Dr. Terry Harrison

 

Dr. Terry J. Harrison, long-time resident of Poteau, OK, died September 29, 2020 at home. He was 72 years of age.

 

Dr. Harrison was born December 31, 1947 in Henryetta, OK, to Joseph C. Harrison and Lois L. Jones Harrison. He was a graduate of Saint Michael's High School in Henryetta. He earned his undergraduate degree at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK, before earning his doctorate at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. 

Dr. Harrison soon settled in Poteau with his young family in 1972 and had a successful optometry practice there for over 40 years. He was an active member of The Kiwanis Club, served on the state board of the Oklahoma Optometric Association, and served on the school board of Poteau Public Schools. An avid golfer, he was a former member of Choctaw Country Club and Wolf Ridge Country Club. Terry was also an ardent fisherman and a former member of the band Still Kickin’.

 

Surviving relatives include his wife, Stacey, of the home; daughter, Julie Harrison Samuels and husband Aaron of Yukon, OK; grandchildren Kinsey and Connor Samuels; son T.J. Harrison of Oklahoma City, OK; son Scott Harrison of Rogers, AR; stepson Colton Williams and wife Corie of Van Buren, AR; and grandchildren Jaxon and Ellie Williams. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Lois Harrison. 

 

Services will be at the Evans & Miller Funeral Home chapel in Poteau on Friday, October 2nd at 10:30  a.m. with Jim Cook &  Father Jim Caldwell  officiating. 

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

 

The family requests all attending wear a facial covering. 

 

Elizabeth "Louise" Killion

 Elizabeth “Louise” Killion, 68, of Poteau, OK passed away Sunday, September 27, 2020 in Ft. Smith, AR.  Louise was born April 25, 1952 in Tahlequah, OK to Tandy R. & Emma Lee (Downing) Gourd.   She was a pharmacy technician.  Louise was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Henry, Junior, Johnny & Mike; son in law, Gary Ford.

 Survivors include her daughters, Sharon Hyde & husband David, Dedee Tolbert & husband Chad; grandchildren, Garett & Lauren Ford, Taylor & Dunken Tolbert; brothers, James Gourd & Lou, Eugend Gourd & Cheryl Webb, Ralph Gourd & Glenda Downing; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

   Visitation will be Friday evening from 6-8 pm with family and friends.

The funeral services will be private.

THOMAS HARPER

Thomas Marion Harper, 79, of Bokoshe, OK passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2020 in Van Buren, AR.  Thomas was born July 2, 1941 in Spiro, OK to John Floyd & Clora Lee (Ritter) Harper.  He was a veteran of the US Army.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Richard & Paul; niece, Paula Garner; and 2 great nephews.

          Survivors include his sons, Tommy Harper & Sammie of Bokoshe, OK, Scott Harper & Crissy of Vian, OK; sisters, Flora Harper of Stigler, OK, Dora English & Woody of Stilwell, OK; brothers, James Harper of Panama, OK, Robert Harper & Dieane of Poteau, OK, George Harper of Shady Point, OK; grandchildren, Rusty Harper & Sarah of Shady Point, OK, Kristi Honeycutt & David of Bokoshe, OK, Zachary Harper of Ft. Smith, AR, Skylar Cox & Donovan of Sallisaw, OK, Spencer, Deyton, Macy, Madison, Jayden; great grandchildren, Bryson, McKayla, Kallie, Wyatt Honeycutt, Matthew Harper, Brayden & Haisley Cox; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

          Services will be 2 pm, Thursday, September 24, 2020 at Evans Chapel with Mickey Ellis officiating.  Burial will follow at Nubbin Ridge Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Johnny Cox, Scott Farmer, Sean Gebhardt, Benny Perry, Jason Timms, David Ford.

 

 

Jimmie Johnson

 

       Jimmie Murrell Johnson, 76, of Greenwood, AR passed away Monday, September 21, 2020 in Greenwood.  Jim was born October 21, 1943 in Monroe, OK to Samuel Allen & Ollie Belle Goodin.  Jim started Johnson Plumbing in 1967 and later formed JEPCO, an underground utilities company.  Both businesses helped to develop Poteau and the surrounding communities for nearly 30 years.  He was the original developer of the Wolf Ridge Golf Course.  He coached Little League and Summer League Youth Baseball.  He was a pilot and loved to fly until health reasons wouldn’t allow it. Jim’s life was one of humble beginnings and amazing accomplishments.  A risk taker, he experienced the highs and lows that come from a life of climbing mountains and surviving valleys.  His achievements allowed him to travel the world to visit people and places he only dreamed of as a poor kid growing up in  Oklahoma.    Jim was an overachiever by the very definition of the word and he wore it like a badge of honor.  His presence and impression on others were his trademarks.  Those that lived, loved, fought and worked with the man, to a person, will carry their memories of him for a lifetime.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Bonnie Gregory; and first wife Debbie Johnson.

           Jim is survived by three sons, Jeff Johnson & wife Andrea of Norman, OK, James Johnson & Jonna Davis of Hontubby, OK and Joshua Johnson of the home;  sister, Wanda James & husband Phil of Poteau, OK; special son, Dylan McElyea; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

           Services will be 2 pm, Friday, September 25, 2020 at Evans Chapel with Phil McGehee & Jim Cook officiating.  Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, Hackett, AR.  Pallbearers will be Phillip James, Andrew Marshall, Carl Brown, Dewayne Gregory, Lyndell Gregory, Josh Kinsey, Jeremy Kinsey,  Justin Kinsey.  The family will be at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm to  visit with relatives  & friends.

 

Neil Brannon

** DONATIONS MAY BE MADE IN NEIL'S NAME TO LEFLORE COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES AT PO BOX 711, POTEAU 74953 OR WOMEN'S CRISIS SERVICES OF LEFLORE COUNTY, PO BOX 774, POTEAU 74953**        

 Neil Brannon of Arkoma, OK  was born October 29, 1940 in Muse, OK to Jewel Dean (Hall) and Ammon James Brannon and passed away September 22, 2020 in Fort Smith, AR. 

          Neil was a lifelong resident of LeFlore county and he loved God, his family, and people.  Neil served in the education field for 41 years.  He started his career in Fanshawe, OK as a teacher and coach and ended his career as Superintendent of Arkoma Schools.  At that time, Neil had the opportunity to serve his people as their State Representative for 8 years, where he accomplished many things for the people of LeFlore County.  He was a lifelong member of the Community of Christ Church and served as an elder in the church.  Neil’s great passion was the outdoors because that’s where he and God could visit through prayer.  He was married to his loving wife, Gail, for 56 years.

          Surviving family members are wife, Gail of the home; one daughter, Launa Benson and husband David of Poteau, OK; two granddaughters, Breanna Womack and husband Shawn, and Briley Pulley and husband Paul all of Poteau; three great-grandsons, Benson and Brawnson Womack, and Ammon Pulley; sisters in law, Dawna Brannon of Poteau, June & Andy Weant of Cameron, OK, Norma Semore and Donna McKinney of Poteau; numerous nieces, nephews and family members.

          He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Helen Barrett and husband Fred of Trona, CA; brothers, Bob & Mickey Brannon of Arkoma, Gene Brannon of Trona Ca, and Lonnie Brannon of Fanshawe, OK; sister in law, Kay Bowlin of Rison, AR and brother in law, Gordon Semore of Poteau.

          Funeral services will be held at 10 am, Friday, September 25 at Evans Chapel with High Priest Sally McGowen officiating.  Interment will follow at Fanshawe Cemetery in Fanshawe, OK.  Pallbearers will be Bryan Brannon, John Bartels, Russ Semore, Bart Semore, Kenneth Corn, Buck Cauthron, and Jerry McAlester.  Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Sharp, Austin Morton, Ron Glen, Andy Weant, Bert Corr and Nolen Branscum.

CLAY E. COSTNER

         Clay Elbert Costner passed away in Whittier, CA, July 19, 2020.  He was born June 11, 1931 in Panama, OK, the youngest and only son of Elbert L. & Jewell (Thomas) Costner.  Clay graduated from Poteau High School in 1949.  He was a veteran of the US Army serving as a military policeman.   After his service, Clay received his BA  degree from Central State College, a MA from OU, and a PhD from Peabody College in Nashville, TN.

          Following his parents into a career in education, Clay taught and coached in the Midwest City, OK schools before returning to Poteau and becoming an instructor at CASC.  He was known as an avid tennis player and coach.  Relocating in California, Clay became an instructor/teacher in the Department of Corrections for the State of California from which he retired.  Clay was preceded in death by his parents and 3 sisters, Wanda Gammell, Wilma (Costner, Ervin) Lee, and Winona Selkirk.

          He is survived by his son, Julian Vo; granddaughter, Melina Vo, both of California; grandson, Julian Vo Jr. of Mexico; nephews, Jim Ervin & wife Judy of Poteau, Larry Selkirk & wife Linda of Ft. Collins, CO; as well as other family & friends.

          Clay was interred at the National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.

Gean E. Taylor

          Gean Elizabeth Taylor, 64, of Howe, OK passed away Monday, September 14, 2020 in Poteau, OK.  Gean was born July 9, 1956 in Poteau, OK to Delbert Floyd & Norma (Thompson) Taylor.  She was a med tech.  Gean was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Sunny Taylor; brother & sister in law, William & Pam Taylor; nephew, David Taylor.

 Survivors include her daughter, Sunny Grisham & Steven; grandchildren, Shawn Grisham & Angel; sisters, Suzanne & Leo Ritter, Kay Ollar, Vicki Wilson, Janabel Clark; brother, Wayne Taylor & Dede; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

 Services will be 2 pm, Thursday, September 17, 2020 at Evans Chapel with Jim Cook, Cory Thompson & Doris Oglesby officiating.  Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Slatonville.  Pallbearers will be Dennis Wilson, Haden Ollar, Eric Taylor, Billy Humphries, Jose Castillo, Dean Barton.  Honorary pallbearers will be Cheryl Holyfield, Karen Brock, Katie Barton, Amy Creel, Sheila Castillo & Saylor Clark. 

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

WARREN JAMES

 
WARREN JAMES MEMORIAL SERVICE 10 AM TUESDAY - EVANS CHAPEL - POTEAU

Warren Dean James, 62, of Poteau, OK passed away Monday, August 24, 2020 in Poteau.  Warren was born January 23, 1958 in Talihina, OK to Warren & Salud (Ortiz) James. 

          Survivors include his wife Rebecca; daughters, Kristy  & John Parker, Kimberly & Mike Hall, Karen Janes; sons, Leonard Hamm, Warren Dean James II; grandkids, Kandace Nicole & Zack Keith, Jace Tyler Rolf, Sommer Rashell Owen, Nathan Michael Owen, Autumn Marie Owen, Arriana Hamm; great grandkids, Braileigh Mae Williams, Kendalynn Grace Keith; brothers, Teddy Joe, Junior and Frankie James; sister, Mary & Gene Abney;  numerous nieces, nephews; other loved ones and friends.