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Jessie Osburn
MOFFETT — Jessie Lee Osburn, 91, of Moffett died Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, in Roland. She was a homemaker, of the Pentecostal faith and the widow of Rufus Osburn.
Graveside service will be 2 p.m. today at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
She is survived by one daughter, Jackie Woodard of Roland; two sisters, Alice and Dossie Howard, both of Moffett; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Turner, Donnie Woodard, Chad Bordelon, Brandon Luper, Charles Miller and Paul Hodgens.
Guthrie McClish
WICHITA, Kan. — Guthrie McClish, 66, of Wichita, formerly of Spiro, died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005, in Wichita. She was a member of the College Crest Church of Christ, a foster parent for over 20 years and worked for Raytheon Aircraft for 17 years and was a licensed cosmetologist.
Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at College Crest Church of Christ in Wichita. Cremation under the direction of Hillside Funeral Home of Wichita. Obituary submitted by Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Spiro.
She is survived by two daughters, Joyce Battle and Sandra Washington, both of Wichita; two sons, Earl McClish Jr. of San Diego and Kelvin McClish of Wichita; mother, Henryetta McKesson of Spiro; two sisters, Lois Triplett of Wichita and LaVerne Lovelace of Spiro; two brothers, John McKesson of Madera, Calif., and Alvin McKesson of Wichita; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Lyle W. Rymer II
Lyle W. Rymer II, 24, of Roland died Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, while serving in Baghdad, Iraq. He was an SPC/E4 serving with the Guard’s 239th Engineer Company based out of Booneville. Born in Fort Smith, Rymer graduated from the Roland High School in 1999. He is the recipient of the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/M Device, Army Good Conduct Medal and the Arkansas Federal Service Ribbon.
He is survived by his wife, Latisha of the home; a daughter, Jasmine, and a son, Sean Rymer, both of the home; his father, Lyle W. Rymer Sr. of Vinita, Okla.; his mother, Marion Schultz of Fort Smith; two sisters, Michelle Rymer and her husband, Alan Morse, and Catherine Rymer, all of Fort Smith; a brother, Bobby Woods of Roland; and grandmother, Bobbie Drake of Roland; his maternal grandparents, Marvin and Carmanell Taylor of Colgate, Okla.; and great-grandmother, Christine Finley of Idabel, Okla.; along with two nephews, David and Tyler Taylor; and one niece, Sarah Morris.
Graveside service with full military honors will be held at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith on Monday at 2 p.m. under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 4 to 6 p.m. today.
Lucas Green
ROLAND — Lucas Alexander Green, infant son of Edward and Crystal Green of Roland, died Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in Fort Smith.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday in Roland Free Holiness Church with burial at Roland City Cemetery under the direction of Agent Funeral Home of Roland.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Matthew Thomas Green of the home; his grandparents, Timmy and Kathy Salokar of Fort Smith and Eddie and Brenda Green of Roland; his great-grandparents, Louis and Lorraine Salokar and Edward Simpson, all of Fort Smith, Doris and Jake Blair of Chelsea, Okla., and Mary and Sterling Marksberry of Durant, Okla.; great-great-grandparents, Ethel Sexton of Fort Smith and Oleta Goff of Roland.
Lois Gifford
Lois Margaret Gifford, 71, of Van Buren, formerly of Roland, OK, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, in Fort Smith. She was born Aug. 30, 1933, in Muldrow. She was a homemaker, a Methodist and the widow of Donald Gifford.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. today at Trinity United Methodist Church in Muldrow with burial at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Agent Funeral home of Roland.
She is survived by a daughter, Tammy Cowan of Van Buren; a son, Danny Gifford of Portland, Maine; a brother, Ben Kirk of Fort Smith; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Pallbearers will be family.
Gertrude Reynolds
Gertrude Reynolds, 92, of Fort Smith, AR died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2005, in Fort Smith. She was born Jan. 7, 1913, in Fort Coffee, Okla. She was a homemaker and was united with Mount Triumph Missionary Baptist Church at an early age.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005, at Fort Coffee Cemetery in Fort Coffee under the direction of Lewis Funeral Chapel of Fort Smith.
She is survived by one brother, Leonard E. Housley of Fort Smith; one nephew, Leonard Housley Jr.; two special loving and devoted friends, Vira Lee Foster and Velma Kursh.
Pallbearers will be Donald Carter Sr., Jessie Green, Leonard Housley Jr., George Willis Jr., John Crocker and Brunson Evans.
Viewing will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Lewis Funeral Chapel.
The family will visit with friends at 1909 N. 13th Street in Fort Smith.
Ola Gray Philpott
Ola Gray Philpott, 105, of Van Buren, AR died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, in Van Buren. She was the fourth of 10 children born to Margaret Ella Ray and William Russell Gray. She was born in Marble on May 24, 1899. The gray family, accompanied by W.R. Gray’s father, moved to Springdale around 1906. Ola told of the family putting all of its worldly goods on and behind wagons for the move that took two days. Occasionally the younger children ran alongside the wagons to break the monotony of the trip. The entourage rested for the night at a campground in the Spring Valley Community, about the halfway mark of the journey.
Around 1917, Ola moved to Fort Smith to live with her sister Amyl Jones and family and attend Draughn’s Business College. She was employed by The Music Company while awaiting the discharge of Zelmer “Cap” Philpott from the Army. Ola and Cap were married on May 12, 1921. In the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in several cities in Washington and in Portland, Ore., and later in and around Los Angeles. Ola continued to work as a bookkeeper wherever they lived, and Cap sold Oriental rugs. At that time the Jones family lived in California also, so the couples shared housing.
In the mid 1920s the Philpotts returned to Fort Smith, and for nearly 20 years they lived on Rogers Avenue, where their home and a service station shared the same corner lot. The Philpotts retained ownership of their property on Rogers Avenue for several years after they bought a large acreage on Lee Creek near the Oklahoma border just off Dora Road. There they built a home to serve as a gathering place for all of the extended family. Having no children of her own didn’t cause Ola to miss out on having young people around her. “The Farm” was a haven for many generations of family to share, spend work time during weekends and vacations, and gather to meet their aunts, uncles and cousins who were drawn to the family matriarch. It was a working ranch, with cattle, horses, fences to mend, hay to bale and many chores to do. At high noon, a large bell would ring, which was a signal from Ola for all to gather for a hearty lunch, which hired hands and family would share together. The couple became affectionately known as “Aunt Ola” and “Uncle Cap” to their family and friends. Cap died in 1969 while at work on the farm, doing what he loved.
Ola’s hours in her flower gardens were truly a labor of love. No one who visited went away without a “care” package of plants. She was a member of the Fort Smith Garden Club for over 50 years. When the Garden Club hosted a 100th birthday party for her in May 1999, she said, “I’ve worked hard all my life, and hard work never hurt anyone. I’ve lived a full life and I’ve been blessed in so many ways.” Part of that blessing was having survived three tornadoes — two on the farm, many years ago, and one at her last home on Mount Vista in Van Buren on the night of April 21, 1996.
For many years, Ola was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Fort Smith. She inspired others with her faithful attendance. On a regular basis, Ola would drive from Van Buren to her church in Fort Smith while picking up other members who were unable to drive. Her care for others was also evident as she regularly spent time with friends who were in nursing homes, and as she prepared and delivered meals to those who were homebound.
In addition to her husband, Zelmer “Cap” Philpott, Ola was preceded in death by her siblings, Lelland, Amyl, Grace, Elbridge, Doyle, Pearl, Mary, Dick and Margaret Elizabeth. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Smith with burial to follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Smith.
The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church, 2201 S. Dallas St., Fort Smith, AR 72901; or the Fort Smith Garden Club.
David Aaron Avery
David Aaron Avery, 42, of Spiro died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, in a local hospital. He was born Aug. 17, 1962, in Fort Smith to Vendall and Bernice Mackey Avery. He was a member of Moffett Full Gospel Church, a factory worker, and he had a great passion for model cars and trains.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, at Eastside Full Gospel Church in Spiro with burial at Old Cache Cemetery in Keota under the direction of Rowell-Parish Mortuary of Fort Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa Avery of Dora; his parents, Vendall and Bernice Avery of Spiro; a sister, Sonia Knapple of Spiro; three brothers, Terry Avery Sr. and Keith Avery, both of Spiro, and Steven Avery of The Colony, Texas; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Pallbearers will be Lee Avery, Aaron Stewart, John Fox, Scott Young, Jeffery and Tom Sides Jr. Honorary pallbearer will be Christopher Avery, who is serving with the Army in Iraq and could not be in attendance for the service.
Betty Jane Freeman Davis
Betty Jane Freeman Davis, 62, of Keota was born Sept. 10, 1942, in Alma to Edward and Allie (Harness) Freeman Sr. She died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, in Fort Smith. She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Kirksey of the home; two daughters, Mary Wall of Spiro and Brenda Vandergriff of Keota; two sons, David and Eugene Davis, both of Keota; two sisters, Rosie Lee Schmitt of Belpree, Kan., and Ruth Marie Lindsey of Fort Smith; three brothers, Edward Freeman Jr. of Ada, Okla., Paul Joseph Freeman of Cedarville, and Robert Freeman of Alma; six stepgrandchildren; and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.
She married Kirksey Davis on Dec. 14, 1957, in Stigler and was a member of Flowerhill Pentecostal Church of God. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Ruben Freeman.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Larry Moss and the Rev. Daniel Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Old Cache Cemetery under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Spiro.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Smith, Haskell Wall III (Bud), Melvin Walters, Glen Lee Patterson, Billy Ray Davis and Edward Freeman Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Delbert Smith, Iley Nelson Jr., Theodore Lindsey III, Timothy Lindsey, Devin Walters, John Adams and Rodney Ward.
Elphreada Reese
SPIRO — Elphreada Reese, 82, of Spiro, formerly of Sand Springs, Okla., died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, in Fort Smith. She was the widow of Hal Martin.
Funeral will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mallory Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Spiro with burial at New Hope Cemetery in Spiro.
She is survived by two sisters, Ozella Blumenthal of Pasadena, Calif., and Cara Smith of Oklahoma City; and a brother, T.J. Aishman of Spiro.
Pallbearers will be J.D., Tom and Pat Aishman, Steve Pierce, Jerry Kinnerson and Chris Brackney.
The body may be viewed at the funeral home.
