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Robert Lawson Foster Sr.
Former Lincoln County Judge Robert Lawson Foster Sr., 77, died Thursday in Oklahoma City.
He was born Nov. 17, 1925 in Oklahoma, the son of Mark and Jessie (Gregory) Foster.
He married Mary Jo Hull July 1, 1949, in Norman. She preceded him in death in 1990. They had six children together.
Foster served in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II from January 1944 through 1945 and was in the U. S. Air Corps Reserves until 1952.
He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with an LLB degree in 1950. He was the first to receive a Juris Doctorate from the OU School of Law in 1970.
Foster served as a Lincoln County judge until 1951 when he became associate district judge. He served as associate district judge until 1969. He retired from the bench in 1986 with 35 years of experience.
He also served as city attorney for Chandler.
He served on the State Bar Association, Lincoln County Bar Association and the Delta Theta Phi law fraternity.
Foster served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer for the Lincoln County Judges Association.
He was a member of the Lions Club, where he served as secretary, treasurer, chief lion, zone chairman and deputy district governor.
He also was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, where he served as secretary and treasurer.
Foster co-organized the Chandler Combined Charities with Judge Donald Powell. He was involved in Boys Scouts of America, where he was an assistant scoutmaster; district chairman of OK Kids Baseball; chairman of Cimarron Valley League, where he was secretary, treasurer and coach and was a FHA chapter Father of the Year for many years.
He served as an ordained deacon at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Chandler, from 1979-1997. He also was named to Who¹s Who in America.
He also was preceded in death by his parents, a son and grandsons, Chuck Speed and Phillip Speed.
Survivors include a son, Robert Foster Jr. of Chandler; four daughters, Cindy Foster of Oklahoma City, Dr. Sue Greenfield of Edmond, Dr. Candy Sebert of Chandler and Dr. Denise Speed of Mustang; two sisters, Betty Carter of Tulsa and Jean Leake of Oklahoma City; nine grandchildren, Landon Speed of Oklahoma City, Mandy Greenfield of Oklahoma City, Amy Gray of Shawnee, Brandi Greenfield and Shawna Foster, both of Oklahoma City, Allyse Foster, Tanner Sebert and Callie Sebert, all of Chandler, and Stacia Speed of Mustang; and other relatives and friends.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel of Chandler with the Deacon George Leal officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Park Cemetery of Chandler under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service.
Vermont E. Smith
Chandler resident Vermont E. Smith, 99, died Thursday in Edmond.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sister.
Graveside services
will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Oak Park Cemetery in Chandler with the Rev. Mark Lightman officiating.
Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service of Chandler.
Rev. Vincent de Paul Traynor
Rev. Vincent de Paul Traynor, O.S.B., a monk of St. Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, died Friday at the Abbey. He was 83 years old.
Father Vincent was born Paul Lawrence Traynor Oct. 6, 1916, in Enid to Thomas John Traynor and Stella Rogers Traynor. He attended grade school and high school in Enid.
He began college at St. Mary's University, LaPorte, Texas, and then attended St. Gregory's Junior College, where he received an associate degree in 1936.
That year he entered the novitiate of St. Gregory's Abbey and made his first monastic profession on July 11, 1937. Continuing his education, he received his bachelor of arts in philosophy from St. John's University, Collegeville, N.M., where he continued his theological education.
He made his final profession as a Benedictine monk of St. Gregory's on July 11, 1940. He was ordained to the priesthood Jan. 31, 1943.
Father Vincent was the last surviving member of that ordination class of four men, the largest in the history of St. Gregory's.
Father Vincent received a Certificate in Gregorian Chant from the Pius X Institute in 1945, a master's of music in piano from the University of Oklahoma in 1949, and further education in speech at the Catholic University of America and in drama and speech from the University of Oklahoma.
He taught Latin, music and English in St. Gregory's High School and College from 1942 to 1958 and again in 1964 to 1967 and 1970 to 1978. He developed a band for the high school and directed many plays and musicals over the years. He served as resident advisor, student chaplain and dean of students.
Father Vincent was active in pastoral ministry in many parishes over the years: as assistant pastor in Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Los Angeles, Calif.; and St. Benedict's, Shawnee; as pastor at St. Benedict's, Shawnee, from 1982 to 1991 and at St. Patrick's Church, Walters, Okla., from 1993 to 1999, when he retired to St. Gregory's Abbey.
His service to Native Americans resulted in his adoption into the Potawatomi tribe in 1953 and being a charter member and chairman of the Potawatomi Intertribal Pow-Wow Club.
He received Indian names from the Caddo and Delaware people at an honor dance in Anadarko. He held annual Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Honor Dances and was instrumental in having her statue placed on grounds of St. Gregory's Abbey.
He also served at many different times as novice master, junior master, subprior and prior of the abbey. His career included many musical accomplishments, including preparation of the music for the divine office as celebrated at the abbey.
Father Vincent is survived by the monastic community of St. Gregory's Abbey, his brother, Art Traynor and wife, Martha of Enid; sister-in-law, Verna Traynor, Tulsa; nieces and nephews, Tim Traynor and wife Suzy of Enid; Tom Traynor of St. Petersburg Florida; Marcia Williams and husband Charles, of McPherson, Kansas; Sue Neal and husband Larry of Moore; Jeanne Howell of Dallas, Texas; and Joan Stinnett of Hurst, Texas.
The office of the Dead for Father Vincent will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Monday in the St. Gregory's Abbey Church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday in the Abbey Church with Abbot Martin Lugo, O.S.B., as the principal celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Gregory's Abbey Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Gregory's Abbey or St. Gregory's University, 1900 W. MacArthur Drive, Shawnee, OK 74804.
Floy Irene Kerbo
Floy Irene Kerbo died Saturday. She ws 86.
She was born Jan. 9, 1914, in Greenville, Texas, to Jonce and Luria Mae (Spradlin) McNatt. She grew up in Binger, Okla., and attended school there.
She married Floyd Kerbo on Jan. 21, 1928, in Anadarko, Okla. He preceded her in death on May 28, 1980.
She moved to Lawton in 1960 and was a Church of God minister. She pioneered the Walters Church of God and the Altus Church of God. She traveled as an evangelist for many years throughout Oklahoma and many other states. She was a member of the Rogers Lane Church of God.
Preceding her in death were her husband; her parents; one daughter and son-in-law, Irene and James Vance; one brother, Melvin McNatt; and one son-in-law, Herman Whittaker.
She is survived by three sons, Raymond Kerbo and wife Joyce of Oklahoma City; the Rev. Leroy Kerbo and wife Sue of Shawnee; and Harold Kerbo and wife Doris of Oklahoma City; one daughter, Wanda Whittaker of Lawton; two brothers, Roy and wife Jessie McNatt of Lawton, and G.W. and wife Jean Kerbo of Binger; one sister, Florence and husband R.B. Stone of Binger; 11 grandchildren, Bob Bowers, Dr. Michael Bowers, Ronnie Bowers, Kathy Vance DeLozier, Ken Vance, Kevin Kerbo, Stephanie Kerbo Wilson, Stacy Kerbo Masopost; Glenda Kerbo Chambers, Ken Kerbo and Phillip Kerbo; 18 great-great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at Rogers Lane Church of God with the Rev. Leroy Kerbo, paster of Oak Park Church of God, the Rev. Fred White, pastor, Rogers Lane Church of God, and the Rev. Forrest Bass, State Overseer of Churches of God, officiating.
Burial will be at Highland Cemetery under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home of Lawton.
Marion W. Gay
Marion W. Gay of Shawnee died Thursday at a local hospital. He was 94.
He was born Aug. 3, 1905, in Trenton, Tenn. He was the son of James Newton and Callie Mary (Word) Gay.
Gay was a retired letter carrier for 36 years in Shawnee. He married Bessie E. Woods on Feb. 2, 1930, in Shawnee.
He was a member of the Fairview Baptist Church and was deacon since 1937; and was a member of the Gideons. He came to Oklahoma in March 1906 and moved to Shawnee in 1920 and had lived here since that time.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, William Gay and Harold Gay and one great-grandchild.
Survivors include wife, Mrs. Bessie E. Gay, Shawnee; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Ellen and Bob Paramore, Dallas, Texas; Sherrill and Walter Yort, Shawnee; three sons and daughters-in-law, the Rev. Richard and Mary Gay, Shawnee; Gerald and Ada Gay, Mannford; Ed Gay, Oklahoma City; brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Jeanette Gay, Talihina; sister-in-law, Dorothy Gay, Norman; nine grandsons, three granddaughters, 23 great-grandchildren, a number of nieces and nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Fairview Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Stillwell and the Rev. Richard Gay officiating. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park, under the direction of Gaskill-Owens Funeral Chapel.
The family has designated Fairview Baptist Church as appropriate for memorials.
Artie M. Dunton
Artie M. Dunton of Lexington died Friday at a Purcell hospital. She was 86.
She was born Oct. 1, 1913, in Washington. She was the daughter of John and Annie McCoy.
Mrs. Dunton attended and graduated from Wanette High School. She married Irvin D. Dunton Sr. on July 23, 1932, in Purcell.
She was preceded in death by her husband, son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Shellia Dunton.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Irvin Jr. and Carol Dunton of Oklahoma City; daughter, Norma Price of Gordonville, Texas; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two sisters, Maurine Landers of Lexington; Dorothy Haley of Lexington; Ralph McCoy of Lexington.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of Wanette with the Rev. Craig Brandt officiating. Burial will be at Wanette Cemetery, under the direction of Roesch-Walker Funeral Chapel.
The casket will only remain open until service time.
Clara M. (Hamon) May
Clara M. (Hamon) May of Shawnee died Friday at a local hospital. She was 93.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Gaskill-Owens Funeral Chapel with Rev. Tommy Donaldson officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery.
Corabel W. Litsey
Corabel W. Litsey, 88, Shawnee, died Friday at a Meeker nursing home.
She was born July 7, 1911, in Harrison, Ark. She was the daughter of Lon and Lova Taylor.
She attended school in Dale and McLoud. She was a homemaker.
She married Claud Evans, and he preceded her in death in 1938. She married James A. Litsey in 1939 in Oklahoma City and he preceded her in death. She was a member of the Church of God 7th Day and had been a resident of Shawnee most of her life.
She also was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Betty and Bob Scott, Shawnee; Sue and J.C. Kanady, Shawnee; grandchildren and spouses, Deborah and Steve Kurtright, Denver, Colo.; Cyndi and Mike Jones, Shawnee; Mark and Deanna Kanady, Houston, Texas; Chris and Kim Kanady, Plano, Texas; great-grandchildren, Jarrod and Sarah Kurtwright, Plano, Texas; Lindsay Jones, Norman; Brandon Kurtwright, Denver, Colo.; Adam Jones, Shawnee; great-great-grandchild, Zachary Kurtwright, Plano, Texas; sister and brother-in-law, Julie Ann and Ed Richards, sister-in-law, Minnie Taylor and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Roesch-Walker Funeral Chapel with Hugh Butrick and Steve Kurtright officiating. Burial will be at Dale Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Faithful Servant Memorial Fund P.O. Box 33677 Denver, Colo. 80233.
Jimmy Cook
Jimmy Cook of Newalla died Friday. He was 65.
He was born Feb. 16, 1935, in Mountain View, Ark., to Chester and Lucille (Carey) Cook.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of the home; four sons, James of Illinois; Rickey of Ohio; Kerry of Texas; Michael of Newalla; one daughter, Sandra Cook of Newalla; three brothers, Orville of Pawnee; Dennis of Carney; Gary of Davenport; three sisters, Linda Hall of Kendrick; Pat Williams of Kendrick; Brenda of Chandler; eight grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.
Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Asa Smith Funeral Chapel in Harrah.
