Misty Smith Ishee

Misty Smith Ishee, 41, of Poteau, OK passed away Wednesday, September 29, 2010 in Fort Smith, AR. Misty was born February 5, 1969 in McAlester, OK to Larry Dean & Loretta Katina (Wood) Smith. Misty was a homemaker. She was secretary of the Protectors Motorcycle Association. Misty was a loving wife and mother. She loved the outdoors and riding motorcycles with her husband. She was preceded in death by her father, Larry D. Smith. Survivors include her husband, Howard of the home; 2 daughters, Crystal Aydelott of Poteau, OK & Destiny Aydelott of Joaquin, TX; son, Brandon Goode of Wilburton, OK; mother, Loretta Barnett of Booneville, AR; 2 brothers, Greg & Chris Smith of Booneville, AR; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends. Services will be held 2 pm Friday, October 1, 2010 at the Old Bokoshe Cemetery Pavilion, Bokoshe, OK with Everett Burt officiating. Interment will follow in Old Bokoshe Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Myrick, Eugene Dill, Greg Smith, Eric Plymale, Paul Killingsworth, Danny Emberty & Sport Plymale. The family will visit with friends and relatives at the funeral home from 11 am until 1 pm Friday (before the service).

Bobby Gene Johnson

Bobby Gene Johnson, 75, Weatherford, OK (formerly of Poteau, OK) passed away Sunday, September 26, 2010 in Weatherford. Bob was born May 25, 1935 in Quinton, OK to Wilson & Ola B. (Gray) Johnson. He was retired as an owner/operator of a gas station. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Earnestine "Cookie" Johnson; 2 brothers, James & Marion Johnson; 3 sisters, Carol & Marcell Johnson & Rose Lane. He is survived by sons, Bobby Johnson of Weatherford, OK, Billy Cook of Poteau, OK, David "Spider" Cook of Poteau, OK; daughters, Kristy & Randy Heger of El Reno, OK, Kathy & Brian Epp of Weatherford, OK, Shawna & Kevin Epperly of Weatherford, OK, Rhonda Rankins of Poteau, OK, & Robin Hamilton of Ft. Smith, AR; 12 Grandchildren; 13 Great Grandchildren; sisters, Louise Best and Kay Raiburn of Stigler, OK, Cleta Alexander of Sallisaw, OK, Ester Green of Stigler, & Diane Coxby of Texas; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends. Services will be held 2 pm, Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau, OK with Rev. Jim Cook officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhill Cemetery, Cameron, OK. Pallbearers will be Kevin Epperly, Brian Epp, Randy Heger, Billy Cook, David "Spider" Cook, Bob Johnson Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Jesse Aranda, Jonathan Aranda, Jerad Jones, Tony Poor, Jason Easley, & Larry Lane.

Cecil Eugene "Gene" Webster

Cecil Eugene "Gene" Webster, 66, of Bokoshe, OK passed away Wednesday, September 22, 2010 in Fort Smith, AR. Gene was born in McAlester, OK on November 11, 1943 to Cecil F. & Beatrice (Smith) Webster. He was a Test Base Provisioning Officer. Gene served in the US Army Reserves. He attended the First United Methodist Church in Bokoshe, OK. He was a member of the American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Jeanette of the home; sons & daughters in law, Wesley Andrew & Miriam Younger of Green Valley, CA, Scott Eugene & Amy Webster of Ada, OK; grandson, Andrew Eugene Younger; mother, Beatrice Webster of Bokoshe, OK; sister, Bethalene Kuney of Bokoshe, OK; brother, David Webster of Skiatook, OK; other relatives & loved ones, many beloved friends. Services will be held 2 pm, Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church in Bokoshe, OK with Rev. Benny Waller officiating. Interment will follow in Old Bokoshe Memorial Gardens, Bokoshe, OK. Pallbearers will be Shane Robinson, Terry Winn, Randy Collins, John Limbocker, Randy Colwell, Josh Huggins, Logan Colwell, & Christopher Crow. The family will be at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6-8 pm to visit with friends & relatives

ARTHUR HARRELL SCHILT

Arthur Harrell Schilt, 77, of Poteau, OK passed away Friday, September 10, 2010 in Ft. Smith, AR. Harrell was born December 29, 1932 in Muskogee, OK to Evirt & Lucienda (Adams) Schilt. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Walt; sister, Betty Boen & baby brother, Wesley Harrell was a member of the Poteau Church of Christ. He retired as Postmaster of Poteau in Oct. 1992. Harrell graduated from Muskogee Central High School in 1951 and from Muskogee Jr. College in 1961. He married June Lea Kuykendall June 21, 1952. Harrell was employed with Midland Valley Railroad in October 1952 before entering the US Army in March 1953. After he was discharged from the service in 1955 he resumed his job at the railroad. He was a yard clerk then transferred to the accounting office where he was office boy, clerk steno and enterline account clerk, moving to position as payroll clerk then freight claim agent in Jan. 1963. He resigned in Dec. 1964 as the office moved to St. Louis. He went to work at the Muskogee Post Office in 1965 as distribution clerk and promoted to Civil Service Examiner in charge in Nov. 1968. He was supervisor in window service in March 29, 1975. He went to Antlers, OK as OIC and was there until Aug 1975 when he became Postmaster at Haskell, OK and then Postmaster in Poteau on March 10, 1979. Harrell has been Post Commander of VFW Post 474 in Muskogee 1963-64; Pres of Local 686 Brotherhood of Railroad Clerks 1963-64; served on the Board of Directors of Employees Credit Union 1974-75; involved in many training programs for the post office; area project coordinator for Philatelic Activity, Claims investigation coordinator. In Haskell he was Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. They moved into the new Post Office in Haskell of 1-2-79. Harrell received the Paul Harris Award, it’s highest award, while he was in Rotary Club. Services will be held 10 am, Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at the Poteau Church of Christ with Don Cherry & Gary Smith officiating. Graveside Services will be held at 2 pm, in Memorial Park Cemetery, Muskogee, OK. Pallbearers will be Darris Lassiter, Tracey Haliburton, Eric Smith, David Wann, Joel Howard, & Jim Kuykendall; honorary pallbearers will be Ed Coleman, Walter Schilt Jr, Max Rowley, Melvin Osborne, James Kuykendall & Gary Smith. The family will be at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6-8 pm to visit with family & friends.

A.C. Evans

A.C. Evans, 59, of Summerfield, OK passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2010 in Wilburton, OK.. A.C. was born in Poteau, OK on October 30, 1950 to Arden T. & Evelyn (Wann) Evans. AC waqs know by everybody & never met a stranger. He loved his family & he loved his little buddies, Cordell, Landen & Zane; turkey hunting with his boys, & he loved the outdoors. He always wanted to help with a good days work, advise you if you needed it or just to hear a good huntin' story, he was full of them. AC worked at AmeriGas for 17 years then at the State Highway Department for 6 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and Ana Lois Jackson. Survivors include his beloved wife, Vickie Evans of the home; daughter & son in law, Kari & Wes Collins of Buffalo Valley, OK; son & daughter in law, Daron & Ashley Evans of Corinth, TX; 3 grandchildren, Cordell, Landen & Zane; brother, Hoot Jackson of Poteau, OK; niece & nephew, Pedro & Julie; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends. Services will be held 10 am, Friday, September 10, 2010 at Summerfield Baptist Church in Summerfield, OK with Rev. Charles Caughern & Rev. Jim Cook officiating. Interment will follow in Summerfield Cemetery. Pallbearers will be JC Ramsey, Jimmy Booth, Jeff Goad, Frank Wiles, Justin Earls, Jason Roth, Davy Owens, & Dane Evans. Honorary pallbearers will be Cordell Collins, Landen Collins, Zane Collins, Denver Evans, Chuck Evans, Herman McGowen, Nicholas Knowles, Jonathan Collins, James Deere, & Joe Hollan.

Darlene "Rita" Barlow

Rita Barlow, 67, of Eufaula, OK (formerly of Panama, OK) passed away Tuesday, September 7, 2010 in Eufaula. Rita was born September 16, 1942 in Poteau, OK to Edward & Minnie (Lowery) Barlow. She was a homemaker. Rita was preceded in death by her first husband, Cleon Brown; her parents, and brothers, J.D., Jackie, & Ellis Barlow. Survivors include her sons, Michael Brown of Panama, OK, Charles Turner of Panama, OK, & Gary Turner of Panama, OK; daughter, Linda Turner of Poteau, OK; brothers & sisters in law, Bill & Jean Barlow of Buck Creek, OK, Donald & Maxine Barlow of Wagoner, OK, Sharil & Jean Barlow of California; sisters, Lorene Cherry of Muskogee, OK, Wanda Rorie of Shady Point, OK, and Patricia Bell of Buck Creek, OK; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends. Services will be held 2 pm, Saturday, September 11, 2010 in Evans Chapel of Memories, Poteau, OK with Rev. Jim Cook officiating. Interment will follow in Shady Point Cemetery, Shady Point, OK. Pallbearers will be Tobey Henderson, Kevin Hanna, Bethel Bates, Trey Upton, Randy Scarberry, Butch Boyd, and Topper Jones.

Billie J "B.J." Harger

BJ Harger, 75, of Pocola, OK passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2010 in Fort Smith, AR. BJ was born July 24, 1935 in Hackett, AR to Leffel & Pearl (Williams) Harger. She was a nurse. BJ is survived by 2 sons, Michael Harger of Ft. Smith, AR & David Ray Harger Jr. of California; 3 daughters, Tina Jo Brewer of Hackett, AR, Pamela Harger of Hackett, AR, Leffel Diane Harger of California; 3 sisters, Gerry Martin of Hackett, AR, Barbara Phillips of Booneville, AR, & Dorothy Sweeten of Rock Island, OK; 4 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends. Funeral services will be held 1 pm, Friday, September 10, 2010 graveside at Vinita Cemetery in Hackett, AR with Rev. Jim Cook officiating. Interment will follow in Vinita Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Harger, Bill Johnson, Billy Johnson, Kyle Johnson, Kaylyn Harger & Roger DeMasters.

Johnny Lee Bell Sr.

Johnny Lee Bell, Sr, 71, of Panama, OK, passed away in Panama, OK on Friday, September 3, 2010. Johnny was born on December 29, 1938 in Paris, AR to John Henry & Margaret (Coogan) Bell. John retired from US Forgecraft as a foreman. Johnny was preceded in death by his parents & a brother Danny Bell. Johnny is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia of the home; a son & daughter in law, Johnny Jr. & Tracey Bell of Panama, OK; a daughter & son in law; Melony & Bobby Coker of Panama, OK; a brother & sister in law, Billy Jack & Lisa Bell of Poteau, OK; a sister & brother in law, Tami & Robert Shoup of Panama, OK; 5 grandchildren; Tyler, Trenton, & Alex Bell & Chansley & Logan Coker; his very special friend, Bill Barlow; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives & loved ones; & a host of beloved friends. Funeral services for Johnny were held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau, Oklahoma with the Reverend Calvin Terry, Reverend Larry Harris, & Reverend Jimmy D. Cook officiating. Interment followed the services in Fairview Cemetery at Panama, OK Pallbearers were Tyler Bell, Trenton Bell, Alex Bell, Ronnie Bell, Terry Bell, & Kevin Bell.

Genevieve Holton

Genevieve Benbrook Holton, 90, of Poteau, OK died peacefully in Tulsa on Friday, September 3, 2010. She was born in Fargo, OK on June 6, 1920 to A.M. & Mayme Benbrook. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, F.L. Holton. She is survived by her three children, Linda Lynch & husband Bob of Tulsa; Steve Holton & his wife Pam of Poteau & Deborah Gentry & her husband Sam of Poteau; eight grandchildren; Randy & Wendy Lynch of New York, NY, David Lynch of Dallas, TX, Kelly & Steve Percifield of Lubbock, TX, Chad & Jennifer Gentry of Denver, CO, Jason & Melissa Holton of Houston, TX, Chris Lynch of Vinita, OK, Keith Gentry of Denver, CO, Michael & Kelly Holton of Edwards, CO; and fourteen great grandchildren; Lillian, Connor & Holton Percifield of Lubbock, TX, Emma & Addison Gentry of Denver, CO, Ella Percifield of Lubbock, TX, Knox Holton of Edwards, CO, Hudson & Jackson Holton of Houston, TX, Lea Gentry of Denver, CO, Georgia Holton of Houston, TX, Kate Holton of Edwards, CO, Lucy Percifield of Lubbock, TX, & Will Lynch of New York, NY. She is also survived by her brother, Douglas Benbrook of Woodward, OK and was preceded in death by her brother Temple Benbrook. Genevieve attended Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) where she was president of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and the Glee Club. She graduated in 1942 with a bachelor's degree in music and married F.L. that same year. Following F.L.'s discharge from the Army Air Corp in 1946, they moved to Poteau. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Poteau for over 50 years and served as choir director, pianist, Sunday School teacher and deaconess. Active in community affairs, she served as president of several local organizations including the Poteau Musical Arts Society, the 20th Century Study Club, the Poteau Garden Club and ESA Sorority. She was honored as Mother of the Year by the Daily Oklahoman and the Poteau News and Sun. Genevieve was a major donor to the OSU Alumni Center project and the LeFlore County Womens Crisis Services Shelter/Office Complex. In 2007, the family contributed $50,000 to the Carl Albert State College Development Foundation to establish the Genevieve Holton Music Scholarship fund. "Mama G" will long be remembered for her genuine love and concern for others, her serving spirit and her accomplished culinary skills. Services for Genevieve will be held 10:30 am, Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at the First Christian Church in Poteau, OK with Rev. Dennis Jones officiating. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery, Poteau. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 160, Poteau, OK 74953 or the Carl Albert State College Development Foundation Scholarship Fund, 1507 S. McKenna, Poteau, OK 74953.

Johnny Shirrell Evans

Johnny Shirrell Evans, 71, of Summerfield, OK passed away Tuesday, August 31, 2010 in Poteau, OK. Shirrell was born December 6, 1938 in Summerfield to Arnold Christopher & Pearl Ann (Wren) Evans. His parents preceded him in death. Shirrell worked in construction. He served in the National Guard. Survivors include his wife, Jean of the home; 2 daughters & their husbands, Gina & Tony Warren of Clarksville, AR, Mary & Lynn Mattox of McAlester, OK; 1 son & his wife, Thomas & Ella Evans of Summerfield, OK; grandchildren, Danny & Sadie Mattox, Clint Mattox, Stephanie & Justin Kirkes, Tiffany Evans, Waylon Goad, Stacey & Michael Gibson; great grandchildren, Mackensie Beason, Tristyn Kirkes, Fox & Leo Mattox; sister, Judy Goad of Summerfield, OK; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends. Services will be held 10 am, Friday, September 3, 2010 at Summerfield Cemetery Pavilion, Summerfield, OK with Rev. Jim Cook & Rev. Frankie Harris officiating. Interment will follow in Summerfield Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alan Vickers, Randy Vickers, Jeff Goad, Wayne Goad, Mitchell Goad, A.C. Evans, Butch Woolbright & Rick Sanders. Honorary pallbearers will be Denver Evans & Chuck Evans. Anyone wishing to make contributions may do so to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX