Holdenville Tribune

Marjorie Patricia (Lee) Hanks was born on July 2, 1927 in Holdenville, Oklahoma to Virgil and Cora Lee. She passed away February 11, 2012 in Colorado.

Marjorie married Harold J. Hanks June 1, 1947 in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

Marjorie worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for several years and owned a clothing store in Pauls Valley.  She enjoyed reading and tending her vegetable garden.  She was huge sports fan, especially the OU Sooners and Denver Broncos. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband Harold, her parents Virgil and Cora, her brothers Gary, Larry and Robert, her sisters Delores and Jennifer, her grandson Kris Edelman and her son in law Harold Edelman.

Survivors include daughter Sherry Allen and husband Mike, daughter Susan Edelman both of Colorado, son Mark Hanks and wife Cindy of Oregon, grandchildren Marcie Campagnola and husband Chad, Kim Hickson, and David Hanks; great grandchildren Matthew Edelman, Hayley Hickson and Justin, Kate and Hayden Campagnola; sisters Johnnie Mae Bunch and Darla Farmer and brothers Lindsey Lee and Donald Lee; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends.

Private services are planned.

Longtime Holdenville resident, Anita Joy Robinson passed away on February 11, 2012 in Holdenville, Oklahoma.  Graveside services will be held 1:00 PM Wednesday, February 15^th, at the Holdenville Cemetery.  Rev. Chuck Rettig officiating; services are under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home, Holdenville, Oklahoma.

Mrs. Robinson was born on February 1, 1929 in Carr City, Oklahoma to Charles and Opal (Brooking) Townsend.  She married Willis “Dean” Robinson on September 15, 1959 in Ada, Oklahoma.

Mrs. Robinson was a loving homemaker and enjoyed her family.  She was a wonderful cook and made delicious cobblers and pies.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Velma Jean Townsend.

Survivors are her husband Dean of the home; two step-sons Robert Robinson and wife Jan of Texas, and Bill Robinson and wife Susie of Arkansas; grandchild Elaine Jones and husband Tim of Texas; great-grandchildren Karson and Kaden Jones of Texas; sister, JoAnn Smith of Holdenville; brother Toby Townsend and wife Paula of Norco, California; nephew Brian Smith and wife Kelly and daughter Kasey Jones of Holdenville; nephew Chris Smith and wife Lynise of California; niece Tara Treadwell and husband Kent and children Katy, Toby and John Tom; nephew Jay Townsend of California; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Pauline Modine (Holt) Middleton, 94, former Hughes County resident, passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas.

Graveside funeral services were held 2:00 PM Monday, February 13^th, at  Holdenville Cemetery, under the direction of Hudson Phillips Funeral Home.

Pauline Modine (Holt) Middleton was born on May 21, 1917 in Arkansas to Wesley  and Stella Elizabeth (Price) Holt.  Pauline married Ross Leroy Middleton on  December 21, 1936 in Holdenville.

They were the owners, publishers and editors of the Earth News-Sun Newspaper in  Earth, Texas for thirty years.  Pauline and Ross received numerous awards for Excellence in Publishing.  She also received numerous awards for her columns.

Pauline is preceded in death by her parents, Wesley and Stella Holt; her husband, Ross Middleton; three sisters, Iva, Gola and Winnie; and three  brothers, Bergie, Claude, and J.R.

Pauline is survived by her daughter, Polly of Tulsa, Oklahoma; son, Phil of  Midland, Texas; granddaughters, Keri Douglas and husband Scott of Trinidad, Colorado,  and Amber Sue Huff and husband Clint of Austin, Texas; great-grandchildren, Kade and Seth of Trinidad, Colorado and Ashton, Gracie and Cole  of Austin, Texas; and two sisters; Nellie Blankenship of York, Nebraska and Janis Chaney of Lubbock, Texas; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Marion Z. “Bud” Davis passed away February 12, 2012 in Holdenville, Oklahoma at the age of 78.  Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 15^th, at the Mission Home Missionary Baptist Church (Wewoka) with Pastor Bob Spears officiating. Interment will follow at Morse Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be James Davis, Thomas Davis, Zach Davis, Arles Wells, Derek Christopher and Robert Bramlett. Honorary Pallbearers are Judge Sawyer, Larry Sawyer, Jessie Sawyer, Ronnie Keesee, Glen Able, and Jim Stafford.

Bud was born June 4, 1933 in Mason, Oklahoma to Marion Zach and Pansey Batterton Davis. He attended Bearden Schools and later married Norma Jo Massey in Okemah on December 22, 1954.

Bud was a member of the Mission Home Missionary Baptist Church in Wewoka, OK.

Bud enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and was an avid outdoors man, he loved spending time with his family and grandkids, and going to the coffee shop to visit friends.

Bud is preceded in death by his parents, brother and sisters Elra Davis, Lucille Miller, Faye Lewellen, and Virgie Gordon.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Jo Davis; sons Mike and wife Cindy Davis of Wewoka, and Martin Wayne and wife Vivian Davis of Holdenville; sister Fern McCabe; grandchildren Paula Sankey, Arles Wells, James and wife Shanna Davis, Thomas and wife Jamie Davis, and Zachary Davis and fiance Kailyn Parker; and great-grandchildren Dillon Sankey, Ty Campbell, and Jacey Davis.

Lester Bryant, a long life resident of Wewoka, Oklahoma, passed peacefully at  his  home on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at the age of 62 years.

Born July 13, 1949 in Wewoka to Mitchell Monroe Bryant and Mildred Irene (Gore)  Bryant, he leaves behind his wife and best friend of 43 years, Janice, who was by his side forever and always. He also leaves two sons and their wives, James Bryant and wife Kristy, and Steve Bryant and wife Carlye, all of Wewoka; a brother-in-law, Tony Carter  of Newalla, who was like a son; his mother, Mildred Bryant of Stigler;  mother-in-law, Dorothy Carter of Spaulding; two brothers, Roger and Kenneth Bryant, both of Stiger; sister Audrey Bryant of Bristow; his eight  grandchildren, Dannielle and husband Adam Thompson of Watonga, Brooke Bryant of Georgia, Bronc Bryant of Watonga, Bridget Alexis Bryant of Georgia, Sago Miles, Braxton Bryant, Jazmine Miles and Carter Bryant, all of Wewoka, and Michael Carter of Newalla; and two great-grandchildren, Vincent Thompson and Tristian Bryant.

He is preceded in death by his father, Mitchell Bryant; brothers Tommy, Jimmy and Carl; and father-in-law, Andrew Carter of Holdenville.

Lester was a graduate of Wewoka High School and worked in the oilfield as a  salesman for many years. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by a  host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends of the family.  He will  forever live in our hearts.

Funeral services were held 1:00 PM Monday, February 13^th, at First  Baptist Church Wewoka, with Rev. Dan Factor officiating, Jimmy Don Whisnant assisting.  Burial followed at Yeager Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Kenny Davis, Max Abrego, Art Garner, Jim Whisnant, Jack  Williams, and Quentin Vinson.  Honorary pallbearers were Joe Peepers, David Davis, Joe Grizzle, Ronnie Keesee, Bob Murray, and Kayle Smith.

Arrangements by Stout-Phillips Funeral Home, Wewoka, Oklahoma

Funeral services for Margaret Bell (Bunch) Thetford, 81 of Holdenville were held 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 8^th, at the Hudson Phillips Funeral Home Chapel.  Brother Mack Peercy and Brandon Thetford officiated. Pallbearers were Josh Thetford, Jake Thetford, Hayden Stewart, Brad Keefer and Chad Goodson.  Honorary bearers were Wayne Keefer, Wade Berry, Scott Tabares, Clester Wingo, Bill Bunch, Earl Cook, Shane Thetford.  Interment followed at Holdenville Cemetery, Holdenville, Oklahoma under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home.

Ms. Thetford passed away on February 6th, 2012 in Holdenville, Oklahoma.  She was born on March 7, 1930 to Roy Floyd Bunch and Ruby (Loftis) Bunch in Holdenville, Oklahoma.  Ms. Thetford married Winford Thetford in 1948 in Mena, Arkansas.

Ms. Thetford worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for three years.  After this time she worked as an LPN for thirty years for Boyce Manor Nursing Home in Holdenville, Oklahoma.  She was a member of the Capitol Heights Missionary Baptist Church since her baptism in 1950.  Ms. Thetford served as a Sunday School teacher also for many years and was active in the Ladies Auxiliary.

Preceding her in death are her parents; and two siblings, Floyd Bunch and Leslie Bunch.

Survivors include her children, Steve Thetford and wife Jeri of Hutchinson, Kansas, Mitzi Berry and husband Wade of Holdenville, and Tim Thetford and wife Margaret of Seminole; grandchildren Fallon Goodson of Holdenville, Keisha and Chad Goodson of Allen, Hayden and Sierra Stewart of Ada, Brandon and Brandy Thetford of Moore, Scott and Hollye Tabares of Edmond, Josh and Keri Thetford of Hutchison, Kansas, Mike and Leah Rivers of Fayettville, North Carolina, Shane and Beth Thetford of Louisana, Jake Thetford of Hutchison, Kansas, and Caleb and Kimberly Thetford of Washington; great-granchildren Hannah and Austin Goodson of Holdenville, Brogen and Khloe Goodson of Allen, Alex and Evan Thetford of Hutchison, Kansas, Mattison and Makenzie Thetford of Moore, Kyle, Liam and Blake of Fayetville, North Carolina, and Abel and Brayden Thetford of Louisana.  She also leaves a special friend and caretaker, Kerry Berry.

In lieu of flowers donations could be made to the American Cancer Society.  Online condolences can be made at www.phillipsfuneralservice.com.

Services for William C. “Bill” Morgan will be held Feb. 9, 2012 at the First Christian Church in Wetumka with Reverend Billie Lee officiating.  Interment will follow at Wetumka Cemetery under the direction of Williamson-Spradlin Funeral Home.

“Bill” Morgan, 81, was born to his parents Carl Alva Morgan and Eula (Ferguson) Morgan on Sept. 4, 1930 in Bartlesville and Died Feb. 2, 2012 at Heritage Village Nursing Home in Holdenville.

Bill was a native of Bartlesville where he attended and graduated from College High School.  He attended Oklahoma A & M University (OSU) where he studied journalism working at the O’Collegian.

In 1952 he married Jane Carolyn “Robertson” Morgan and began his journalism career at the Bartlesville Record.  He served in the Korean Conflict as the regional editor for the Pacific Stars and Stripes in Tokyo, Japan.  Returning stateside he joined the staff of the Henryetta Freelance in Henryetta.

Morgan purchased the Wetumka Gazette (Hughes County Times) in 1957 and later published the Calvin Chronicle, Calvin Peanut and The Weleetkan.

He served on the Oklahoma Wildlife Commission, Oklahoma ABLE Commission, Wes Watkins Technology Center board, Wetumka Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, City Council and political campaigns for Henry Bellmon, Dewey Bartlett and Truman Branscom.

Morgan will be inducted to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame at a ceremony in April for his dedication to Oklahoma newspapers.

He is preceded in death by his parents Carl and Eula Morgan and sisters: Marabel and husband George Morrison, Ethel Swope and nephew Pat Morrison.

Morgan is survived by his wife Jane Carolyn Morgan of the home, daughter Julie Morgan, son Andy Morgan and wife Chris and their daughters Marley and Lucy; nieces Sally Canfield and son Blade and Pam Pofahl and husband Jim and son Morgan and other relatives and many friends.

Pallbearers will be Morgan Pofahl, Blake Canfield, Jeff Pike, Alan Pick, Dean Adkins and Charles Osborn.

Honorary Pallbearers are Gerroll Adkins, Bob Carroll, Don Ferrell and Harry Askew.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to either, the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation, 3601 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105 or the Cancer Research Institute, One Exchange Plaza, 55 Broadway, Ste. 1802, New York, NY 10006.

Vivian E. Gray Woodall was born on December 10, 1929 in Peacock (Aspermont  County), Texas to James Avenue Gray and Naomi (Reese) Gray.  Vivian passed away  on February 4, 2012 at the age of 82 in McAlester, Oklahoma.

As a child they moved to eastern Oklahoma, south of Allen, in the Hamilton Community.  She went to  school at Hamilton School until the 8^th grade and graduated 8^th grade at Tupelo, Oklahoma.  She attended three years of high school in Tupelo then they moved to Plainview, Oklahoma (north of Mangum) where she graduated in May of 1949.

In September of 1950 she married Carl Gibbs and had five children.  They shared twenty years during which time they served in the United States Air Force where they traveled to numerous places including Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Texas, Massachusetts and Hawaii.  Vivian served in the NCO wives organization.

After 25 years of marriage Carl passed away.  She then married Raymond Woodall of Gerty on December 21, 1976.  After Raymond passed away she moved to Krebs, Oklahoma and continued to make that her home until her passing.

Vivian was a member of the Oklahoma Eastern Star Mangum Chapter #114 being inducted at 18 years of age.  She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, Oklahoma.  She attended Oscar Rose Junior College in 1975.   She received many awards including High School Valedictorian and from Kiamichi Technology Center in 1999 for Internet Computer Training, and The American Legion School Award, plus numerous top sales awards for Avon Cosmetics.

Surviving are her children James Calvin, Judy Gail, Keith Wayne, Vance Erwin, and June Ann; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings Ed Gray, Wade Gray and Doris Woods.

Preceding her death are both her spouses, Carl and Raymond; her parents; three grandchildren; and two siblings, Oleta Porter and James Gray.

Funeral service were held 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 7^th, at the  Hudson-Phillips Chapel with Rev. Dane Robinson officiating.  Interment followed at the Gerty Cemetery.  Pallbearers were Jeremy Gibbs, Christopher Gibbs, Jim Gibbs, Robert Muzingo, Bryce Lancaster and Paul  Boydstun.

Richard Lee Rockey was born on July 23, 1950 in Stuart, Oklahoma to Mildred Louise “Polly” (McClendon) Rockey and Leslie Jennings Rockey Sr.  Mr. Rockey passed away in Calvin, Oklahoma on February 3, 2012 at the age of 61.

Richard married Vonettia Galye Kelley on July 26, 1968 in Stuart, Oklahoma.

Richard was a Journeyman Insulator and an honorary member of Local 94 International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers.  He enjoyed gambling, fishing and hunting, raising animals, farming, selling vegetables at local farmers markets, buying cars and salvaging, and was an avid collector of various interests.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Vonettia Galye Rockey; sons Tracey Lee Rockey and Bryan Wade Rockey; his parents; and a brother, William Eugene (Bill) Rockey.

Survivors include a son Brad Jennings Rockey and wife Michelle Dee Ann of Josephine, Texas; grandsons Chance Lee Rockey and Caleb Edward Rockey; sisters Linda Martin and husband Jim, and Barbara Ann Russell, both of Coweta, Oklahoma; brother L. J. Rockey Jr. and wife Donna of Arpelar, Oklahoma; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home Chapel in Holdenville, with Jim Martin officiating.  Interment followed at Pryor Cemetery in Stuart, Oklahoma.

Pallbearers were Richard Rockey, Jim Bo Martin, J. T. Martin, Jason Russell, Nick Littledave, Clark Kelley.  Honorary bearers were Rick Holloway, Keith Turpin, Jerry Don Vanciel, Jim Kelley, Roger Kelley, David Key.