Adair County: Stillwell Democrat Journal
  Obituaries by  Wanda Elliott jwdre@intellex.com

December 2, 1999

JONES
Barbara Mae JONES, of Stilwell, was born November 8, 1937, in Yale, Oklahoma. Her parents were Roy and Oma Mae GOAD ROBERTS. She departed this world on November 24, 1999, at the age of 62 years and 16 days. She was an active member of the Stilwell Pentecostal Holiness Church. She served the Lord in many ways during her life in churches in Palmdale, California, Garland, Texas, and in her home church in Stilwell, in the capacity of Sunday school teacher, youth leader, and most recently, secretary-treasurer and board member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Barbara served as an instructor at Flaming Rainbow Uniersity and for the past six years has been a the owner and manager of H.& R. Block Company, in Stilwell, Since the time that she moved to Stilwell in 1973, she has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, and has been an active member of the Adair County Kiwanis Club for several years. Barbara was devoted to service to her Lord and to ministering to her family which was a consuming passion in her life. She spent many hours visiting, calling or writing to her wide-spread family over the internet.
She was preceded in death by both parents, Roy and Oma Mae ROBERTS, one brother, David H. ROBERTS and one grandson, Robert Lee TONNE.
She is survived by her husband, John; one daughter, Terrie and husband Richard of Texas; one son, Robert and wife Ginger of Texas; one sister, Nancy and two brothers, James and Jack, all of Oklahoma; her step-father, Nikolai, of Oklahoma; one step-sister, Tania, of Florida;
one step-daughter, Janet, of Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Josh and Chris, of Oklahoma, and Grant and Alicia, of Texas; five uncles, two
aunts, and many cousins and other relatives. Memorial services celebrating her life were held Monday, November 29, 1999 at the Stilwell Pentecostal Holiness Church with Rev. Dick GOAD, Rev. James WHITE and Rev. Jim EBY officiating. Interment services
followed at Stilwell City Cemetery under the direction of Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

MCKENZIE
Funeral services for Mona Kay MCKENZIE were held Saturday, November 27, 1999 at the Hart Memorial Chapel with Rev. Ralph CANNON officiating. Interment followed at the Westville City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home of Westville. Mona Kay MCKENZIE was born November 17, 1947, in Adair County to Ray and Adina WATKINS GUTHRIE. She departed this life November 24, 1999, at her home in Westville at the age of 52 years and 7 days. She was a lead cutter at Baldor Electric and was a member of the Family Worship Center in Westville. On October 29, 1987 Mona was married to Adam MCKENZIE in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents. Mona is survived by her husband, Adam; one son, Preston; one daughter, Kim; one step-son, Christopher; five grandchildren; two nephews and one niece; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Benny and Flo, and Larry and Beatrice.

RITTER
Eugene RITTER, son of Grandville RITTER and Christine FARMER RITTER was born February 15, 1920, in Stilwell and departed this life to be with our Lord, November 22, 1999, at the Stilwell Nursing Home at the age of 79 years, 9 months and 7 days. Eugene, a maintenance worker for Stilwell Foods for 35 years, retired in 1992. He enjoyed life on the farm and his hobbies in his garden. He was a member of the Bell Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by both parents; two sisters, Minnie RITTER and Thelma BREWER; two brothers, Burl RITTER and Joe RITTER; his first wife, Jewel NEWMAN RITTER; and second wife of 33 years, Vertie "Jackie" RITTER, who departed this life on October 2, 1999. He is survived by two daughters, Shirley and Janet; four step-children, George, Haste, Sandra and Debbie; four sisters, Edith, Ethel, Alyene and Dolly; and one brother, Leon, all of Oklahoma; 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Funeral services were Wednesday, November 24, 1999, in the Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home Chapel in Stilwell with Rev. Dewey JONES and Rev. Lawrence EAGLE officiating. Interment followed at Stilwell City Cemetery under the direction of Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home of Stilwell.

December 9, 1999

ESSARY
Lois Gene ESSARY, daughter of Orlando Gravel MILLER and Mary Helen SAGER MILLER was born September 8, 1929, in Stilwell and departed this life to be with out Lord, Saturday, December 11, 1999, at St. Edward's Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, at the age of 70 years, 3 months and 2 days. Lois was married to Earl ESSARY in 1945 and to this union were born two children, Rickey Eugene and Verona Faye. She was a live-long resident of Stilwell Community, where she was a faithful member of the Trinity Full Gospel Church. She is preceded in death by both parents; husband Earl in 1977; one son, Rickey Eugene ESSARY; and one brother, Jerry Lee MILLER. She is survived by one daughter, Verona; one brother, J.B. and wife Wilma; and one sister, Erma, all of Oklahoma. Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 14, at the Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home Chapel in Stilwell with Rev. Jim NOBLE and Rev. Joe WHITE officiating. Interment will follow at the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.

NELSON
Memorial services for Ellamae Delphia NELSON, 88, of Bakersfield, California, were held Thursday, December 9, 1999 at the Brimhall Road Assembly of God Church in Bakersfield with Steve YEARY, pastor, officiating. Ellamae was born March 9, 1911, in Fort Cobb to Thomas Newton BANKS and Pearl Cora BYRD BANKS and died Sunday, December 5, 1999 in Bakersfield Heart Hospital. She graduated from Mountain View High School in 1931. She received a full scholarship to attend the Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha and graduated with a bachelor's degree in science in 1935. While she attended college, she was a nanny to the children of the college president, Dr. Nash. She taught English and home economics to students in the following public schools in Oklahoma: Cloud Chief, Mutual, Port, Taloga and Woodward. She retired from teaching in Woodward Junior High in 1973 with 23 years of experience. She was a member of the Stilwell First United Methodist Church, transfering her membership from Woodward First United Methodist Church when she came to life with her daughter, Jane. In 1997, she went to live with her daughter, Mary and attended the Brimhall Road Assembly of God Church in Bakersfield, California, as long as her health permitted. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Oklahoma Alpha Eta Chapter, R. and L. Club of Mutual, Oklahoma, and a member of Oklahoma Retired Teachers' Association. She was married to Fred Mills NELSON in Woodward on December 24, 1937. Her husband, parents and three sisters preceded her in death. Survivors include: one son, Robert, of Virginia; two daughters, Jane, of Oklahoma, and Mary, of California; by six grandchildren, Janece, of Arizona, Latisha, of Idaho, Richard, of Arkansas, Charlotte and Charlene, of California, and Kimberly, of Virginia; 11 great grandchildren; and one sister, Mildred, of Oklahoma. Arrangements were under the direction of Mish Funeral Home of Oildale, California. Burial will be in Dunlop Cemetery, in Mutual, Oklahoma, under the direction of Billings Funeral Home of Woodward.

SAM
Woodrow SAM, son of Martin SAM and Cherry BEAVER SAM, was born April 7, 1920, in McClain, Oklahoma, and departed this life to be with our Lord Wednesday, December 8, 1999, at his home in Stilwell at the age of 79 years and 8 months. Woodrow was married to Bernice WILDCAT and to this union were born seven children. After the death of Bernice, he and Margaret MCKINNEY were united in marriage on July 18, 1975. He served his country proudly during World War 11 in the U.S. Army. He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Bernice in 1974; one son, Woodrow SAM Jr. and two brothers, July SAM and Enola WILDCAT, and one sister, Myra WEBBER. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; two sons, James and Sampson, of Oklahoma; four daughters, Rosia, Mary and Ruth, of Oklahoma and Rebecca, of Arkansas; two step-sons, Jim, of Oklahoma and Joe, of Arkansas; one step-daughter, Carrie, of Missouri; 30 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Funeral was Friday, December 10, 1999 at the Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home Chapel in Stilwell with Rev. Bill DRYWATER officiating. Interment followed at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

SCOTT
Funeral services for Huckleberry SCOTT were held Monday, November 22, 1999 at Hart Memorial Chapel with Rev. Virgil HOLCOMB officiating. Interment followed at the Stilwell City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home in Stilwell. Hickleberry SCOTT was born February 3, 1922, in Stilwell to Lincoln and Lizzie RIDER SCOTT. He departed this life November 19, 1999 in Tahlequah at the age of 77 years, 9 months and 16 days. He was retired from the U.S. Army and had served in both World War 11 and in the Korean Conflict. He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Phillip SCOTT. He is survived by two daughters, Loretta and Gloria, both of California; one brother, Charley; and one siter, Polly, both of Oklahoma; four half-sisters, Pamela of Nevada, and Bobbie, Wynema and Nancy, all of Oklahoma; two half-brothers, Michael of Arkansas and David, of Oklahoma.

SUMMERS
Leonard Lewis SUMMERS, son of Pinky SUMMERS and Della Ann CUMMINS SUMMERS was born April 4, 1926, in Glenpool and departed this life to be with our Lord, Sunday, December 5, 1999 at his home in Westville at the age of 73 years and 8 months. Leonard was a dry wall finisher for a number of years before retirement. He was also a veteran of World War 11, having served his country proudly in the army. He is preceded in death by both parents; and four brothers, Frank, Fred, Jim and Gene SUMMERS. He is survived by one son, Lewis; one brother, David; two sisters, Mary and Lela; and one stepdaughter, Gwen, all of Oklahoma; and by eight grandchildren. Graveside funeral services were held Friday, December 10, 1999 at the Westville City Cemetery with Chaplain Donald D. NIBLETT of Tahlequah officiating, under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home of Westville.

WEST
Charles Melvin WEST was born on March 20, 1913, in Francis and passed from this life in his home near Stilwell.[date of death not given] He retired in 1972 from the City of Tulsa and enjoyed working on his ranch, hunting, and spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Eva; granddaughters, Vicki Sue, Margaret Ann and Lela Renee; grandson, Charles; great grandchildren, Daniel, Vicki, Gregory, Justin, Tauni, Macy, Lakota, Nicole, Lauren, Dannette, Karen and Jennifer; and sisters, Evelyn and Bertha, all of Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carolyn Sue ALLEN; brothers, Carl, Louis and Elmer WEST; and sisters, Angeline and Doris ARTHUR. Services were held Tuesday, December 7, at the West Tulsa Free Will Baptist Church. Interment followed in Floral Haven Memorial Gardens of Broken Arrow, under the direction of Heath-Griffith Funeral Service.

SMITH
Cleo Gladys SMITH, 78, passed over peacefully, Sunday, December 12, 1999, in her home. Born in Bunch, Adair County, Oklahoma, February 1, 1921, to Jesse Green MCCONNELL and Josie CHUCULATE MCCONNELL. Her grandparents were William MCCONNELL and Mary "Mollie" HALL MCCONNELL; Zeke CHUCULATE and Lizzie SINKINGWATER CHUCULATE. Cleo was a proud member of the Cherokee Nation. After her mother passed over, she was raised by her paternal grandparents, attended Sequoyah Orphan Training School and later beautician school. She worked at the McDonald-Douglas plant, Tulsa, during World War 11. She was preceded in death by her husband Hugh E. SMITH, 1981; brother Alec MCCONNELL PANNELL, 1977; son Gary ROLEN, 1963; and grandson, John Edwand ELLIS, 1988. She is survived by a daughter, Saundra, of Oklahoma; son, Ronald, of Texas; brother, Zeke, of Washington; granddaughter, Jeannette, Oklahoma; and three great grandsons.