LaWanna Collins

 LaWanna Collins, 73, of Wister, OK passed away Wednesday, September 25, 2013 in Poteau, OK.  LaWanna was born April 28, 1940 in Wister, OK to George H. & Ruby Marie (Harmon) Henson.  She was a teacher.  LaWanna was preceded in death by her parents; stepmother, Evelyn Henson; stepfather, J.C. Kuykendall; husband, Jack Collins; 3 sisters, Wanda Buchert, Peggy Stern, Ruby Virginia Henson; 3 brothers, Edmond Henson, George Henson, Gary Henson.

Survivors include her daughters & sons in law, Penney Qasem, Ginger & Darrell Adams, Mitzie & Doug Mathes, Kellie & John Pruitt, Tammy Plummer; sons & daughters in law, Brett Collins, Barry & Julie Collins all of Wister, OK; grandchildren, Chad, Nathan & Michael Duschel, Christopher Adams,  Dustin Adams, Bradley Adams, Tyger Collins, Holly Billy, Dej Mathes, Lacie Thompson, Clayton & Miles Collins, Sabrina Wooten, Ashyn Bogel, Mason Goforth, Ayden Collins, Ashlyn Sharpe, April, Eli and Trey Pruitt; 31 great grandchildren; 10 sisters, Ruby Horton of Howe, OK, Vernoyise Ford and Marie Ford of Wister, OK, Jodie Davis of Edmond, OK, Linda Jackson of Nashville, TN, Gwinda Quarry of Poteau, OK, Brenda Hendon of Wister, OK, Alice Shelton of Warner, OK, Judy Whittenburg of Muskogee, OK, Violet Riley of Porter, OK; brother, Michael Henson of Muskogee, OK; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.

Services will be 10 am, Friday, September 27, 2013 at Ellis Chapel Church, Wister, OK with Rev. Jack Covey & Rev. Jim Cook officiating.  Burial will follow in Ellis Chapel Cemetery.   Pallbearers will be Nathan, Michael & Chad Duschel, Clayton Collins, Miles Collins, Dej Mathes; honorary pallbearers will be Christopher Adams, Dustin Adams, Bradley Adams, Trey Pruitt, Jim Daniel, O.P. LaGrand, Scott Griffis & Jax Griffis.  Flower girls will be Holly Billy, Tyger Collins, Lacie Thompson, Sabrina Wooten, Tracey Gilliam, Tillie Carpenter.

Grace Montgomery

Gracie Lee Montgomery, 82, of Poteau, OK passed away Saturday, September 21, 2013 in Vian, OK.  Gracie was born June 26, 1931 in Calumet, OK to Charles & Audrey McClain.  She was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith.  Gracie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, J.F. Montgomery; children, George, Bill & Betty Ann; brother, Roy Pounnie.

Survivors include her sons, Charles, Tommy & Jerry Montgomery of  Poteau, OK; daughters, Mary Jane Montgomery of Henryetta, OK, Mary Ellen Amos & Helen Louise Sterling of Poteau, OK; 10 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchildren; 4 sisters, Erma Jo Knight of Athens, GA, Charlene McClain of Lawton, OK, Kathy Johnson of Walter, OK, Betty Jean Wood of Lawton, OK; brother, Lonnie McClain of Lawton, OK; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.

Memorial services were held Friday, September 27, 2013 at Evans Chapel of Memories.

Ida M. Clough

Ida Maebell Clough, 88, of Shady Point, OK passed away Friday, September 20, 2013 in Shady Point.  Ida was born November 2, 1924 in LeFlore, OK to Rufus L. & Ada Gwin.  She was a homemaker.  Ida was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Thomas E. French and beloved husband, Emmett Eugene Clough.   Ida was a Christian lady who loved her church.  She loved gardening, sewing, cooking and having family gatherings.

At the age of 18 Ida left home to San Francisco, CA to work as a welder in the shipyards.  When WWII was over she moved back to Oklahoma, met Thomas Edward French and was married on June 4, 1945.  They traveled for 7 years and worked in Lima, OH – California, New York City, Detroit, MI and then Los Angeles where they stayed .  Two sons were born there, Larry Ray and Lester William.  Thomas had a car wreck and died on their 16^th wedding anniversary, June 4, 1961.  Larry, Lester & Ida moved back to OK.  Nine years later she married Emmett Eugene Clough, November 2, 1970.  He had a large family (4 daughters & 2 sons).  He died, July 8, 1989.

  Survivors include her sons, Larry French of Shady Point, OK and Lester French of Poteau, OK.; many stepchildren; grandchildren; other loved ones; many beloved friends.

  Services will be 2 pm,  Thursday, September 26, 2013 at the Gospel Tabernacle, Poteau, OK with Rev. Sonny Daniels and Rev. Carl Daniels officiating.  Interment will follow in Summerfield Cemetery, Summerfield, OK. 

Roy Sitton

Roy Gene Sitton, 66, of Wister, OK passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2013 in Ft. Smith, AR.  Roy was born March 3, 1947 in  Summerfield, OK to John & Hazel (Gibson) Sitton.  He was a member of the Wister Nazarene Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Laverna Vancietta.  Roy was loved by many friends in the Wister/Summerfield area.  He enjoyed fishing, picking blackberries, watching Wister ballgames.  He loved going to church and attending every event in Wister.

Survivors include his sisters & brothers in law, Freda & Dewayne Clinton of Wister, OK, Ester & Don Patchin of Poteau, OK, Judy & Gary Morris of Heavener, OK, Lois & Mike Brannon of Fanshawe, OK; best friend,  Charlie Heflin; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives & loved ones.

Services will be 10 am, Saturday, September 21, 2013 at Wister Church of the Nazarene with Rev. PJ Atkinson officiating.  Interment will follow in Summerfield Cemetery, Summerfield, OK.  Pallbearers will be Dewayne Clinton, Mike Brannon, Don Patchin, Gary Morris, Cody Morris, Jake Keen.  Honorary pallbearers will be Elton Johnson, Richard Gibson, Joe Mode, Rocky  Makovy. 

The family will be at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6-8 pm to visit with relatives & friends.   They extend a special thanks to Pocola Nursing Center.

Jean Mixon

Jean Mixon, 88, of Shady Point, OK passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2013 in Shady Point.  Jean was born November 17, 1924 in Jenny Lind, AR to Robert Lee & Fannie (Carpenter) Kiger. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Mixon; her parents; 5 brothers, Royce, Floyd, Sam, Richard (Bob) and Jacky; 4 sisters, Melvina Thompson, Margie Garrett, Islrea Jordan, Cordy Sherfield Fletcher; granddaughter, Angela Smith Stacey

Survivors include her sons, Johnny & Midge Mixon of Shady Point, Jay & Kathleen Mixon of Stillwater, OK; daughters, Janet & Leroy Smith, Joyce Mixon & Tony Matney of Shady Point, OK;  grandchildren, Angie Allen of Las Vegas, NV, Wendy Martin of Poteau, OK, Don Smith of Craig, CO, Megan Robinson, Robert Mixon and Tim Mixon of Stillwater, OK, Scott Martin of Little Rock, AR, Kayleigh Martin of Dallas, TX, Randall Martin and Alex Martin of Poteau, OK; great grandchildren, Wesley and Katy Beth Robinson of Stillwater, Anna Marie Waldron of Baggs, WY, Chelsie & Kali Smith of Craig, CO, Shannon Allen and Cheyanne Allen of Las Vegas; 1 great great grandchild, Gavin Waldron of Baggs, WY; brother, Jerry Kiger of Bakersfield, CA; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.

Services will be 2 pm, Saturday, September 21, 2013 at the First Baptist Church In Shady Point, OK with Rev. Larry Matthiesen & Rev. Jim Cook officiating.  Interment will follow in Shady Point Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Gerry Hawkins, Robert Martin, Leroy Smith, Don Smith, Billy Thompson, Floyd Sherfield, Tony Matney.

The family will be at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6-8 pm to visit with relatives & friends.

Faye Rockman

Wanda “Faye” Rockman, 71, of Poteau, OK passed away Saturday, September 7, 2013 in Ft. Smith, AR.  Faye was born November 12, 1941 in Poteau, OK to John & Edith (Green) Ford.  She was a retired  administrative assistant at Jim Hamilton VoTech.  She was a member of the Church of God 7^th Day.  She was a member of the 1913 Study Club; an artist; and she was “Ma” to many. She was preceded  in death by her parents; brothers, William Denver Ford, Kenneth Ford, & Don Ford.

Survivors include her husband, Robert “Rocky” of the home; 2 daughters & sons in law, Shannon & Darren Burgess of Ft. Smith, AR, Sabrina & Jerry Ralls of Shady Point, OK; 4 grandchildren, Ashley & Will McAlister, Tyler Ralls, Seth Burgess, & Emily Ralls; 1 great granddaughter, Emma Burgess; 3 sisters, Lillie Fitzpatrick, Betty Vanhook of Howe, Bonnie Brown of Poteau; 5 brothers & sisters in law, David Ford, Sam Ford, Dennis Ford of Wister, OK, Charles & Rosemary Ford of Sallisaw, Jerry A. & Dortha Ford of Poteau, OK; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.

Services will be 10 am, Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at the Wister Church of God Seventh Day with Elders Chip Hinds, Wesley Walker, & Don Rodgers.  Pallbearers will be Darren Burgess, Jerry Ralls, Tyler Ralls, Seth Burgess, Will McAlister, & Kyle Kingrey.

The family will be at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6-8 pm to visit with relatives & friends.

Betty Jo Gibson

Betty Jo Gibson, 80, of LeFlore, OK passed away Friday, September 6, 2013 in Durant, OK.  Betty was born November 1, 1932 in LeFlore, OK to Oscar & Josie (French) Baxter.  She was a homemaker.  Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Milo; daughter, Sherry Hollan; sisters, Mildred Wilson & Florene Pruitt; nephew, Sam Baxter; niece, Pam Nichols.  She loved flowers, raising kids & cooking.  She always kept everyone in line.

Survivors include her son & daughter in law, Stacey & Julie Gibson of Wister, OK; grandchildren, Stacey Gibson & Justin Anderson  of Cartwright, OK, Michael & Danica Gibson of Red Oak, OK, Rocky & Denise Hollan of Poteau, OK, Tara & Chris Goldsborough of Red Oak, OK; 9 great grandchildren, Chase, Wyatt, Doc, Briley, Hunter, Faith, Jordan, Cheyenne and Aubree : 1 brother, Henry Baxter of Seminole, OK; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.

Services will be 10 am, Monday, September 9 at The Methodist Church in Wister, OK.  Interment will follow in Wister City Cemetery. 

The family will be at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 2-4 pm to visit with relatives & friends.

DENNIS ALBERT WELLS

Dennis Albert Wells, 64, of Wister died Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at the Talihina Veteran’s Center.  Dennis was born December 2, 1949 in Elyria, Ohio to Wade D. and Thelma (Davis) Wells. 

Dennis, Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corp, was a Vietnam Veteran and proud of his service to his country. He was a mechanic in California before relocating to Oklahoma where he, alongside his father, successfully ranched for many years.  Dennis was a lover of libraries, knowledge and learning and a caring and compassionate man.  He was devoted to God and is now once again cradled in His arms.

Dennis leaves no family but is survived by his beloved friend Leslie Langley. 

Graveside services will be held Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fort Smith National Cemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas with the Reverend Larry Strouse officiating. 

LaFaye Qualls

LaFaye Qualls, 85, of Poteau, OK passed away Sunday, September 1, 2013 in Oklahoma City, OK.  LaFaye was born February 20, 1928 in Shady Point, OK to Hershel & Blanche Ruby (Williams) Christenberry.  She owned and operated the Merle Norman studio and LaFaye’s Beauty Shop until her retirement.

LaFaye was the oldest of 3 children. She was raised on a farm and was taught how to work hard and respect your parents and God. Life was hard when she was young she had to help with her to younger brothers while her mother and father took care of the chores on the farm. She loved her brothers deeply and considered Eugene (the youngest) to be like her own. His whole life was lived with absolutely no mistakes (as far as she was concerned), the rest of us knew better.

She grew up to be a beautiful, highly moral and humorous woman. She raised two daughters, Pauline and Rita. Life was difficult at times but she was able to always find a way to provide and love them unconditionally.

After divorcing her first husband she met her second husband and soul mate in 1956, Morris Qualls. They remained married until his death in 1999. As a family the four of them became a very close and loving family.

LaFaye’s relationship with God stood strong all through her life. All of her accomplishments were credited to God and she acknowledged him as her rock in all things.

LaFaye is survived by daughters, Pauline Taulbee  & Rita Drake of Oklahoma City, Sherry Knight of Poteau, OK and Judy Nash of PA; son, Jerry Qualls of Poteau, OK; 3 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.

Services will be 11 am, Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at Evans Chapel of Memories, Poteau, OK with Rev. Jim Cook officiating.  Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery, Poteau.  Pallbearers will be Kyle Dilbeck, Eric Taulbee, Taylor Gilliam, Kenny Morgan, Rossi Christenberry and Blake Podhajsky.