years. Johnny was a member of the Crescent Valley Baptist Church, a former bull rider as a member of the International Rodeo Association, a hunter, a fisherman, builder and musician. He fought game roosters and trained race horses under the name "Black Hat." He worked as an iron worker for 15 years. Johnny was a very loving husband and Papa, and loved spending time with his family and friends.
Johnny was preceded in death by his father; his father-in-law, Calvin Rhodes; and a brother-in-law, Jeral Rhodes.
He is survived by Marshel (Rhodes) Bennett of the home; a daughter, Tracy Bennett; three sons, John Bennett III and wife Tammy, Tony McClure and wife April, and Eddie McClure; his mother, Trudy Bennett Day; a sister Vicki Howard and husband Bobby; a brother, Mike Bennett Sr. and wife Cathy; his mother-in-law, Anna Rhodes; a sister-in-law, Patsy Hall and husband John; a brother-in-law, Vance Rhodes and wife Lyna; and his five grandchildren, Tyler, Tanner, Mattie, Jordyn and John IV; and a host of nieces and nephews and other family members.
Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, 456-2551.
George Douglas Guess
TAHLEQUAH- George Douglas Guess was born Aug. 1, 1953, in Claremore, Okla., to Charley and Lylie (Moccasin) Guess. He passed from this life on July 1, 2004 in Tahlequah, Okla. at the age of 50.
George was a laborer at Greenleaf Nursery. He attended New Mission Church.
George was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his brothers, Bill Guess and Sequoyah Guess.
A wake service will be held 7 p.m. Monday, July 5, 2004, at Reed-Culver Chapel. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at Uwasha Cemetery in Kenwood Addition in Delaware County.
Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, Tahlequah, 456-2551.
James Thomas Hall
MUSKOGEE -- Graveside services for James Thomas Hall, 70, of Las Cruces, N.M., will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, 2004, at the Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee, with Rev. Paul Tavener officiating. Services have been entrusted to Hart Funeral Home of Tahlequah.
Tom was born and grew up in Henryetta. His parents, Albert and Thelma were loving and interesting people with strong values and high expectations. They were never disappointed in Tom. His home was one where friends and extended family always felt welcome, accepted, and comfortable. His dad was loved and admired by everyone in Henryetta; a charismatic man, who sincerely loved people and was a joy to his grandchildren. Tom always remembered fondly his early years with his parents. He was named after his grandfather, James T. Hall the first, an oilman and wildcatter with his own rig and crew, a strong and tough man who included Tom in the work of searching for oil around Oklahoma during the oil boom there. He had a strong influence on Tom's life.
In high school Tom loved math and science. It seemed to come to him effortlessly. His interest in science continued throughout his life. When he began working as a physicist, he discovered that he preferred theoretical research to applied research. He liked to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and work with his own ideas. When his family asked what would happen if his work didn't apply to what his employer was interested in, he explained, "When you do basic research it eventually fits in somewhere." He was able to do this kind of research most of his career.
He loved sports almost as much as science, and played tennis and basketball with a power and determination that brought him joy and acclaim throughout the state. The two sports vied for his attention. Most weekends and afternoons during the school year were devoted to basketball. His team won the state championship three times during his years in high school, and he was frequently the high scorer. He loved the coach, Coach Peters, a man with the kind of charm and toughness that produces winning teams with boys. When Tom wasn't practicing basketball, he was on the tennis courts. During the summers he got up early every morning and worked on his game until they turned the lights off at night. He was a tournament winner and played championship matches all over the state. He continued to enjoy tennis all his life, and encouraged his children to play. Family weekends were frequently spent together at the racquet club. It was a pleasure to share this interest. Boating was also important to the family. When they moved to Florida in the 1970s, his son Greg was in high school, and Heather and Jennifer still in grade school, and though none of them had experience boating, they grew to love it; power-boating, deep-sea fishing and sailing. Jennifer recently told him that since she owned a boat of her own, she realized what a sacrifice it must have been to him to take his children along when he went fishing in the gulf. He said, "I loved taking you all. You made it more interesting and I wanted you to love and appreciate it as I did." And they did. Each of them has continued to love the water during their adult years.
Tom spent most of his career working within the U.S. Defense Department. During his early 20s he spent two years planning and designing defense sites near Heidelberg, Germany. After receiving degrees in physics and mathematics from the Central State University in Oklahoma, he worked two years for Phillips Petroleum Company. In the '60s, he moved to the Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, working as a research physicist for the Department of Defense. He analyzed atmospheric effects on tactical weapons, publishing several articles in technical journals. After a few years he took a year's sabbatical to complete graduate degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Texas at El Paso. During this period, he was a member of the Range Commander's Council and belonged to the Integrated Range Instrumentation Group. In the '70s, when he and his family moved to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., he took a research position at Eglin Air Force Base in the Air Force Weapon's Laboratory. He directed work on laser-guided bombs, radio frequency antenna patterns and the measurement of electro optical devices. He also assisted in developing a vector method which determined an object's position by using distance measurement equipment. This device could track the flight characteristics of multiple objects simultaneously, which was new and extremely valuable in defense. At this time, he became the U.S. Representative to a NATO research study group, and for six of the 12 years was chairman of the group, which met quarterly in Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, England, Holland and the United States. In 1978, he moved back to White Sands Missile Range to take over the Directed Energy (Laser) Program. At the Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory, and continued research in the use of electro-optical devices. In the 1980s, he became interested in the Strategic Defense Initiative and became a part of this new command, taking over the Ground Based High Energy Laser Program. Later he became director of the High Beam Control System for the High Energy Laser, doing the initial work on the flexible mirror which was the basis of SDI. The mirror corrected for atmospheric turbulence, and is still being used in all Ground Based High Resolution Astrological Optics throughout the world. It enables the building of systems on the ground, which can accomplish optical resolutions comparable to the Hubble Telescope. In 1987, he became chief scientist of the Laser Program. He spent much of his time at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in San Francisco, MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Boston, and the Strategic Defense Initiative Home Offices at the Pentagon. In 1990 he retired from the government and formed his own investment company, which developed software providing quality investment analysis for the individual investors. In 2000, he retired and during the past few years has traveled and was beginning a new study on cosmology.
Tom and Mary Jean were married 48 years and loved each other for more than 50. He was an interesting and loving husband; a delightful companion. They cared deeply for each other. He made her life a joy, and even without him, she will always feel cherished.
Tom was a strong and loving father. Like his grandfather, he was a tough man, and his standards were high, but he was always there to help his children when they needed him, as children and as adults. They always felt protected by him, and knew they could depend on him. He has been very proud of their independence and ability as adults to care for themselves and their families, and to live their lives confidently and successfully. He will be deeply missed. He was interesting and playful, enjoyed life and made it fun for those around him. He found the world challenging and exciting, and captured the imagination and delight of friends and family. He believed in honor and lived it in his daily life. He enjoyed both work and play, was funny, intellectual, deeply caring - the loving strength in his family. He was a unique man and will always be deeply treasured by all whose lives he affected.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Betty Louise.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jean of Las Cruces, N.M.; his son, Gregory Thomas Hall, of Tampa, Fla., Greg's wife Darlene, and two children, Matt and Jason; his daughter Jennifer Alice Patrick of Crestview, Fla., her husband Dan, and their children; Sean and Tracy; his daughter, Heather Margaret Patton of Gaithersburg, Md., and her husband John, and three children, J.T., Blake, and Brooke.
Hart Funeral Home, 1506 N. Grand, 456-8823.
Eric Coward
TAHLEQUAH -- Services for Eric Coward will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 23, 2004, at Reed-Culver Chapel, with Wayne Sturgeon delivering the message and Rob Lungstrum reciting the obituary. Burial will follow at Double Springs Cemetery under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Pallbearers will include, Gary Coward, Butch Coward, Randy Blair, Jason Spencer, Jimmy Davis and Jason Blair.
Eric Coward was born Sept. 2, 1965, in Tahlequah, to Clinton and Joan (Crossno) Coward. He passed from this life on Sunday, July 18, 2004, at his home in Double Springs, at the age of 38 years and 10 months. Eric was employed by Bill Hodge Excavation for eight years as a heavy equipment operator until he was seriously injured in a car accident in July 1999. He was a member of Central Church of Christ in Tahlequah. Eric enjoyed playing games, camping, working outside and being with friends and family.
Eric was preceded in death by his Granddad and Grandma Coward, Grandpa Crossno, and his father, Clinton Coward.
He is survived by his children Justin of Fayetteville, Ark., Erica of Tahlequah, and Richard of Bartlesville; his grandma, Crossno of Tahlequah; his mother, Joan Coward of Tahlequah; two brothers, Clinton Coward and Gary Coward, both of Tahlequah; two sisters, Denise Blair of Tahlequah and Teresa Spencer of Coweta; one grandchild on the way; several nieces and nephews; and many friends and loved ones.
Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, 456-2551.
Wynona Rose
TAHLEQUAH -- Services for Wynona Marie Rose will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 22, 2004, at Southside Baptist Church, with Pastor Charles Keim officiating. Burial will follow at Box Cemetery under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Pallbearers will include Bill Shores, Paul Cook, L.D. Jones, Phil Baker, Ron Hendrix and Brodie Jones.
Wynona Marie Rose was born on Oct. 3, 1930, to George and Edith (Quick) Bias. She passed from this life on July 18, 2004, in Tahlequah at the age of 73. Wynona owned and operated Rose Furniture Store in Tahlequah with her husband Leonard. She was a member of the Southside Baptist Church.
Wynona is survived by her husband Leonard Rose of the home; her children, two daughters, Kay Simonds and Marie Calico; two sons, Dwane Rose and Rick Rose; two sisters, Joyce Strong and Vivian Reimer; two brothers, G. D. Bias and Dennis Bias; and five grandchildren.
Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, 456-2551.
