Archive - Obituary
November 8th, 2011
John Al Garner Jr., 81, of Wister died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Talihina. John Al was a U.S. Army veteran. He was owner of Garner’s Garage, which has been passed down from father to son and has been open in Wister for over 100 years. John Al was a member of the Wister Fire Department, instrumental in its organization, was Fire Chief and retired from the Department after serving over 24 years, of which he was very proud. He was a member of the Wister School Board for 25 years. He served as Mayor of Wister. He was always civic minded and very involved in many aspects of the Wister community.
Epsin Goodwin, 98, of Heavener died Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 in Poteau. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, No. 9, at First Baptist Church, Heavener. Burial will be in Hontubby Cemetery under the direction of Dowden Funeral Home, Heavener.
Jewell Mae Ellis, 81, of Pocola died Nov. 4, 2011, in Fort Smith, Ark. Services were held Monday, Nov. 7, at the Grace Manor Memorial Chapel, Poteau. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery, Dustin, under the direction of Grace Manor Funeral Home, Poteau.
Jimmy Cecil Walls, 75, of Shady Point died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, in Fort Smith, Ark. Services will be at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7, at the Solid Rock Pentecostal Church of God in Panama. burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Panama, under the direction of Evans and Miller Funeral Home, Poteau.
Wanda Louise Franks, 78, of Muse died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, in Muse. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Grace Manor Funeral Home with Bro. Jeff Little officiating. Services are under the direction of Grace Manor Funeral Home, Poteau.
Esther Therese Percifield-Kuykendall, 78, of Wister died Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, in Poteau. Esther was born July 14, 1933, in New York Mills, Minn., to Brynolf and Esther (Blomberg) Hill. She was retired from the Kerr Conference Center. Esther was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Doug Percifield, and second husband, J.C. Kuykendall.
Nancy Lynn Higgins, 47, of Spiro died Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Viewing will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home, Spiro. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Hope Cemetery.
Murray “JR” D. Baker, Jr., born on Sept. 19, 1930, died Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at the age of 81. He served as an RM3 in the U.S. Navy. Murray was an accomplished and professional Western Swing guitarist, most recently playing in his band, the “River City Four.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, Murray D. Baker, Sr. and Ethel Ruth Baker; and brothers, Orben Baker, Edwin “Bud” Baker and Frank Baker.
James Dearld Graham, 26, of Heavener died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Poteau. James was born Feb. 12, 1985, in Fort Smith, Ark., to James Gearld and Sherry Sue (White) Graham. James was an auto detailer. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Agnes M. Graham; stepmother, Paula J. Graham, grandfather, Neal White; great-grandparents, Rubin and Polly White; grandparents, Elba and Henry T. Rogers; and stepfather, Alan McCullough.
Ruby L. Ray, 85, of Poteau died Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, in Poteau. She was born Jan. 11, 1926, in Cauthron, Ark, to James David and Minnie Emma Lee (Holmes) Stuart. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and great-aunt.Â
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Burlen Ray; and brother and sister-in-law, J.B. and Florence Stuart.
