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Ross P. Demas, M.D.
Ross P. Demas, M.D. died Monday after a lengthy illness. He was 77.
He was born in Ponca City on July 12, 1922, to Peter and Francis Demas. He attended Ponca City High School and Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and received his M.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Demas did his internship at Wesley Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was drafted in 1950 and served with the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas, with two years surgical training at the Veterans' Hospital in Oklahoma City.
On Aug. 28, 1943, he married Geraldine Morton in Ponca City. She died March 8, 1974.
Dr. Demas practiced medicine in Stroud, then moved to Lawton and went into practice with Dr. William Matthey before opening his own practice in Gore Medical Arts. He also, owned a partnership in two Lawton nursing homes.
He married Edie Nading July 3, 1984, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Dr. Demas was a member of Calvary Assembly of God and the American Medical Association.
He is preceded in death by his parents and first wife.
Survivors include his wife, Edie, of the home; three children, Dr. Larry Demas and wife Ellen of Portland, Ore.; Pam Hunt and husband Randy of Adkins, Texas, and Mike Demas and wife Cheryl of Santa Fe, N.M.; a sister Karolyn Margerum of Henderson, Nev.; a brother, George Pete Demas of Albuquerque, N.M.; seven grandchildren, Christopher "Kit" Demas of California; Reagan and Lane Demas of Oregon; Marci and Michael Thomas of Texas; Jordan and Hayden Demas of New Mexico; one great-granddaughter, Shannon Kerr of Texas; three stepchildren, Bridgette Smart and husband Curtis of Evans, Ga.; Brenda Valentine and Kraig Nading and wife Kathy all of Lawton; nine stepgrandchildren, Aaron Penick; Joshua Rogers, Kayla and Katlin Smart, all of Georgia; Mitchell, Keith and Kylee Valentine, Kimberly and Kolton Nading all of Lawton.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Calvary Assembly of God with the Rev. Byron G. Elmore, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Becker Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lawton, Area, Inc., P.O. Box 2074; Lawton Okla. 73502.
Sharon Elaine Washington Dean
Sharon Elaine Washington Dean died Tuesday. She was 40.
She lived in Shawnee for a period of time and worked for several people. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Macedonia Baptist Church, Wewoka, under the direction of Myers Mortuary, Wewoka.
Betty J. Melot
Lifelong Tecumseh resident Betty J. Melot died Wednesday in Norman. She was 71.
She was born Sept. 4, 1929, in Pottawatomie County to Samuel McElroy and Lulu (Betty) Branson. She attended school at Pink and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1946.
She graduated with honors from Oklahoma Baptist University and received her master's degree from the University of Oklahoma.
On Sept. 22, 1948, she married Alva Melot in Purcell.
She worked with Shawnee Production Credit in Tecumseh for many years and also worked nearly 20 years with Shawnee Travel.
Mrs. Melot was a member of ASTA, the Broadway United Methodist Church, Tecumseh, and the Tecumseh Alumni Association. She was a docent at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum at St. Gregory's University.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include her husband, Alva Melot, of the home; two daughters and son-in-law, Judi Melot, San Diego, Calif.; Michelle and Jeff Sigman, Tecumseh; son and daughter-in-law, Pierre and Wilma Melot, Norman; three sisters, Almeda Foust, Tucson, Ariz.; Thelma "Bill" Tarbox, Tecumseh; and Nova Brewer, Shawnee; three granchildren, Nicole Emmons, New York; Jennifer Melot, Norman; and Alex Sigman, Tecumseh; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Cooper Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Will Bentley officiating. Burial will be in Tecumseh Cemetery.
Florence Mahar
A funeral mass for Florence Mahar, 90, Oklahoma City, was held Wednesday at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Rothschild,Wis.
Burial was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Hayden-Buettgen Funeral Home, Schofield, Wis., was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Mahar died Friday, May 11, in an Oklahoma City hospital.
She was born March 28, 1911, in Berlin, Wis., the daughter of John and Anna Bella.
She married Earl F. Mahar on Aug. 8, 1939, in Berlin, Wis.
She and her husband lived in Rothschild from the early 1960s until 2000, when they moved to Oklahoma City.
She worked for Winkelman's Department Store and the H.C. Prange Co.
She and her husband spent many winters in Shawnee.
Survivors include her husband, Earl, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Susan Mahar of Rothschild; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Kenneth Dekker of Oklahoma City; grandchildren, Michael Dekker of Oklahoma City, Timothy Dekker and his wife, Rebekah, of Albuquerque, N.M., Catherine Ristow and her husband, Chad, of Rothschild, Katie Davis and her husband, Tracy, of Norman, and Thomas Mahar and Kevin Patrick Mahar, both of Rothschild; and a great-grandson, Brandon Ristow.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, George, Ralph and Edwin Bella; and two sisters, Margaret Riedl and Dorothy Bella.
Inez G. Luper
Inez G. Luper, Del City, died Sunday in a Del City nursing home. She was 84.
The daughter of Frank and Clara Elizabeth (Roush) Brown was born Sept. 23, 1916, in Earlsboro. She attended Wanette schools.
On Oct. 19, 1934, she and Ora Gideon Luper were married in Wanette.
Mrs. Luper, a homemaker, was a member of Harvey Road Baptist Church in Seminole. She had spend most of her life in Wewoka and Seminole.
Preceding her in death were her parents; brother, Ray Brown; two sisters, Elsie McVey and Mary Christian; and one daughter-in-law, Johnnie Faye Luper.
Survivors include her husband, Ora "Tag" Luper of Oklahoma City; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Alvin Ora and Margaret Luper of Canyon Lake, Texas, Franklin D. and Pat Luper of Ada, Terry Lynn and Glenda Luper of Wewoka and Billy Ray Luper of Jacksonville, Fla.; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Marlene and Jerry Johnson of Pryor and Bonnie Su and Donald Mason, Quanah Kaye and Jimmy Newman and Arrelene Reeves, all of Oklahoma City; a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Yvonne Brown of Lancaster, Calif.; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be 10 a.m. today at Resthaven Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. R.B. Mathis will officiate. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice of Oklahoma City.
Jonas Beene
Jonas "Junior" Beene, 59, Wanette, died Monday in Wanette.
He was born July 3, 1941, in Maysville, Okla., the son of Jonas Martin and Ruby (Roberts) Beene. He was a 1959 graduate of Tribbey High School.
Beene lived in Pottawatomie County most of his life.
He served in the U.S. Army for seven years during the Vietnam War, and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves for five years.
While living in California and Arizona, Beene worked for Lockheed. While living in Oklahoma, he was a roofer and concrete finisher. He was also a licensed pilot.
Preceding him in death were his parents; one brother, Gene Ayers, and four sisters, Wanda Ayers Bankston, Helen Beene Ware, Betty Beene Woodcock and Peggy Beene.
Survivors include his two daughters and a son-in-law, Debbie and Kenton Fisher of Palm Springs, Calif., and Melissa Beene of Tecumseh; three sons and daughter-in-law, Randy and Rhonda Beene of Arizona, Jason Beene and Justin Beene, both of Wanette; grandchildren, Michael Beene; Jeffrey Beene; Tyler Fisher; Dustin Fisher, and Courtney Black.
Also surviving are seven brothers, Riley Beene and Martin Beene, both of Wewoka; Jim Beene of Noble; Jerry Beene of Shawnee; Joe Beene and Jack Beene, both of Macomb, and Robert Beene of North Richland Hills, Texas, and his sister, Nancy Beene Bivens of Shawnee.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday at Cooper Chapel in Wanette.
Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Tribbey Baptist Church. Jimmy Adams will officiate. Burial will be in Tribbey Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home.
Barbara Fern (Slawson) Jones
Barbara Fern (Slawson) Jones, Colony, Texas, died Monday in Carrollton, Texas. She was 67.
The daughter of John Lunsford and Bessie (Miller) Slawson was born March 3, 1934, in Grady, Okla. She grew up in Ringling, but had lived in various places, including Germany and Iran.
In the late 1970s, she moved to Lydia, Texas. There, she was the manager of Juanita's Restaurant. She also worked at the Phillips 66 in New Boston, Texas, for 20 years. She had lived in The Colony, Texas, since 1998.
Preceding her in death were her parents; two sisters, Roxie Linton and Vernie Dietrich, and one brother, Terry Dale Slawson.
Survivors include her sons, John Jones of The Colony, and Tony Jones of El Paso, Texas; daughter, Lawana Jones of Shawnee; brothers, Melburn Slawson of Rush Springs; Donald Slawson of Springer; Montie Slawson of Alvarado, Texas, and Johnnie Slawson of Shawnee; sisters, Evelyn Paul of Ringling, and Patricia Slawson of Sand Point, Idaho, and three grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Church of Christ in Ringling. The Rev. Jason Langley will officiate. Burial will be in Ringling Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Alexander Funeral Home in Ringling.
Travis D. McMahan
Travis D. McMahan, 80, Seminole, died Tuesday at an Oklahoma City hospital.
He was born in Wynona, Okla., on Oct. 1, 1920. The son of Charlie B. McMahan and Lillie B. (Warren) McMahan served in the Army Air Force for four years as a B-52 bomber pilot, flying 58 missions.
On June 17, 1994, he married Barbara Barton in Las Vegas, Nev.
After his military service, he served for 10 years with Phillips Petroleum Company in Caracas, Venezuela, in charge of their holding. He later moved to Seminole and started H&H Specialties Oilfield Supply Co. He retired in 1985.
McMahan had lived in Seminole since 1955. He attended Harvey Road Baptist Church and was a 50-year member of Siloam Masonic Lodge in Oklahoma City.
He had attended school in Wynona; Borger, Texas; Shawnee and Webster High School in Oklahoma City, where he graduated. He received a degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his first wife, Carmelitta McMahan, in 1990; one brother, and four sisters.
Survivors include his wife, of the home; three daughters and sons-in-law, Tammy and Johnny Sylsberry and Amy Pharaoh and Terran Johnson, all of Seminole, and Sherrie Willis of St. Petersburg, Fla.; grandchildren, Lacy Littrell; Jarrod Willis; Britney Pharaoh, and Jordyn Johnson; lifetime friend Vernon Staley of Seminole, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Harvey Road Baptist Church. The Rev. Robert Hightower will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home.
Willa Lou Guinn
Willa Lou Guinn died Wednesday at her Shawnee home. She was 73.
She was born March 17, 1928, in Seminole County to Claud Albert and Beulah (Cleere) McGinnis. She graduated from Prairie View High School in 1948.
On Sept. 18, 1980, she married Clifford "Hap" Guinn in Shawnee.
Mrs. Guinn worked as a supervisor and operator for Southwestern Bell before retiring in 1964. She attended Aydelotte Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Joseph Jones, on Aug. 8, 1978, two brothers, Billy Fred "Buck" McGinnis and John McGinnis, and a brother-in-law, Don Ed Traywick.
Survivors include her husband, Hap Guinn, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Benny and Christy Jones, Prague; three stepdaughters and their husbands, Wilma and Freddie Edmonson, Shawnee; Carma and Don Morris, Shawnee; Kathy and Harlynn Fletcher, Meeker; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Sam and Betty McGinnis and Pat and Kathy McGinnis, all of Prague; Richard and Imogene McGinnis, Spiro; sister, Nancy Traywick; two sisters-in-law, Marclyn McGinnis and Mary McGinnis, both of Prague; 11 grandchildren, Kyle Denney, Katie Jones, Randy and Jeff Edmonson, Shari Sligar, Wendi Campbell, Kim Lewis, Robyn Morris, Cliff, Chris and Clay Fletcher; three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Viewing and visitation will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Prague, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel, Meeker.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Aydelotte Baptist Church with the Rev. Ken May officiating. Burial will follow in the Prague Cemetery.
Kiara Dawn Barnes
Kiara Dawn Barnes died Thursday in her parents' Mayport, Fla., home.
She was the infant daughter of Michael Ray and Malinda Michelle (Hughes) Barnes of Mayport. She was born April 4, 2001, in Oklahoma City.
Survivors include her parents; brother, Jonathan Gene Cockrell of Mayport; grandparents, Nancy and Michael Hughes and Angela Barnes, all of Oklahoma City, and Marvin Nail of Wyoming; great-grandparents, Rita Hughes; Mildred Therese and Charles Hetrick; many aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles and one cousin.
A graveside service will be 3 p.m. Friday at Resthaven Memorial Park. The Rev. Jim Kirkendall will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.
