Jan Bryan

Jan Kristin (Schulze) Bryan, 63, passed away after a long illness Monday, Nov. 7, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Smith, Ark. She is now breathing freely!             Jan was born Dec. 1, 1952 at Muskogee General Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She was the only daughter of Gordon B. Schulze and Selah Rose (Lewis) Schulze of Durant, Oklahoma. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School.  In 1960, the family moved to Durant where Jan attended Washington Irving Elementary and Durant Junior High School. In ninth grade, they moved to Pawnee, Oklahoma when her dad became Commander of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Jan attended Pawnee High School for two years before moving back to Durant when her dad retired from OHP. She graduated from Durant High School in 1971. In her junior year, she met her husband-to-be Stephen Bryan, a senior. They then both attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, graduating together in 1975.
               Jan and her Stevie married their junior year of college on June 1, 1973 at St. William's Catholic Church in Durant, Oklahoma. They had five children: Jeffory Stephen, Angela Kristin, Michael Nicholas, Victoria Ann and Lindsay Beth.       Jan was a dedicated mother to her four children before going to work in 1993 as a coordinator/parent educator with the Oklahoma Parents as Teachers Program for LeFlore and Wister Public Schools. She truly loved the many families, babies and toddlers she was privileged to be allowed into their homes to help enhance their child's developments in language, fine and gross motor, and cognitive development for future school success. She so enjoyed keeping up with the hundreds of former OPAT children in the newspapers and Facebook with their graduations, awards, honors, scholarships and honor rolls. She retired in 2003 when she became ill with rheumatoid arthritis and later pulmonary fibrosis. 
           The Bryans were faithful in attending Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Poteau, Oklahoma. Jan was CCD Catechism Director and First Communion teacher for many years. She and Stephen moved several times in their married life. From Durant to Spring, Texas, back to Durant for a few months, then to Idabel, Oklahoma then one last final move in 1980 to rural Wister on the Bryan family farm.
          Jan held many talents in calligraphy, sewing and cooking, and had a love of reading. She enjoyed many travels with Stephen's job as CEO/General Manager of Kiamichi Electric Cooperative until his retirement in 2012.

Jan is preceded in death by her parents, Gordon Bruce and Selah Rose (Lewis) Schulze and her infant twin son Michael Nicholas Bryan.

She is survived by her husband Stephen L. Bryan, Wister; son Jeffory and Jane Bryan of W. Des Moines, Iowa; daughters: Angela and TD Langley of Boyd, Texas, Victoria and Larry Middleton of Mustang, Oklahoma, and Lindsay Bryan of Springfield, Missouri; grandchildren Sara (Saray) Kristin Lynn, Sydney Ann Langley, KatieAnn Rose Middleton and Gracie Elizabeth Langley, and faithful basset hound Dexter; two brothers, Gordon Bruce and Rhonda Schulze of Kingston, Oklahoma and Stephen Lewis Schulze of Durant; aunt, Kay Dumesnil of Spring, Texas and Eileen Schulze of Portland, Oregon; sister-in-laws, Peggy Gail Christian of Spiro, Oklahoma and Elizabeth Nell Taylor of Harlingen, Texas, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews and Facebook friends.

A funeral mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Poteau. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. with rosary at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 at Evans & Miller Funeral Home in Poteau.   Burial will follow in Maxey Cemetery, Wister, OK.  Services under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home in Poteau.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes monetary donations to help spare others from the suffering of this horrible disease. An online memorial has been set up through the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation to make donations in her name. Visit www.firstgiving.com and search for "Honoring Jan Bryan" to donate.

The family wishes to extend their deepest thanks to Mercy hospital and hospice staff, Mays Home Health and United Medical for oxygen services for their faithful and respectful care for Jan.

MK DERRICK

M.K. Derrick, 88, of  Keota, OK was called home to be with Jesus on November 6, 2016.  He was born on February 24, 1928 in Howe, OK.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Sue (Anderson) Derrick, his dad Matt Kirksey Derrick; his mother, Maude (Hall) Campbell; stepdads, John Shipman and Lonnie Campbell; sister, Billye  Gavitt & Mary Jean Black.

He is survived by his brother Burell Shipman and wife Sandy of Poteau, OK; his three daughters, Debra Kaye Jennings and husband Paul of Keota, OK, Pamela Sue Hale and husband Lindsey of Cameron, OK, Wanda Faye Pickering and husband Chuck of Summerfield, OK; six grandchildren, Robyn Gillham and husband Bruce, Lafe Hale of Cameron, OK, Josh Helmert of Ft. Smith, AR, Shawna Smith of Stigler, OK, Ashley Pickering of Summerfield, OK, Crystal Jennings Schones and husband Gary of Tulsa, OK:  eight great grandchildren, Alex, Megan & Cooper Gillham of Cameron, OK, Saylee, Chloee, Cage, and Taft Smith of Stigler, OK, Bailey Helmert of Ft. Smith, AR; nephew/son, Ralph Gavitt of Poteau, OK; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

M.K. was a former coach, teacher and principal at Tarby School in Poteau, OK and at Cameron, OK for 28 years.  He served in the US Army.  He was inducted into the Oklahoma High School Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989.  He was saved and baptized in 1944 at Summerfield Baptist Church in Summerfield, OK.  He loved to fish with family and friends, play the guitar, and gardening, but he loved his family more.

Services will be 2 pm, Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau, OK with Jim Cook and Rev. Charles Caughern officiating.  Interment will follow in Summerfield Cemetery, Summerfield, OK.   Pallbearers will be Ralph Gavitt, Lafe Hale, Josh Helmert, Bruce Gillham, Cooper Gillham, Ronnie Fox. 

You may leave an online message at evansandmillerfuneralhomes.com

Robert Lee Brown

Robert Lee Brown, 83, of  Bokoshe, OK passed away Sunday, November 6, 2016 in his home.  Robert was born January 21, 1933 in Panama, OK to Matthew & Mary (Mathis) Brown.  He was an Engineer Technician for Teledyne.  Robert was a veteran of the US Navy.  He was a member of the Bokoshe Assembly of God Church.  He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Marty Brown; sister, Marian Creek; brothers, John, Pete & Alex Waselus.

Survivors include his wife Joan Keaton Brown of the home; sons, Randy Brown of FL, Scott Brown of Spiro, OK, Anthony Albergo of CA; grandchildren, Rebecca Brown-Hudkins, Noah Albergo, Dean Albergo, Shonda Brown; sisters, Ruth Brown-Burke, Gloria Brown-Hooper, Rose Brown-Creech; several nieces, nephews;  other relatives, loved ones and friends.

Services will be 2 pm, Friday, November 11, 2016 at the Bokoshe Assembly of God with Bros. Doyle Martin & John Deer officiating.  Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Panama, OK.  Pallbearers will be Kord  Hudkins, Phillip Hutchison, Stephen Martin, Ben Wilson, Micheal Beam, John McClain.

Michael Bess

Michael Terry Bess Sr., 71, of Spiro, OK passed away Wednesday, November  2, 2016 in Spiro.  Michael was born February 13, 1945 in Salt Lake City, UT to John W. & Ramona (Bacon) Bess.  Michael joined the Navy in 1965 and served 2 tours in Vietnam; then joined the Coast Guard in 1975.  He was a member of the American Legion.  Michael was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 49 years, Lois Olene Bess; sister, Betty Bess; brothers, Dick Bess, Larry Bess, Bob Bess; grandson, Brant Lee Cassell.

Survivors include his daughter, Richelle & Everett  Plummer   of Poteau, OK; sons, Larry & Misty Bess of Tonkawa, OK, Michael Bess Jr., of Dickson, OK; grandchildren, Josh & Summer Cassell of Talihina, OK, Shawn & Allison Plummer of Ft. Smith, AR, Siehara & Kevin Wong of WA, Cody & Kayla Bess of Tonkawa , Kylee Bess of Tonkawa, OK, Justin & Gunner of Poteau, Lauren Bess of Dickson; 9 great grandchildren; brothers, Dave & Debbie Bess of Fairview, UT, John & Kathy Bess of South Jordan, UT; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

Services will be 1 pm, Monday, November 7, 2016  at Evans Chapel of Memories, Poteau, OK with  Jim Cook & John Bess officiating.  Interment will follow in  Monroe Cemetery.  Pallbearers  will be grandsons, Josh Cassell, Cody Bess, Shawn Plummer, Justin Plummer, Kevin Wong, Gunner Pirpich.

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

Mickey Brannon

    Mickey Deretta Brannon, 68, of Arkoma, OK passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2016 in Rogers, AR.  Mickey was born September 27, 1948 in Altus, OK to Wilburn David & Thelma Lois  (Richardson) Rogers.  She was preceded in death by her father. 

      Survivors include  her husband, Bobby J. of the home; daughter, Melissa Brannon Bartels & husband Jon of Bella Vista, AR; sons, Bryan J. Brannon of Fanshawe, OK, mother of grandchildren,  Lori Gene Heaton; grandchildren, Masey Rebecca & Kynli Grace Brannon, Kassidy Makenna Brannon Bartels; sister, Neala Montgomery of  Vacaville, CA; brother, David Rogers of Kihei, Hawaii; mother, Thelma Lou Rogers of Roland, OK; other relatives, loved ones and friends.

      Services will be 2 pm, Thursday, November10, 2016  at Evans Chapel of Memories, Poteau, OK with Sally McGowen officiating.  Interment will follow in Fanshawe Cemetery, Fanshawe, OK.  Pallbearers will be John Paul McAlester, Jerry McAlester, David McAlester, Billy Newby, Bryan Brannon, & Wes McGowen.  Honorary pallbearers will be David Benson and Nolan Branscum. 

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