Lilah Vyeolah (King) Shackelford
Funeral services for Lilah Vyeolah (King) Shackelford, 94, were held Friday, May 6, 2016 at Hale’s Memorial Chapel in Davis with Pastor Willard McCartney, Jr. officiating. Interment with military honors followed at the Green Hill Cemetery in Davis under the direction of Hale’s Funeral Home of Davis. Born March 16, 1922 to William Ace and Martha Iva (Ringer) King at Sorghum Flats, Okla., she died Tuesday, May 3, at the Manteno, Ill., Veterans Home, after a brief illness. Vye, a long time resident of Davis, was a 1941 graduate of Davis High School. She and Fay H. Shackelford were married in 1950. Vye served in the U.S. Navy during WWII at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla., where she worked as a mechanic. Prior to her recent move to Illinois to be near family, Vye worked as a Foster Grandparent and with the Latch-Key program for the Davis School System. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter, Patricia Frances “Pat” Shackelford; stepsons, John R. “Jack” Shackelford and Joe Wyatt (Shackelford) Hollenbeck; brother Willard King; sisters, Beulah (King) Sanger, Irene (King) Myers, Jessie (King) Ellis and Dottie (King) Likens and several nephews. Survivors include two sons, Michael Shackelford and wife, Christine and Ronald Shackelford; four nephews; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Maxine Mae Mathis
Services for Maxine Mae Mathis, 90, Sulphur, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, at Sulphur United Methodist Church officiated by Rev. P. J. Stewart and Rev. Betty Stone. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of DeArman Funeral Home. Born May 26, 1925 in Detroit, Texas to Sam and Lela (Hunt) Coffman, she passed away Saturday, May 7, in Oklahoma City. She married Jack Mathis at Annonna, Texas on May 9, 1943. He preceded her in death May 2, 2008. She grew up in Detroit, Texas, graduating from Detroit High School. Maxine moved to Sulphur in 1953. She had worked as a houseparent at OSD from 1966 until her retirement in 1991. She was a member of Sulphur United Methodist Church. Preceding her in death were her parents, a Daughter, Lela Anne Brannon, grandchildren, Brandee A Waller, Christopher Brannon, James Lynn (Jimbo) Mathis, great granddaughter, Tamara Waller and a son-in-law, Greg Brannon. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, James “Jim” Mathis, Sulphur and Jacky Mathis and Donna, all of Sulphur, Rick Mathis and Ranae, Littleton, Colo.; a brother, Jack Coffman, Paradise, Texas; nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Serving as pallbearers were Kase Mathis, Karston Mathis, Nolan Pullen, Todd Coffman, Maverick Mathis and Canyon Mathis. Honorary bearers were Spencer Wagstaff, Kelby Luna and Hunter Luna.
Legatha Mae Garrison
Graveside services Legatha Mae Garrison, 89, Sulphur, were held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, at Oaklawn Cemetery officiated by Rev. Tom Hefley. Burial was Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of DeArman Funeral Home Bon May 6, 1927 in Buffalo, Okla., to Frank and Edith (Peck) Brown, she passed away Sunday, May 8 in Davis. She married Jack O. Garrison in Oklahoma City on July 31, 1944. He preceded her in death on October 2, 1988. She grew up in Buffalo and Oklahoma City before moving to Sulphur. She had worked as a beautician, owning and operating Beauty World of Sulphur. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Preceding her in death were her parents; daughter, Darlene Stevens; two sisters, Frankie Drake, Marion Williams and a brother, Arthur Brown. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Kay Payne and Jerry, Sulphur; three sons and daughters-in-law, Jack Garrison, Jr. and Carolyn, Comanche, Joe Garrison and Mary and Jim Garrison and Lisa, all of Sulphur; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one1 great grandchild.
Robert Keith Vernon
Services for Robert Keith Vernon will be held 4:00 p.m., Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Arbuckle View Seventh Day Adventist Church in Davis with Pastor Brad Jones officiating. A private burial will be held at the Green Hill Cemetery in Davis. Rob was born April 6, 1955 in Ardmore, to R.L. and Doris (Tucker) Vernon. He left this world on Thursday, May 5, 2016 in Davis, at the age of 61 years and 29 days. Rob and Kay Lynn Gibson were married on May 20, 1997 in Bolder City, NV. She preceded him in death on Oct 27, 2008. Rob grew up in Davis where he graduated high school in May 1973. After high school he attended Southwestern Adventist University, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Later he attended Oklahoma State University where he graduated with a degree in Animal Science in 1990. Rob spent many years working as a registered nurse at Arbuckle Memorial Hospital. In addition to working at Arbuckle Memorial, he nursed at King Riyadh Hospital in Saudi Arabia, Hugley Hospital in FT Worth, TX and also as nurse in a New Mexico prison, all prior to retiring from Carter Home Health in 2008. Rob loved traveling and much of his free time was spent fishing, hunting & motorcycles. Survivors include his daughter, Amanda Jolly and husband, Justin, Paul's Valley; son, Christopher Wade and wife, Beverly, Ozark, Ark.; his mother, Doris Vernon, Davis; six grandchildren, Kirstyn, Aspen, Skeet, Sage, Brody and Coby; sister, Gwen Vernon, Davis; nephew, Darrell Tucker Vernon; adopted grandsons, Karter and Zhadyn; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his wife, Rob was preceded in death by his father, R.L. Vernon; paternal grandparents, O.C. and Emmogene Vernon; maternal grandparents, Bud and Leona Tucker; as well as his childhood friend, Jerry Mike Pullen. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the Seventh Day Adventist Disaster Relief Fund. Services are entrusted to Hale’s Funeral Home of Davis.
Marie (Larney) Lewis
Graveside services for Marie (Larney) Lewis, 85, Davis, will be held 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 19, at Dolberg Cemetery under the direction of Hale’s Funeral Home of Sulphur. Born June 8, 1930 in Rocky Point, Okla., to the late Edward and Arnie (Hully) Larney, she died Monday, May 16, in Gainesville, Texas Marie grew up in the Rock Point/Wewoka area. In her early teen years, she and her family moved to Oklahoma City. She spent most of life working as a customer service representative in retail sales, prior to her retirement in 1996. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing and socializing with friends and family. Marie was a very loving and devoted mother, not only to her own children, but to their friends as well. Survivors include her daughter, Deloris Cunnish Garner, Sulphur and six grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husband, Philip; three sons, Melvin Wayne Larney, Joe Edward Cunnish and Jimmy Bob Cunnish and two brothers, Yelman Scott and George Harjo.
Linda Kay (Dodson) Gray
Linda Kay Gray, 70, passed away on May 13, 2016 at her home in Oil Center. Visitation was held at Criswell Funeral Home in Ada on Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services were held at Oil Center Pentecostal Holiness Church at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday May 17. Reverend Nathan Cowen officiated. Criswell Funeral Home will be handling arrangements. The graveside service was held at McGee Cemetery, north of Stratford. Linda was born in Sulphur on December 4, 1945 to Lorena and Merle Dodson. She married Mike Lynn Gray on July 17, 1967 and they made their home in Oil Center. Linda went to beauty school in 1974 and was the owner of Mane Attraction Salon. She was known as one of the best hairdressers in Ada. She was the biological mother of four beautiful daughters but was “Momma” to many. She was known for her strong spirit and generous heart. She taught her children to always put their best foot forward and to make a good first impression. Linda and her family enjoyed Florida vacations and cruises with her brothers and sisters. Linda’s favorite vacation spot was Las Vegas. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Lorena and Merle and six siblings, Charles Wesley Dodson, Merle Ruth Dodson, Wesley Douglas Dodson, Dorothy Sue Dodson, Tommy Jefferson Dodson and her twin brother Larry Ray Dodson. She is survived by her husband, Mike, her four daughters, Donnita Kay Bratcher, Melinda Joy McDaniel, Michelle Lynn Robertson and Melissa Cloreta Gray-Gregory, her six grandchildren, Brandi LaChele McDonald, Michael Dylan McDaniel, Michaela Ray Robertson, Tyler Lynn Robertson and Morgan D’Nell McDaniel and Taylor Nicole Robertson as well as five great grandchildren; her mother-in-law, Cloreta Gray; and a sister, Annette Bratcher. Linda Gray will be sorely missed by many but the memory of her strong spirit and giving heart will be a source of comfort to her family and many friends. Bearers will be Brent Bratcher, Jackie Don Stanford, Shawn Dodson, Mike Stanford, Tommy Joe Stanford, Mark Gray, Steve Gregory and Steven Robertson.
George Robert Scott
George Robert Scott, 94, of Fort Smith, slipped quietly from this world and began his heavenly journey on April 30, 2016. He was born in the small village of Bexar, Arkansas on July 10, 1921 to William and Estella Scott. He was the oldest of three children and moved to Oklahoma at the age of 10. He lived throughout Oklahoma including Bristol, Sulphur, Shawnee, Norman, Perry, Ardmore and Muskogee before moving to Fort Smith in 1963. He was a watchmaker and jeweler who worked for Cowan Jewelry and Hub Pawn Shop for over 25 years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He is a WW II veteran with the US Navy. George was a quiet man, laid back and always ready to chat with a friend or lend a hand. He had many friends and no enemies. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening and travel. One of his life highlights was a trip to Israel. George was a craftsman and loved to work with wood. He personally remodeled every room of his home, and was known to be able to fix just about anything. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Lavena in 1938 and by his wife, Billie. George and Billie were married during the war, and were blessed with a 64 year marriage. He is survived by one sister, Leah Brothers of Sulphur OK, and by three children, Bob Scott (Judy) of Sulphur OK, Pat Lyons (Mike) of Portland ME, and Kathey Curry (O J) of Fort Smith. He was blessed with a neice, five nephews, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild. His daughter, Kathey took wonderful care of George, and made sure that he was able to remain at home until the end of his life. The family would like to express their gratitude to Lisa Garretson for her many years of caregiving, as well as O J and Israel Curry for their caring efforts. A Celebration of Life Service was at Roebuck Chapel at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 10:00 am. Interment was at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers were David Matlock, David Adrian, Harry Keifer, Bill Brothers, John Brothers, Jon Scott, David Scott, Israel Curry and Roger Owen.
Melvin Jerry Wade
Services are pending with DeArman Funeral Home in Sulphur for Melvin Jerry Wade, 78, of Sulphur. He passed away Tuesday, June 14, in Sulphur. He was married to Glenda (Doty) Wade. He was a retired teacher and administrator. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin A. and Allie Alene (Hill) Wade; a brother, Tom Wade and two sisters, Donna Henderson and Doris Ann Wade. He is survived by his wife, Glenda, children, grandchildren, and a brother.
