Obituaries

Jan 1, 2021

Donald Ray Reeder, 85 year old Eucha resident, passed away Friday, January 1, 2021.  Don was born in Gary, IN on December 23, 1935 to Harvey and Margaret (Henry) Reeder.  He proudly served in the United States Air Force followed by 27 years as an airline mechanic for American Airlines.  He was united in marriage to the love of...

Dec 28, 2020

Jennifer Christina Shaffer Cunningham, 42, of Grove died on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, from COVID-19 related complications at INTEGRIS Grove Hospital, Grove.

She was born on April 16, 1978 in Vinita, to Clyde and Karin Shaffer. In November 1978 the family moved to Rohrbach, in Hessen, Germany where they remained until 1991, when they returned...

Dec 23, 2020

BENJAMIN FUNERAL SERVICE NOWATA, OKLAHOMA 918-273-2700....

Elizabeth Ann “Becky” Price went to her heavenly home at the age of 83 on December 23rd 2020 with her husband of 65 years by her side. Becky was born in Old Alluwe on October 1st, 1937 to William Chester Fink and Vera Dora Dean “Goad” Fink. She graduated from Alluwe...

Dec 23, 2020

Carl Leroy Higeons came into this world with a great celebration! Born on the 4th of July 1918 in Talala, Oklahoma, Carl was the first child to bless the home of Clyde Rosville and Lola Claris Bray Higeons and the first grandchild of Dora Bray Paullus. World War I was about to end, horse and buggy was the most...

Dec 23, 2020

Longtime Nowata County resident Dale Edward "Duke" Epperson passed away unexpectedly in his home December 23, 2020. He was born August 26, 1943 at their home in rural Nowata County at roads 410 & 19, 1/2 mile from where he lived the last 65 years. His parents were Lloyd E. and Edna (Gibson) Epperson. He was a 1961 graduate...

Dec 22, 2020

Thomas Bryan Caswell, 65 year old lifetime resident of Zena, Oklahoma, passed away on December 22, 2020.

Tomy “Burley” was born on May 30, 1955 in Vinita, Oklahoma.  He was the oldest child born to Bryan Caswell and Peggy (Keeter) Caswell.  Tomy graduated from Grove High School in the class of 1973.  Tomy started delivery mail “Route...

Dec 21, 2020

John Calvin Arrington, Jr., age 75, Jay, OK passed away Monday, December 21, 2020.

He was born July 10, 1945 in Tulsa, OK to the late John Calvin Arrington, SR. and Nora Allen Arrington. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Eric Fry.

He worked as a pipeline operator...

Dec 21, 2020

Jerry Pat Allamon, passed in peace, at the age of 70 on December 21, 2020 in Montgomery, Texas. He is survived by the love of his life, Shirley Jennings Allamon, and they were married for 47 years. He was the loving father of 2 daughters, Patricia Allamon and Jessica Taylor; and father in law, to Steve Taylor. He was...

Dec 21, 2020

Mary Lou (Fields) Sturges, age 84, passed away on December 21, 2020 at Higher Call Nursing Center in Quapaw, Oklahoma.

Mary Lou was born on July 12, 1936 in Vinita, Oklahoma.  She was the daughter of Leroy Owen Fields and Mable Pearl (Cates) Fields.  She was united in marriage to Carles Wayne “Dick” Sturges on May 24,...

Dec 19, 2020

BENJAMIN FUNERAL SERVICE NOWATA, OKLAHOMA 918-273-2700...

Sherry Yvonne Parris, 72, of Nowata, passed away at her home Saturday, December 19, 2020. Born in Nowata County December 21, 1947 to Claude Pleasant and Betty Jo (Inman) Wickliffe, Sherry remained a lifelong resident of Nowata, Oklahoma. She was a graduate of Nowata High School and continued her education at...

Dec 18, 2020

James D. Smith

12/22/35 – 12/18/20

After a hard-fought battle with cancer, James “Jim” D. Smith of Vinita, OK, peacefully transitioned to heaven at his home on December 18, 2020, at the age of 84, four days from his 85th birthday.  His family was in his presence at the time he went to...

Dec 18, 2020

Don was born on June 23, 1930 to Virgil and Beulah Schoeni of rural Kensington, KS.  He attended the eighth-grade country school and graduated Kensington High School.  As a senior at the University of Kansas he met his future wife.  After graduation Don enlisted in the Air Force and was qualified for pilot training.  After basic pilot he was...

Dec 17, 2020

Patricia (Augustine) Marshall Ensch, 100, of Bartlesville, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2020 at Bartlesville’s Brookdale South.

Patricia was born October 18, 1920 to Hubert and Augusta Marshall on a farm near Cockrell, Kansas.  She was the second of four children.  Following her high school graduation, Patricia moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where she was employed as a...

Dec 15, 2020

Martin Bennett Kay, “Marty B” was born on August 24, 1946 in Vinita, OK to Bennett & Dixie Kay. He was born on South Scraper while his Dad was seating visitors at the Vinita Rodeo. He passed away on December 15, 2020 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK with both of his daughters nearby. Marty was the father...

Dec 15, 2020

Shirley Lucile Walker was born in Bluejacket Oklahoma to Callie and Lou-Anna (King) Epperson on Oct. 3 1935.  Shirley passed away on Tuesday Dec. 15 2020 at Heartsworth Nursing Center and Rehabilitation in Vinita Oklahoma.

Shirley will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Shirley is proceeded in death by her parents Callie...

Dec 14, 2020

Cathy Lorene Adams, 60 year old lifetime resident of Fairland, Oklahoma went to be with her Lord and Savior of December 14, 2020. Cathy was born on October 23, 1960 to Lloyd Dale Cox and Davetta (Jones) Cox.  Cathy was a primary care assistant for Eastern State Hospital.  She was a member of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), WAC (Women’s...

Dec 14, 2020

BENJAMIN FUNERAL SERVICE NOWATA, OKLAHOMA 918-273-2700....  There has been a change in the funeral site, services will be held at Benjamin Funeral Service.

William “Bill” or “Gus” Lee Waltrip, 74, of Chelsea passed away Monday, December 14, 2020 in Claremore, Oklahoma at Hillcrest Hospital. He was born in Coffeyville Kansas January 19, 1946 to Sherman Wesley and...

Dec 12, 2020

Loneise L. Tanner left this earth to join her husband and mother in heaven on December 12, 2020 at Integris Grove Hospital after fighting long and hard with Covid-19.

Loneise was born on June 14, 1957 to Gerald T. and Gladys I (Hoffman) Black in Alamogordo, New Mexico.  They later moved here to Grove where she spent her life...

Dec 12, 2020

Timmy Edward Pinkley, age 45, Grove, OK passed away Saturday, December 12, 2020.

He was born August 24, 1975 to Carolyn Ridgeway Pinkley and the late Edward Pinkley.

Following service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he worked at as truck driver for several years and attended Cornerstone Family Church.

Survivors include his mother,...

Dec 11, 2020

Harland “Pony” Chambers (87) passed away at The Journey Home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Friday, December 11, 2020.

Harland was born August 6, 1933 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Leroy and Gertrude (Kemp) Chambers.  He attended Douglass High School in Bartlesville. He continued his education at Kansas Technical Institute before he was called to serve his country in...