Durant, Bryan County

Durant Weekly

Friday, April 7, 1933

SIMMONS
Mrs. Margrett M. SIMMONS, 64 years of age, wife of Ned SIMMONS prominent Bryan County farmer, died Tuesday night at the Simmons' home near Calera after an illness of nearly six years.
Besides her husband, Mrs. SIMMONS is survived by two daughters, Mrs. J. M. PEARCE and Mrs. Pearl SPRADLIN, both of Calera. Mrs. SIMMONS joined the Baptist church early in life and was devout in her worship.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Holmes chapel with the Rev. A. L. Johnston, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church,officiating. Interment was at Highland Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Robert Brown, Al Kirby, Hugh Williams, Albert Mason, John Conn and Kirk Amos, all of Durant."
Submitted by Jacque Pearce Reynolds jpreynolds@hotmail.com

Durant Weekly News

Friday, October 20, 1933

A.C. HERNDON
Funeral rites were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Yarnaby for A.C. HERNDON, aged 69 years, prominent Bryan county pioneer, political leader and farmer, who passed away at a local clinic sunday morning. The deceased had been ill for several months. Born in I.T. near the farm home he has occupied for 30 years, Mr. HERNDON had spent his entire life in Bryan Co. He was county commissioner from district No.2 for four years, serving from 1923 to 1927, retiring at the end of his second period without asking for a third term. He has been prominent in church, social and political circles in his community, and his death will be mourned by hundreds who knew and honored him. He is survived by his wife, seven sons and three daughters.

Miss Haydee RITCHEY
The death of Miss Haydee RITCHEY at the home of her parents, Judge and Mrs. W.H. RITCHEY, 1201 W. Main St. Tuesday night. Miss RITCHEY was born at Whitesboro, Texas, July 3, 1893. The family moved to Durant in 1896 and she has made this her home since. the deceased is survived by her parents, two sisters, Miss Thelma RITCHEY and Mrs. H.H. WRIGHT, Durant, and two cousins, Mrs. Merl F.HILL and Miss Hugia? HICKMAN who made their home with the Richey family for years. Funeral services were held in the First Methodist church. Burial was in Highland cemetery. Pallbearers were: Dr. W.S. WILLIAMS, P.E. LAIRD, J.V.CONNELL, George SCHEERER, S.A. WHALE and C.A. WOODWARD.

William R. EVANS, aged 78, pioneer Caddo business man, died at his home there Friday night. He had lived in Caddo for about 14 years. Besides his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Harry MARTIN, Los Angeles, Calif. three sons, R.B. EVANS, Ada, T.V. EVANS, Fort Worth and Bennett EVANS, McAlester, and Mrs. Ellen MOORE, Houstonville, KY. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Hugo. The body was then taken to Windom, Texas for burial.

Gilbert MELTON, aged 69 yrs. and a Durant pioneer, passed away Friday afternoon. The deceased had lived in Durant for more than 30 yrs. Besides his wife he is survived by five daughters, Mrs M.S. INGRAM, Mrs, O.B. COLTON, Mrs F.H. COOPER, Miss Mary Frances MELTON, Durant, Mrs. I.W. WOOTEN, Bokchito. Three sons, Roland MELTON, H.B. MELTON, Durant, J.L. MELTON, Savoy, Texas. four brothers, J.S. MELTON, Durant, Dallas MELTON, Savoy, TX, J.M. MELTON, Dallas, and Lee MELTON, Louistown, Miss. Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church here. Burial was in Highland Cemetery.
Researched by Belinda Hughes - jbhughes@erols.com
Homepage - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/7241/melton.html

Mrs. M.L. KIRK, 78 years of age and a resident of Durant many years ago, died Tuesday at her home in Snow, Okla. according to word received here by her sister, Mrs. W. A. CLARK. The remains will be brought to Durant for burial. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. John WHITEHEAD, Caddo, and Mrs. Allen JOHNSON, Octavia; three sons, Tom KIRK, Octavia and O.L. and Jack KIRK, Snow; three sisters, Mrs. CLARK, Mrs. E.F. NICHOLS, Amarillo, and Mrs. M.J. SHAW, Stanley, and two brothers, J.W. MOWDY, Marlow, and A. M. MOWDY, Zafra.

Dwight JOSSERAND
Services were held at Old Church Sunday afternoon for Dwight JOSSERAND, who passed away more than a week ago at Phoenix, Ariz.. The body was brought to Durant to Highland cemetery for burial. Dwight L. JOSSERAND, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.B. JOSSERAND was born in Monon, Ind. White County, May 12, 1902. He passed away Oct.1,1933 in Phoenix, Ariz. Dwight L. JOSSERAND and Miss Ruby PATTERSON were married in Sherman, Texas, Sept. 1925. To this union three children were born-Howard, age 7; Dwight, age 3, and Ella Jean, age 2 months. Besides his wife and children he leaves his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. L.B. JOSSERAND, of Bennington, two sister and four brothers-Miss Gertrude JOSSERAND, Bennington, Mrs. Agnes HIGGINS, Tulsa; Obed, McKinney, Texas; Joseph, Decatur, Ill; Glenn, Durant, and Dale JOSSERAND, Bennington..

On this page was also a little tid-bit: Suing For Divorce, Mrs. Ella GURNTHER of Chicago testified she had been poisoned by fishhooks her husband put in the pocket where he carried his money.

1947

LOFLIN

Blanche Carter Loflin's obituary:
Mrs. Blanche Loflin, aged 54 years, died at the family home, 802 Northeast Second Avenue, Friday afternoon at 4:17 o'clock, after an illness of two months. Funeral services will be conducted Monday afternoon, at 1:20 o'clock in the funeral chapel of Gus Pool & Son, with Rev. Robt. Scales officiating.
Interment will be in Highland Cemetery, with Gus Pool & Son in charge of arrangements. Pall bearers will be Luther Hankins, W. F. St. Johns, J. B. Walker, Homer Ashworth, John Waldrum and Homer Whatley. Mrs. Loflin was born in Pinkneyville, Ky., on May 13, 1893. She was married to O. H. Loflin, on May 1, 1937, in Durant. Besides her husband, she is survived by two brothers, Charley Carter, of Madill; Buster Carter, Sherman, Texas; three daughters, Mrs. Viva M. Gower, Durant; Mrs. Earl Brown, Bokchito and Mrs. Beulah Alexander, Snow, Okla. She had been a member of the Baptist Church and was a devout Christian. (Error in this obit: Mrs. Loflin was born in IL, and she had three sisters, not three daughters.) Can anyone advise where the Gus Pool & Son Funeral Home was located in 1947, and what the name might be now. If you can help, please e-mail Ruth Atteberry Adams adams6125@swbell.net

December 21, 1954

Durant Daily Democrat, Page 3

Services Today For Calera Man
Funeral services were scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. today in the Gus Pool and Son Chapel for Andrew Jackson LEE, 82 year old Calera resident who passed away Sunday after a lengthy illness.
Last rites were read by the Rev. Paul Wheelus, and burial was in Bennington Cemetery. Pallbearers were Clyde Anthony, Dub Forbes, Lester Pyle, Mr. McCluskey.
Mr. Lee was born in Stone County, Ark. Feb. 2, 1872. A retired farmer, he was a member of the Baptist Church. He had lived at Hugo before moving to Bryan County two years ago.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Lee; four sons, Luke Lee of Tupelo; Mike Lee of Kansas City; Jack Lee of Kansas City;  and W.L.  Lee of  Arvin, Calif.;  three daughters, Mrs. Eliabeth <sp>, McCluskey of Calera; Mrs. Dell Self of Oklahoma City; and MRs. Mollie Jones of Ancon, Texas; two brothers, Hudson Lee of Seminole, and Roscoe Lee of Stone, Ark., 25 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
This Family researched by Muirlee@aol.com

Personal Items:
Mr. and Mrs. Jack DOWNEY and son, Mark of Nebraska are guests in the home of Mrs. Downey's parents, Mr. and Mrs. O.W. Lowe, Mrs. Downey is the former Miss Marie LOWE.

Mrs. Hettie McIntire will leave Dallas today for Pasadena, CA to spend the holidays with her son, Blair and family.

Miss Lela GIBBINS of OKC, is visiting friends.

M-Sgt. and Mrs. Neal McNeil, are visiting relatives while on furlough from the army in Germany. They are guest of Sheriff and Mrs. Bill Barker, Mrs. McNeil is a siter of Mrs. Barker.

Mr. and Mrs. Pat JARRETT of Kans. are here as Christmas guests of the later's parents, Sheriff and Mrs. Bill Barker.

Mrs. J. Fred TURNER of Tulsa, mother of Mr. J.E. TURNER, and his siter, Mrs. Gilbert HOLLAND, who has recently returned from Germany, to visit Mr. and Mrs. Turner.

Roy McGHEE, of Miami, OK was a guest of his siter andbrother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. TURNER.

Mr. and Mrs. J.E. McGinnis of Tennessee are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Leach and also Mrs. McGinnis sister, Mrs. Ivy Aven.

December 9, 1966

Durant Daily Democrat, page 4

City Woman's Funeral Saturday
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Sanford funeral home chapel for Nancy LEE,  92, of Durant, who died Wednesday at Fairview. Burial will be in the Bennington Cemetery.
Mrs. Lee's grandsons will act as pallbearers. She had lived in Bryan county several years and was a member of the Baptist faith. She was born on November 14, 1874, at Yellville, Ark.
Survivors are; Four sons, Mack and Jack Lee, of Kansas City MO, Lonnie Lee of Arvin, CA, and Luke Lee of Drummond; three daughters, Mrs. Mollie Jones of Apson TX, Mrs. Elizabeth Pulls of Pkin City, and Della Self of Okla. City ; and a brother, Zack Paxton of Chichota, and two sisters.
This Family researched by Muirlee@aol.com

Ewell Morriss Dies, Rites Set
Ewell Irvin MORRISS, 80, of Durant died this morning. He had lived in Bryan county 45 years and was a retired farmer and former teacher. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Murray chapel.
Morriss was born on Dec. 2, 1886 in Ala. He was a member of the Methodist church.
Surviving are his three sons, Edgar, Joe and Conway; two daughters, Mrs. Gladys Pollard and Mrs. Mable Cap, TX.;
three brothers, Ed, Forster, and Roy of TX; and two sisters, Mrs. Mamie Westbrook and Mrs. Lena Mae Dudley of  TX.

Former Resident Dies In Roswell
Mrs. Martha Black RIDENS of Roswell, NM died Thursday.

Durant Daily Democrat

November 25, 1979

Mary Etter QUARLES
Entered into eternal rest Thursday, Nov. 22, 1979.
Service was held Saturday at the 7th and Beech Church of Christ for Mary Etter QUARLES,83, who died Thursday in Muskogee. She spent most of her life in Bryan county, and had been residing in Kiowa.
Willie TOLISON officiated, and burial was in Highland cemetary.
She is survived by children Beartice, OK.; Opal, OK; Rosie Lee, TX; Paralee , TX; Arval, OK.; Naomi, OK.; Virgie Mae, TX; Robert, LA.; and Frank, TX.
Casket bearers were W.J. BRYANT, Troy BRYANT, Roy BRYANT, Wallace BURTON,Troy PHILLIPS, and Archie CARPENTER.
Murray Funeral home handled arrangements.
Submitted by Melissa Wells  publius8@gte.net

Durant Daily Democrat

Date Unknown

William P. QUARLES
Funeral Services were held at Murray Funeral Sevice chapel at 2:30 PM today for William P. QUARLES, 85 year old long time Durant resident, died at Atoka, Saturday, after a long illness. Services were conducted by Rev. Carl THOMAS, and burial was in Highland Cemetary.
Pall bearers were Mark MILLS, Ira RAMBO, Harold MARSHALL, Ollie MACDONALD, R.P. BLACK and Clyde HUBBARD.
A native of Tennessee, Mr. QUARLES had lived in Durant 46 years, and was a retired laborer. He was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife,Quilie Ann, of the home address, two sons, Allen and Jess QUARLES,Durant: a brother Tony QUARLES, Jasper Tennessee, 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Submitted by Melissa Wells  publius8@gte.net

Durant Daily Democrat

July 31, 1998

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Highland Cemetery for Roscoe M. "Pepper" MARTIN, Durant, who died Wednesday, July 29, 1998 in Durant.
The Rev Dan MCLEMORE will officiate.
Mr.Martin was born Saturday, Sept. 29, 1899, in Cumberland Cut, Indian Territory to George Thomas Martin and Emma Caroline (PARKER) MARTIN.
He was an iron worker and construction worker.
Mr. Martin married Lillie HOLT on May 8, 1920, in Robert.
He was a member of the First Christian Church and was the oldest member of the United Iron Workers Union 263 since 1942. He helped build several of the older high-rise buildings in Dallas, the Roosevelt Bridge and the Denison Dam. One of the last projects was work he did on the Durant High School.
He enjoyed picking up pecans, which he did up until just a few weeks ago, while he watched the middle school children walk by his house. They knew him as "Mr. Pepper", his grandchildren knew him as "Grannie Pepper".
He loved to tell stories of his experiences. His dog, Pee Wee, was his life-long companion. His grandson, David, would go by his house every day to check on him and his companion Pee Wee.
Mr. Roscoe "Pepper" Martin well be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie Martin, in January of 1994; parents George and Emma Martin; twin babies Teresa and Gene Martin;three brothers; three sisters; son, Orville Martin, and grandson Benny Coxsey.
Survivors include his two sons and daughters in law, two daughters, 8 grandsons; 5 granddaughters; 30+ great grandchildren and 9 + great-great grandchildren.
Family hour will be from 6-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Murray Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Submitters Note He was also preceded in death by his great granddaughter Terri BEENE in 1979 and great grandson Robert "Jeff" BEENE in 1984. He had 38 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren.
Submitted by: Sandi Martin Koenig (grand daughter) slynn@m7.sprynet.com