Marvin Kjelstrom

Marvin LeRoy Kjelstrom, 80, of Poteau, OK passed away  Thursday, July 28, 2016 in Poteau.  Marvin was born January 22, 1936 in Salt Lake City, UT to Axel & Juanita (Lassiter) Kjelstrom.  He was retired from the US Army.  He was a Vietnam veteran; receiving 3 bronze stars among other awards and commendations.  Marvin spent 20 years in oil service companies in Texas and Louisiana.  After retiring he began working on genealogy compiling a large file of research that includes Choctaw families of Oklahoma. Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; son, David; and siblings, Kelly, Allan, Sherrill, Verdell.

Survivors include  his wife, Mary of the home; siblings, Lynn, Duane, Gayle, Carol, & Fay; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

Services will be 10 am, Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the Oakland Cemetery Pavilion with Rev. Jim Cook officiating.

 

Dale Crase

Dale Edward Crase, 61, of Bokoshe, OK passed away Thursday, July 28, 2016 in Bokoshe.   Dale was born April 7, 1955 in Bokoshe to Arnold & Lydia (Davis) Crase.  Dale worked in the oil field for 35 years for Unit Drilling, Nabors Drilling and Bronco Drilling and lately was employed as a  consultant for Panther Energy.  He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Kenneth, Bobby & Darryl Crase.

Survivors include his wife Sonya of the home; daughter, Misti Schmitz & husband Ken of Claremore, OK; sons, Darryl Crase of the home, Joshua Crase &wife Kegan of Bokoshe, OK; grandsons, Gage Schmitz  & Jaygen Crase; granddaughters, Mercedez, Ariona, Gracelynn Crase;  sisters, Betty Miller, Shirley Miller & Debbie McFarland all of  Bokoshe, OK, Rhonda Bloxham of Keota, OK; 7 brothers,  David Crase of Skiatook, OK, Dean Crase of Stigler, OK, Johnny Crase of Wister, OK, Jimmy Crase of Muldrow, OK, Dennis Crase, Harold Crase and Keith Crase all of Bokoshe, OK; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, loved ones and friends.

Services will be 11 am, Monday, August 1, 2016 at the First Assembly of God Church in Bokoshe, OK with Rev. Leroy Orr, Doyle Martin and Ron Miller officiating.  Interment will follow in Old Cache Cemetery, Keota, OK.  Pallbearers will be Joshua, Darryl, Travis, Paul, & Tyler Crase, Ken Schmitz.  Honorary pallbearers will be Alton Roper, Roger Varnell, Tim Lovell.

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

Christopher Upton

Christopher Lee Upton, 34, of Poteau, OK passed away Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in Poteau.  Chris was born December 22, 1981 in Santa Paula, CA to Carl Andrew & Connie (Schneider) Upton.  He was a cabinet carpenter. 

Chris is survived by his daughters, Holly Mae, Megan Lee, Malissa Nicole and their mother, Marinda; his mother, Connie Marie Upton; father, Carl Andrew Upton; sister, Carolyn Upton; brother, Cody Andrew Upton; maternal grandmother Leora Schneider; aunt Cherry Schneider; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

Memorial services will be 2pm, Friday, July 22, 2016 at Evans Chapel, Poteau, OK with Rev. Jim Cook officiating.

The family will be at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 7-8 pm to visit with relatives & friends. - as well as at Noon Friday prior to the service.

Betty Brown

Betty Naomi Hall Brown, 89, of Poteau, OK (east of Gilmore) passed away Monday, July 18, 2016 in Poteau.  Betty was born February 2, 1927 in Poteau, OK to Jeppy Herbert & Ellen Elizabeth (Eaton) Hall. She lived in this area all her life.  Betty was saved at the age of 12 and baptized in Nob Creek.  She graduated from Poteau High School in 1945.  She wed Jerry Brown on September 1, 1946 in Cameron.  They were  married by Bro. Franklin Simmons, a Methodist minister.  She was a long time active member of  Double Branch Baptist Church where she played  the organ for services.  She was a member of the Laughing Ladies Quilting Club for many years.  Betty was an active volunteer at the Oaks Nursing Home beginning in 1996 where she faithfully ministered to the residents there.  She was a member of Project Compassion and played the piano for various singers who came to the Oaks.  Preceding her in death was her husband, Jerry Brown; her parents, Lizzie & Herbert Hall; an infant sister, Carolyn; nephews, infant Hall & Joe David Timperley; a brother in law, David Timperley & a sister in law, Natilie Hall.

Survivors are a sister, Grace Timperley of Tecumseh, OK; a brother, Andrew Hall of Albuquerque, NM; several nieces and nephews, many friends & loved ones.

Services will be  2 pm, Saturday, July 23, 2016  at Double Branch Baptist Church, Poteau with  Rev. Jim Cook officiating.   Interment will follow in Vaughn Cemetery, Gilmore, OK.  Pallbearers will be Stephen Billy, Donald Lee Garrett, Gary Garrett, Larry Garrett, Ronnie Dameron, Richie Cooper.  Honorary pallbearers will be  Jeff Callaway, Don Shrum, Dickie Cooper

Mona Vaughn

           Ramona "Mona" Gayle Vaughn of Wister,OK passed away in her home July 16,2016 surrounded by family and friends. She was born on February 4, 1940 in Wister, OK. Her loving husband of 60 years, Carrel Vaughn preceded her in death. Also preceded in death by her parents Harvey & Ruby Wooten, her brothers and sisters Clem, James Dale, Clifford, Ronnie, Clydean & Ruby Mae Wooten.

            Carrel and Mona were blessed with four children who remain in the Wister community. Brenda & Bobby Cockburn, Kathy & Bob Craig, Rick & Sarah Vaughn, Lisa & Ronnie Smith. She has multiple grandchildren including Clint & Jessica Vaughn, Breann & Phillip Lathrop, Heath Smith, Chad & Allie Craig, Brittany Cockburn,  & Ashley & Brandon Benson, Cody White & C.A. Green. Mona enjoyed spending time with her great grandchildren Cole & Caleb Vaughn, Brooklynn & Audrey Lathrop, Paityn Nowlin, Wyatt Benson, & Jack Craig. Mona is survived by her brothers Lonnie, Gary, Robert & Karin, & Donnie Wooten, and her sisters Doris Duvall, & Linda & Rick Brannon; other relatives, loved ones and many beloved friends.

             Mona enjoyed 18 years at Wister Public Schools. She spent her time camping, fishing, and visiting with family and friends. Her hobbies and interests included collecting antiques, jewelry, and Indian art. She loved photography and history.

             Services will  be 10 am, Monday, July 18, 2016 at Wister School Cafetorium, Wister, OK with Revs. Charlie Scott & Gene Heflin officiating.  Interment will follow in Ellis Chapel Cemetery, Wister.  Pallbearers will be Rock Crane, Ryan Williams, Shane Wooten, Robert Wooten, Rick Wooten, John Duvall and Chris Akins. 

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