Richard Colby “Richie” Steelman
Services for Richard Colby “Richie” Steelman, 39, Davis, will be held 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Davis with Pastor Claude Williams officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hale’s Funeral Home of Davis. Richie was born March 22, 1975 in Ardmore, to Ronald and Judy (England) Steelman. He died Friday, March 6, 2015 in Katie. Richie grew up in Davis. After graduating from Davis High School in 1993, he attended East Central University where he studied Political Science. After college, Richie spent several years working in the oilfield. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, camping, motorcycles and reading. He also enjoyed the hobby of mechanicing. Though his mechanical skills led him to master the art of disassembling things, he rarely ever was able to reassemble them. Survivors include his father, Ronnie Steelman; mother, Judy Donaho, both of Davis; four children, Karley, Rebel, Tyren and Baren Steelman, all of Norman; paternal grandmother, Marge Steelman; maternal grandmother, Rita England; maternal grandfather, W.A. England and wife Janette, all of Davis; brother, Waylon Steelman, Norman; sister, Bradley Mattison, Mustang; two nephews and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Richie was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Rev. Finis Steelman; step-father, Tom Donaho and one aunt, Susan Dougan.
Ray Harold Rawls
Graveside services for Ray Harold Rawls, 83, Davis were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 7, at the Green Hill Cemetery in Davis, with Pastor Willard McCartney, Jr. officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hale’s Funeral Home of Davis. Ray was born March 5, 1933 in Monticello, Miss., to the late John M. and Mattie (Boyd) Rawls. He died Thursday, March 5, 2015 in Davis. Ray grew up in Mississippi. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Army, serving during the Korean Conflict. He and his family moved to Davis in 1971 where he worked 15+ years in the water department for the City of Davis. In his spare time he enjoyed collecting clocks and being with family. Ray will be remembered as a giver, always helping anyone in need. Survivors include four sons, Gary Rawls, Ratliff City, and Karl Rawls, Danny Rawls and Tony Rawls, all of Davis and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Ray was preceded in death by two sons, Clinton and Ray Rawls, Jr; one daughter, Mattie LaNell Counts; and his wife of 38 years, Mary E. Rawls.
Edna Fay Kirkendoll Cope
Graveside services for Edna Fay Kirkendoll Cope, 93, were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 6, 2015, at Rose Hill Cemetery with Dr. Alton Fannin officiating. Edna was born November 27, 1921 in McAlister, N.M. to James T. Underwood and Tennie Burk Underwood. She passed from this life on February 28, 2015 in Ardmore. Edna grew up, graduated from high school and later went to college and received an Associate’s Degree in Business. She and Gene Cope were married August 14, 1969 in Marietta. He has preceded her in death. She worked as the administrator at the Arbuckle Hospital in Sulphur for over nine years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ardmore. Edna loved her church, choir and all of her friends. When she couldn’t get to church she loved to watch church services on TV. We have all been blessed to have been a part of her life. Edna was preceded in death by her husband Gene; parents; sisters, Mattie Carter and Altus Underwood. She is survived by one daughter, Marian Ross and her husband Phillip of Ardmore; one son, Benny Kirkendoll and wife Jaylinda of Littlefield, Texas; one sister, Billie Robberson of Melrose, N.M.; grandchildren, Steve Ross and wife Kerry of Ardmore, Scott Ross and wife Shanna of Broken Arrow, Stan Ross and wife Ashley of Healdton, Lucretia Dewey of Kansas City, Mo., Kendall Kirkendoll and wife Nancy of Benbrook, Texas; 10 great grandchildren; one great-great grandson; five nieces; one nephew and a host of friends.
Jason Kirby Fires
Funeral services for Jason Kirby Fires will be held 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the Midway Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Eldred officiating. Interment will follow at the Dolberg Cemetery in Roff under the direction of Hale’s Funeral Home of Sulphur. Jason was born August 8, 1973 in Paul's Valley to Butch and Reta (Kirby) Fires. He died Sunday, April 5, 2015 in Sulphur, at the age of 41 years, seven months and 27 days. Jason grew up in the Roff/Mill Creek/Sulphur areas. Being the son of a brick mason, he began working with his father, laying bricks at a very early age. At the time of his death, Jason was employed with the Chickasaw Nation at the Artesian Hotel in Sulphur. Jason was an avid outdoors man, hunting, fishing and of course golfing, every opportunity that he had. He loved his family unconditionally and enjoyed spending time with them. After the death of his father, Jason became known as the self-appointed “boss” of the Fires’ family. Survivors include his daughter, Shayla Fires, Oklahoma City; mother, Reta Fires, Ardmore; three sisters, MeShell Fires, Ardmore, Shannon (Fires) Campbell and Audrey Fires Davis, both of Davis; three nieces, of which he lovingly nicknamed, Shani “Sally” Campbell, Carmen “Lucy” Davis and Evelyn “Lizzy” Davis and four nephews, Caleb, Thomas & Winston Fires and Christopher Campbell. Jason was preceded in death by his father, Butch Fires; maternal grandparents, Sood and Mozell (Browning) Kirby and paternal grandparents, Robert Haywood and Nellie Zee Lois (Eldred) Fires. Serving as pallbearers will be Caleb, Thomas and Winston Fires, Christopher Campbell, Luke White and Bradley “Bubs” Stephens. Honorary bearers will be Jaycob Gray and Jakey Eldred.
Bettye Jo Hamman
Funeral services for Bettye Jo Hamman were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24 at the Sulphur United Methodist Church with Pastor PJ Stewart and John Scaggs officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home in Paul's Valley. Burial was held at McGee Cemetery in Stratford. Born August 5, 1952 in Long Beach, California to Earl R. and Beverly Jo (Hopkins) Hamman, she passed away March 19, 2015 in Sulphur. She lived in Albuquerque, Ruidosa and Hobbs, New Mexico before moving to Oklahoma in 1995. She lived in Stratford for six years prior to moving to Sulphur where she lived for 20 years. In her early years she lived in southern California where she attended a special school. While in attendance there she was in a background scene of the movie “A Child Is Waiting” with Burt Lancaster and Judy Garland. The movie was made to help educate people to the possibilities available to certain handicapped children. Bettye Jo Hamman had many special talents, her greatest being able to form lasting friendships with a multitude of people through the years of her life. She was a great teacher and taught us how to love unconditionally, patience, compassion, kindness, loyalty, the true depth of beauty and so much more. Bettye was a beautiful Christian; our great loss is heavens gain. She was always happy and cheerful. Preceding her in death were her father, Earl Hamman; grandparents, Gus Lancing Hopkins and Myrtle Francess Brown Hopkins; two sisters, Belinda Jeanne Hamman and Rebecca Suzanne Helton; four uncles, Ted Hopkins, Bob Hopkins, Paul Hopkins and Dick Gray; two aunts, Nell Gray and Bettye Gomes. She is survived by her mother, Beverly Jo Hamman; one sister, Barbara Kathleen Miller and husband Ace; three aunts, Shirley Ann Hopkins, Maxine Fowler and JoAnna Hopkins; six nephews, Shawn Smith, Vincent Smith, Joshua Sprague, Jaden Sprague, Dusty and Chad Corgill; niece Jo Ann Nelson and family and many cousins and friends. Away from pain forever and safely in the arms of Jesus. Amen.
Randy Lee Hefner
Services for Randy Lee Hefner, 70, of Tuttle, will be held Thursday April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Sulphur, with Rev. Bill Leveridge officiating. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of DeArman Funeral Home. Born June 7, 1944 in Oklahoma City to Everett Paul and Odella (Whatley) Hefner, he passed away April 4, 2015 in Oklahoma City. Randy grew up in Sulphur, where he graduated from Sulphur High School in 1962. He had worked as an electrician for Baptist and Integris Hospitals. Randy had lived in Midwest City and Tuttle after leaving Sulphur. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Sulphur. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gary Hefner. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Linda Hefner of Moore. Pallbearers will be Carl Melson, Dale Runyan, Jimmy Lannom, Phillip Ross, Gary Freeman, and Mickey Warren.
Dustin Mitchell Lee
Funeral services for Dustin Mitchell Lee, 16, were held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 2 at the First Baptist Church of Davis with Johnny Tonihka and Michael Summers officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hale’s Funeral Home of Davis. Dustin was born April 24, 1998 in Plano, Texas. He died Tuesday, March 31, 2015 in Davis, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Dustin had resided in Davis for the past seven years. He was a member of the sophomore class of Davis High School. He was very active in the Davis football program, as well as weight lifting. In his spare time, Dustin enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing video games and sketching very detailed drawings. Dustin was also active with the youth groups of the First Baptist Church and the First United Methodist Church of Davis. Survivors include his parents, Gary and Leah (Hammond) Lee; brother, Brandon Baker; step brother, Travis Lee; step sister, Jessica Lee; maternal grandparents, Don and Sylvia Hammond and paternal grandparents, George and Ruth Lee. Serving as pallbearers were Jesse McCormick, Braxton Graves, Skye Claire, Jacob Flatt, Reagan Tracey and Daunte` Carr. Honorary bearers were Brandon Baker, Travis Lee, David Hammond and Mark Hammond.
David G. Thompson
Services for Murray County Clerk David G. Thompson, of Sulphur, were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 9, at Crossway Baptist Church in Sulphur officiated by Rev. Roger Wood. Burial was at Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of DeArman Funeral Home. David was born November 17, 1958 in Ada to D. T. and Juanita (Vickrey) Thompson. He passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015 in Sulphur at the age of 56 years, five months and 18 days. He married Charla (Dale) Thompson in Broken Bow on November 11, 1978. He had lived in Sulphur all of his life, graduating from Sulphur High School in 1977. David attended East Central University and had worked at Haliburton until being elected Murray County Clerk in 1986 and had served in that position until his death. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, past president of the Oklahoma County Clerk’s Association and is a retired member of Sulphur Volunteer Fire Department and the Sulphur- Davis Elks Lodge. David enjoyed all outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, golfing, snow skiing and ranching. He also had coached little league football, baseball and wrestling. David was a fan of Bulldog sports and was a long time announcer at home football games. David always had his dog Sammye with him. He was preceded in death by his parents, D.T. and Juanita Thompson; one sister, Bernice Klingstedt and mother and father-in-law, Charles and Marian Dale. David is survived by his wife, Charla Thompson, Sulphur; daughter and son-in-law, Shay and Landon Neal, San Angelo, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Colton and Chelsea Thompson, Oklahoma City; sister and brother-in-law, Tommie and Joe Grimes, Sulphur; brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Pam Thompson, Blanchard; grandchildren: Brady and Hudson Neal and Gavin Thompson and several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Pallbearers were Joe Grimes, Tyler Grimes, Landon Neal, Ethan Little, Gene Thompson, and Lars Klingstedt. Honorary bearers were his life-long friends and the many friends he made throughout his life. Memorials may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church or Murray County Health Care Foundation.
Judy Nelms
Judy Nelms, a resident of Sulphur was born November 28, 1955 in Bonham, Texas to Henry and Allie (Arledge) Hughes. She passed away Friday May 8, 2015 in Sulphur at the age of 59 years, five months and 10 days. Judy grew up in Oklahoma, living in the Wynnewood and Sulphur area. After living in Arkansas for several years, she returned to live in Sulphur. Judy and Terry Nelms were married in July of 1982 in Gainesville, Texas. He preceded her in death in 2013. She was also preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Patsy Staton; two brothers, John Wayne Hughes and William Henry “Bill” Hughes. She is survived by two daughters, Amber Nelms, Sulphur and Zarabeth Nelms, Davis; one sister, Betty Suter, Sulphur; one brother, Jerry Hughes of Amarillo, Texas and two grandchildren, Dakota Montana Sexton and Miguel Antonio Rodriguez. No services were scheduled.
Mary Helen “Sister” Payne
Graveside services for Mary Helen “Sister” Payne will be held 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 6 at the Dougherty Cemetery with Pastor Alan McCoy officiating. Helen was born August 2, 1916 in Lehigh, Okla., to the late Jessie J. and Lula A. (George) Payne. She died Monday, May 4, 2015 in Sulphur, at the age of 98 years, nine months and two days. Helen was raised in the Dougherty area. At a very early age in life, she was plagued with rheumatic fever leaving her to live a much challenged life. Later in life, because of these challenges, Helen made her home at the Callaway Nursing Home in Sulphur from September, 1977 until her death. She was always happy to see visitors, especially the one that brought her candy each week. Even though Helen faced challenges, she never complained. When asked how she was doing, she always answered, “just fine.” Survivors include several nieces, nephews and cousins including, Sharon Rorick of Costa Mesa, Calif., Mary Chambliss of Ardmore, Bill Payne of Wynnewood and Judy Hale of Dougherty. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by two sisters, Bonnie Burris and Ruby Stevens; three brothers, Cecil, Doyle and Mart Payne and several nieces and nephews including, Dwight Payne. Services are “Entrusted To” Hale’s Funeral Home of Davis.
