The Ponca City News 05/28/2014

May 29, 2014 2:28 pm /

RED ROCK Robert Duane
Moore, 48, of Red Rock, passed
away Monday, May 26, 2014 at
OU Medical Center in Oklaho-
ma City. He was born on March
24, 1966, in Pawnee, the son of
Robert Littlesun and Lorraine
Moore. Robert grew up in the
Red Rock area being raised
by his grandmother, Minnie
Moore. He graduated from
Red Rock Schools and the
attended SW State University
in Weatherford on a basket-
ball scholarship. He enjoyed
fancy dancing, fishing, play-
ing pool, loved OU, Oklahoma
City Thunder, Dallas Cowboys,
painting and beadwork.
He was preceded in death
by his parents and step-father,
Darrell Sigwing; sister, Tammy
Cairns and son, Marcus Moore.
He is survived by his chil-
dren, Michael Dewayne and
Marissa Danielle Moore both,
of Towaoc, Colo.; sisters and
brothers, Betty Cairns, of
Ponca City; Laura Sigwing
Warrior, of Tonkawa; Danielle
Pickering, of Arkansas City,
Kan.; Randall Moore, of Red
Rock; Roland Moore, of Red
Rock; Johnny Moore Jr., of
Pawnee; Elton Moore, of Tulsa
and John Paul Everhart, of
Red Rock.
A wake service will be held
at 7 p.m., Wednesday May 28.
Traditional meal at noon on
Thursday, May 29, with service
to follow at 2 p.m. all at the
Otoe-Missouria Cultural Cen-
ter with Bill Bible officiat-
ing. Burial will follow in Otoe-
Missouria Tribal Cemetery.
Casket bearers will be,
Johnny Thornton, Wesley
Keys, Christopher Critter
Phillips, Shawn Littlecrow,
Cruz Conneywerdy and Jim
Miner. Honorary casket bear-
ers will be, Graham Primeaux
Jr., Daylan Primeaux, Chantay
Sigwing, Tyler Goodbear, Sam
Everhart and John Everhart.
Services are under the
direction of Grace Memorial
Chapel.
paid obituary
AT&T Names Steve Hahn
Head of AT&T Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY AT&T
announces that Steve Hahn
has been named president of
AT&T Oklahoma. Hahn most
recently served as president
of AT&T Kansas.
As president of AT&T Okla-
homa, Hahn will oversee the
companys local, state and
federal government relations
efforts in the state, in addi-
tion to working closely with
community and business lead-
ers, elected officials and oth-
ers at AT&T to continue to
bring advanced communica-
tions technologies, including
4G LTE** and other broad-
band services, to consumers
and businesses.
Hahn has held numerous,
key leadership positions at
AT&T. Prior to serving in his
most recent role as presi-
dent of AT&T Kansas, he
served as Director of Exter-
nal Affairs at AT&Ts corpo-
rate headquarters in Dallas
where he played a key role
in the deployment of AT&Ts
award-winning U-verse TV
service in 22 states. Prior to
that assignment, Hahn led
the 3-Screen Operations team
in AT&T Entertainment Ser-
vices where he directed the
first initiatives to deliver on
the companys commitment
to offer compelling content
across 3 screens-televi-
sions, computers and wire-
less devices.
FreeWheel Stops in Tonkawa
TONKAWA Oklahoma
FreeWheel is rolling through
Tonkawa June 13-14. Busi-
nesses that would like to
offer specials or hand out
marketing materials should
contact the Chamber of Com-
merce by June 6. There will
be more than 600 partici-
pants in town for the annual
bicycling event.
Swim lessons will be held
at the Tonkawa Pool June
16-27 in the evenings. Regis-
tration forms are available at
the Chamber of Commerce.
Children ages 6 months and
up are welcome. The fee is
$20.
Tonkawa will host its
first tournament at Blinn
Park since the renovation
of the ball fields. There
will be a 12U girls softball
and 8U boys baseball tour-
nament June 20-22. There
will be an 8 team limit for
both tournaments. Each
team is guaranteed four
games. Contact Joe Jacobs
for additional information
and to enter a team, 620-
440-2377.
Announces Summerfest
Schedule
BLACKWELL Kay Coun-
ty Summerfest 2014 has been
slated for June 12, 13 and 14
at the Fairgrounds, announc-
es the Blackwell Area Cham-
ber of Commerce. In addition
to the Chamber the event
is sponsored by the City of
Blackwell. The Summerfest
includes carnival rides and
games, food and a free pet-
ting Zoo.
The grounds will be open 4
to 11 p.m., Thursday June 12
and Friday 13, and 11 a.m.,
to 11 p.m., Saturday June
14. Entertainment includes
appearances of the OKC Thun-
der Girls on Friday and Satur-
day. A baseball tournament is
set for Morgan Field, Friday
and Saturday and the NOC
Jackpot Sheep Show at Whit-
man Arena. Entertainment is
planned for each evening with
guests artists including Moe
Bandy.
THE PONCA CITY NEWS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014PAGE 3-A
Activities . . . . .
(Continued From Page 2A)
for Exclusive Baskets, 2101
North Fourteenth, Ponca
Plaza.- 2 p.m., June 6.
Business after Hours Host-
ed by Team Radio, 102 East
Grand, 5 to 7 p.m., - June 10.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
for Marry Me Bridal Boutique,
407 North Fourteenth, - 10
a.m., June 12.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
for D & Ks Red Barn, 2309
Lake Road, - 2 p.m., June 17.
Kay County Commission
Election Forum, City Hall -
11:30 a.m. June 20.
Oklahoma State Univer-
sity President Burns Hargis
speaks at City Hall Ponca City
11 a.m., June 27.
Area Business Activity
Notes/Quotes
Third Annual Event
Third Annual Green Earth Om Yoga and Wellness Center
Retreat is set for June 7-8. The all-inclusive retreat will be at
Riverfront Park east of Ponca City along the Arkansas River.
Titled A Mindful Journey of Exploration, Leaders
include Kay Smith and Terri Wright. Sam Peart is medita-
tion leader and Tim Durham wall provide music.
For more information or to register visit pcomyoga.come
or call 580-718-9042.
Lunch and Learn
A lunch and learn certified healthy event has been sched-
uled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., August 7 at City Hall, 516 East
Grand Avenue, City Commission Chamber.
The event is open to everyone wishing to find out how
their business, restaurant, school, community and campus
can become certified healthy and the benefits of becom-
ing certified healthy. Lunch and drinks will be provided.
RSVP by August 1 to the Chamber of Commerce at 765-
4400.
Obituaries
Jack Besen
Jack Besen, resident of
Ponca City, passed away on
Saturday, May 24, 2014, at
Oklahoma Heart Hospital. He
was 70.
A private memorial service
will be held. Arrangements
are under the direction of
Trout Funeral Home and Cre-
matory.
Jack was born on May 24,
1944, the son of Theodore
and Alice Besen in Omaha,
Neb. He was raised on a farm
outside Omaha. He married
Brenda Baldwin on April 11,
1991, in Wichita, Kan. As a
young man he bravely served
his country as a pilot in the
Navy. He worked 21 years as an
Operator for Carbon Black. He
then ran his own business as
a mechanic for many years
before finally going to work
for his good friend Drew Hurst
until he went to his eternal
resting place.
Being a pilot he loved to
fly. He also enjoyed camping,
boating and fishing with the
kids. Another of his favorite
pastimes was visiting the local
casinos to play cards and visit
with friends.
He is survived by his wife
Brenda, of Ponca City; daugh-
ters, Christina Bencini, Hish-
kama Bencini, Shelley Besen
and Sherry Schaeffer; sons,
Ted Besen, Jack Jr., Shawn
Schaeffer, J.J. Burris and
Jeremy Stafford. He is also
survived by granddaughters,
Kylee Stafford, Jewel Miller
and Kira Miller and grand-
sons, Dontae Miller and Bris-
tian Shaeffer.
He is preceded in death by
his parents and his brother,
Theodore Charles Besen.
Memorial contributions may
be made to the American Lung
Association, 11212 N. May Ave.
Ste. 405, Oklahoma City, OK
73120.
paid obituary
Lavon Mae Wagoner Shepler
Lavon Mae Wagoner She-
pler, life-long Ponca City
resident, passed away at the
age of 92 on Tuesday, March
11, 2014, at Sarah Roberts
French home in San Antonio,
Texas. She suffered a severe
stroke before being blessedly
released. She was surrounded
by her children and grand-
children in her final days.
Lavon, known by her friends
and family as Vonnie, was
preceded in death by her hus-
band of nearly 40 years, Clif-
ton C. Shepler; her mother,
Goldie Violet Wagoner; father,
John Allen Wagoner; sisters,
Esther Nikkel, Viola Smith,
Alma King, Lila Hodges, Del-
lene Mercer; brother, Della-
van Wagoner; son-in-law, Roy
D. Hubbard; nephew, Craig
Hodges and two infant grand-
sons, David Adam Shepler and
Christopher Steven Shepler.
She is survived by daugh-
ters, Janice K. Patten and her
husband Tim, of San Anto-
nio, Texas; Glenda Jo Hub-
bard, of Yuma, Ariz. and son,
Charles Chuck Shepler
and his wife Nancy, of Allen,
Texas. Also surviving her are
granddaughters, Sarah Kay
Patten and Katherine Eliza-
beth Patten McMaster, both
of Austin, Texas; granddaugh-
ters, Denise Shepler, of Cor-
pus Christi, Texas; Jennifer
Shepler, of Allen, Texas and
grandson, David Allen Hub-
bard and his wife, Mandi,
of Plano, Texas. She is also
survived by nieces and neph-
ews, David King, Susan King,
Michael King, Sam Smith,
Gary Smith, Sheryl Mercer,
Don Gray, Byron Hodges and
Sonja Wagoner Urich.
Lavon was born on Aug. 8,
1921, in Ponca City and gradu-
ated from Ponca City Senior
High in 1939. She married Clif-
ton on April 17, 1942 in Seattle,
Wash. WWII brought her back
to Ponca City when Cliff was
drafted. She worked at Conti-
nental Oil Companys refinery
as a secretary until the end
of the war. After her children
were grown, she was employed
for 10 years as secretary to Don
Parsons, pastor of Community
Christian Church, of which she
was a loyal member.
She loved all arts and crafts,
including ceramics, quilting
and flower arranging. She was
an avid reader and throughout
her life she shared those loves
with her children. She also
served as Camp Fire leader
and Cub Scout leader through
her childrens growing years.
She always loved sewing and
after joining the Pioneer
Quilting Group, she made doz-
ens of beautiful quilts for her
children, grandchildren and
for anyone in need.
After the children left the
nest, Lavon and Cliff were avid
and active round and square
dancers for many years. Their
love of travel took them on
many trips to every corner of
the USA, including Hawaii.
After Cliffs death in 1981, she
continued traveling at every
opportunity, visiting Europe
and enjoying several cruises.
She enjoyed the Ponca Play-
house and many day trips to
stage shows in Tulsa and Okla-
homa City. She was always there
to take care of all her family
and friends when they needed
help of any kind, whether cook-
ing, cleaning or shopping for
them, giving rides to the doctor
or just being there.
She was very active in
the Ponca City Community
throughout her life. She was
a past president of Lincoln
School PTA, served as Pre-
cinct Inspector in Kay County
for more than 30 years and
was an active member of the
National Association of Letter
Carriers Womens Auxiliary at
the local and state levels. She
served Meals-on-Wheels, and
volunteered many hours at
Ponca City Opportunity Cen-
ter. She spent 2009 to 2013 liv-
ing with her daughter, Glenda,
in Yuma, Ariz., where she con-
tinued her love of travel with
Glenda. Last fall, after suffer-
ing failing health, she moved
to the Sarah Roberts French
Home by Woodlawn Lake in
San Antonio. She enjoyed
the company of all her new
friends and could usually be
found standing at the recep-
tion desk, chatting with the
employees or visiting the
other residents during lunch
or dinner, in hopes of getting
their desserts. She always ate
her dessert first.
She was well loved and is
mourned by her family and
friends. A memorial service
is planned for Saturday, May
31, at 2 p.m., at Community
Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) in Ponca City, offici-
ated by the Rev. Susan Payne.
The service will be preceded
by a reception from 11:30
p.m. Her ashes will be buried
beside her husband in IOOF
Cemetery in Ponca City. In
lieu of flowers, the family sug-
gests that donations in her
name may be made to Commu-
nity Christian Church, (Disci-
ples of Christ), 2109 W. Grand,
Ponca City, OK 74601-4822 or
to a charity of choice.
paid obituary
Lavon Mae Wagoner Shepler
Nancy Catherine Woods Challis
Nancy Catherine Woods
Challis, passed away Monday,
May 26, 2014. She was 77. A
funeral service will be held at
10 a.m., Thursday, May 29, 2014,
at Northeast Baptist Church in
Ponca City with Dr. Larry Nigh
officiating. Arrangements are
under the direction of Trout
Funeral Home and Crematory.
Family will receive friends at
Trout Funeral Home Wednes-
day from 6-7:30 p.m.
Nancy was born the daugh-
ter of Jess and Gladys Woods
in Yale, on Oct. 23, 1936. She
attended Lost Creek School
from first through third grade,
Park Elementary fourth
through sixth, went to Lovett
Jr. High and graduated at
Blackwell Sr. High School.
In 1952 Nancy met Grant
Lincoln Challis and they were
married on May 2, 1952. They
had three children together
son, Grant Michael Challis
born Nov. 12, 1954; daughter,
Deborah Ann Challis born
July 1, 1957 and Richard Lee
Challis born March 24, 1959.
Nancy was a stay at home
mom when her children were
young, but she also did some
seamstress work on the side
and crafted beautiful clothing
for her children, friends and
grandkids. After her kids were
grown, she went to work as a
clerk at Edwards dress shop
and then as an office clerk at
First National Bank.
Nancy enjoyed sewing and
crafts such as tatting and cro-
chet and she was an avid oil
painter. Nancy also enjoyed
music, she sang in the Kay
County choir and Northeast
Baptist Church choir and
played guitar and organ. She
was a member of Happy Hilltop
Homemakers Club. She men-
tored at Garfield Academy for
five years where she helped the
children learn to read. Nancy
enjoyed traveling around the
continental United States and
also made cruise trips to Alas-
ka and Hawaii and one of her
favorite trips was a trip with
her church to the Holy Land.
Nancy is survived by her hus-
band Grant; two sons; Grant
Michael Challis and wife Penny
and Richard Lee Challis and
wife Lois; daughter, Deborah
Ann Challis Anderson and
husband Glenn Anderson; one
brother, Roger Woods and wife
Irma; one sister, Dee Herde and
husband Morris. She is also sur-
vived by seven grandchildren,
Christy Snyder, Kim Herrington,
Trisha Hughes, Michael Chal-
lis, Lorrie Finney, Ali Thiry and
Evan Challis, 14 great-grandchil-
dren, Mallory, Hayden, Oliver,
Baylea, Alexis, Amelia, Caleb,
Mykah, Elliot, Savannah, Chad,
Loreli, Arthur and Grant and
two great-great-grandchildren,
Addison and Lynley.
Nancy was preceded in
death by her parents, an infant
brother, and a grandson, Chad
Challis.
paid obituary
Nancy Catherine
Woods Challis
Thelma Mae McSmith
OKLAHOMA CITY Our
beloved Mother was promoted
to Glory at Manorcare in Okla-
homa City on May 24, 2014. She
was 87.
She was the second child
born to Bert and Anna Kru-
lic Fleharty on Sept. 1, 1926,
in Kaw City and was raised
there throughout her child-
hood. Thelma graduated
from Kaw City High School in
1943. She then married Jack
Pearson. They had three chil-
dren; Beverly Sue, Linda Lou
and Joan Marie. Thelma then
remarried a man from her
home town in Kaw City, For-
est Irvin McSmith and they had
two children, Kathy Diane and
James Irvin. She loved serving
in the name of the Lord helping
her fellow man from working
at the Ponca City Hospital as
a nurse, cooking at hotels and
at the nursing home. Thelma
was a personal driver for Lydie
Marland and then drove for a
pilot program for The Salva-
tion Army in picking up elderly
and handicapped customers in
the Ponca City area until she
retired in 1989. Thelmas heart
was to help others no matter
what their need was. She was
an active member in The Salva-
tion Army, doing various roles
as a Sunday school teacher,
Childrens Ministry, Assistant
Shelter Director and cook. She
loved going to visit the nursing
homes to talk, read, sing and
share old times with the occu-
pants.
Thelma is survived by son,
James and his wife Nancy
Elizabeth McSmith, of Ponca
City; daughter, Linda Lou
and her husband Walt Sip-
pel, of Gainesville, Ga.;
daughter, Joan Marie and her
husband Rick Word, of Okla-
homa City; son-in-law, James
Wayne Chadwick, of Ponca
City; stepson, Robert and his
wife Janet McSmith, of Talla-
hassee, Fla.; sisters, Dorothy
Morgan, of Morrison; Fran-
ces Sanders, of Blackwell
and Leona Knight, of Ponca
City. She is also survived by
grandchildren, Julie, Amy,
Jody, Rebecca, Kevin, Josh,
Veronica, Walter and Lessie
and great-grandchildren,
Jamy, Olivia, Sophie, Emily,
Preston, Eric and Colson.
A service to celebrate her
life will be held at 10 a.m.,
Saturday, May 31, at The Sal-
vation Army, 711 S. Third St.,
Ponca City, OK with Mark
Berry, pastor, officiating.
Arrangements are under the
direction of Grace Memorial
Chapel.
Thelmas guestbook may be
signed online at www.grace-
memorialchapel.net.
paid obituary
Thelma Mae McSmith
Deaths
Rick Brown
BLACKWELL A graveside
service for Rick Brown, 51, will
be Thursday, May 29, at 10 a.m.
in Blackwell Cemetery under
the kind guidance of the Amy
Stittsworth Funeral Service
and Cremation Directors.
Rick was born on July 9, 1962,
in Blackwell the son of Winfred
and Phyllis Wynn Brown and
passed away on May 23, 2014,
in Blackwell. He was raised in
Blackwell, owned and operated
Ricks Tire Shop and loved rac-
ing cars.
Survivors include his son,
Dustin, of Blackwell; five
daughters, Brittany Harter, of
Enid; Macee Brown and Bay-
lee Brown, both of Blackwell;
Lyndsi Stout and Julie Stout,
both of Ponca City; 14 grand-
children and brother, Steven
Day, of Katy, Texas. Rick was
preceded in passing by his
parents; brothers, James Day
and Raymond Brown. Remem-
brances may be shared online
at www.stittsworthfuneralser-
vices.com.
Merlin Burnette
OKLAHOMA CITY Mer-
lin Burnette, died Thursday,
May 22, 2014, in Oklahoma
City. He was 77. He was born
in Pawnee, the son of Carl
and Eleanor Burnette. He
graduated from high school
in Burden, Kan., and from
Cowley County College
in Arkansas City, Kan. He
earned a bachelors degree
from Oklahoma State Univer-
sity where he was a member
of Phi Tau Sigma Honorary
Society. He served his coun-
try in the U.S. Army. Merlin
served as Scout Master for
Troop 192 and enjoyed wood-
working, camping, hunting
and reading. He was preced-
ed in death by his parents
and brother, Colin Burnette.
He is survived by his wife,
Vesta; two sons Jeffrey and
Ryan; two sisters-in-law; two
grandchildren; three nephews
and numerous cousins and
their families.
A funeral service will be
held at 10 a.m. Friday, May
30, at Northwest Christian
Church. A graveside ser-
vice will follow at 3 p.m. at
Newkirk Cemetery. Memorial
contributions may be made to
Northwest Christian Church,
2828 NW 30th Street, Oklaho-
ma City, OK 73112.
Ronnie Cooper
BLACKWELL Ronnie
Cooper, died Monday, May 26,
2014. He was 55. Arrangements
are pending with Roberts and
Son Funeral Home.
Services Pending
Jack Besen
Robert Duane Moore
Robert Duane Moore
How Much Does the
Marland Renery
in Ponca City
Earn for Phillips 66?
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