Published: January 05, 2007 05:02 pm            

Obituaries, Jan. 7

Wilbur Noel Payn

Wilbur Noel Payn was born in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 10, 1911, and died Dec. 31, 2006. He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Leona Payn; three children, Ray Payn, Marilyn Ramsey and Joe Payn; a son-in-law, Jim Ramsey, a daughter-in-law, Paula Payn; a stepson, Jim McKee; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, June Payn; a granddaughter, Amber Payn Duree; a sister, Margaret Wade; a brother, Joe Payn; and his parents, Jessie and Park Payn. A longtime resident of Oklahoma City, he graduated from Classen High School and Oklahoma Baptist University; was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II; and has been a resident of Midwest City since 1956. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church from 1933 to 1956 and a member of First Baptist Church in Midwest City from 1956 until his death. He was a developer of Midwest City’s Eastwood Development, owned Eastgate Insurance Agency and previously owned Payn’s Poultry Farm and Hatchery. He was a member of the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce; a Rotarian for more than 30 years and chairman of Midwest City’s Tree Board for many years. A man who loved Jesus, he was loved by his family and many friends. The family wishes to thank their friends, Quality Care Hospice Care, and home health care for all their loving care and prayers. Funeral services were held Jan. 3, 2007 at the First Baptist Church in Midwest City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Eastwood playground, checks payable to: Eastwood Homeowners’ Association and addressed to P.O. Box 10662, Midwest City, OK 73140 In Memory of Wilbur Payn for the Amber Payn Duree Park.



Paul E. Duff

Paul E. Duff, passed away Christmas Day 2006. He was born Nov. 8, 1934, the fourth son born to Cecil A. and Essie Mae (Cooper) Duff. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1952. Duff served in both the United States Navy and Air Force but his heart belonged to the Navy where he served in Korea. Duff married the love of his life in 1959. Fishing was his favorite sport until he discovered golf. Duff was a gentle and loving man who never met a stranger. He is survived by his wife, Rita Ann; two sisters-in-law; two nephews; six nieces; and a number of great-nephews and great-nieces. Duff was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers. Memorial services were 2 p.m. Jan. 5, 2007, at the Paylor Dignity Memorial Chapel.Services were under the direction of Paylor Funeral Home.



Tyler Lee Ennis

Tyler Lee Ennis, 23, of Del City, passed away New Year’s Day 2007. He was born to Tony and Carol Ennis in Oklahoma City Aug. 10, 1983. Ennis was an active member of the United States Army when he died. He is survived by his parents; a brother, Abram; a sister-in-law, Samantha; his grandparents, Jimmy and Emma Ennis; a niece, Madison Ennis; three aunts, Janet Tyree; Jeanne Rehmann and Carol Dean Ennis; an uncle, Robert Ennis; and numerous other loving relatives and friends. Ennis was preceded in death by a brother, Cody; and his grandparents, Curtis and Mary Tyree. Services were held at 2 p.m. Jan. 6, 2007, at the Del City Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Leonard Sisson officiating. Burial followed at Worley Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Caskets Inc.



John Lee White

John Lee White, 78, passed away New Year’s Day 2007. He was born June 10, 1928. He married Betty (Hayslip) White in December of 1948. He was a self-employed brick layer who enjoyed fishing and gardening, working on cars and providing for his family. He is survived by a son, Jimmy Don White and wife Mary of Oklahoma City; two daughters, Elizabeth (Beth) Taylor of Newalla, and Mary Kay Ballard and husband Doug of El Campo, Texas; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; and other family members. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; a son, Johnnie Ross White; two brothers; and a sister. A graveside service was held at 1 p.m. Jan. 5, 2007, at Mountain Park Cemetery in Mountain Park. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Northeast Funeral Home.



Betty June Elaine Howard

Betty June Elaine Howard died Jan. 1, 2007, in Midwest City. She was born June 26, 1921, in Ft. Worth, Texas, to Mary “Sunshine” (Lowe) and Carl Gates. A longtime resident of Ft. Worth, Texas, she worked for the Ben E. Keith Co. for 15 years. In 1980, she moved to Midwest City, where she worked as a manager of a number of apartment complexes, such as Bentoak Village in Choctaw for many years. Affectionately known to her grandchildren as “Grammie,” she was a kind, caring and outgoing woman who loved to travel, and who never met a stranger. She is survived by two daughters, Connie Webb and Katherine “Cookie” Woolsey and husband Charles, both of Midwest City; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many dear friends, including Wayne Anderson, Julie Lunsford and Kelly Grimes. Services were held at 1 p.m. Jan. 6, 2006, at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Midwest City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 800 S. Midwest Blvd., Midwest City, OK 73110.



John Reed

John Reed, 79, passed away Jan. 1, 2007. He was born April 7, 1927, to Ed and Agnes (Carney) Reed. John married Irene (Little) Reed in Ft. Smith, Ark. Feb. 23, 1952. He served in the Navy during World War II and retired from Tinker Air Force Base in 1994. He enjoyed playing the mandolin and bluegrass music. He also enjoyed baseball, hunting, fishing and watching Westerns “shootem ups.” He is survived by his wife, Irene; two sons, John D. and Coy D.; three daughters, Debra Kelley, Dara Webb and Dian McClanahan; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Harris, of McAlester; and a number of nieces and nephews and other family members. He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister and two brothers. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Jan. 4, 2007, at the Bill Eisenhour Northeast Chapel. Burial took place afterwards at Arlington Memory Gardens Mausoleum.



Arnold Richardson

Arnold Richardson, 72, teacher, coach, counselor, principal, mentor, friend and husband and father passed away New Year’s Day 2007. He was born Sept. 4, 1934, in Happyland near Ada, to ZelIa and Ray Richardson. He grew up in Seminole, attending school there and graduating in 1953. He was a member of the football and tennis teams. When he was in junior high, he met coach Dewey Allen who introduced him to the game of tennis, which he played in junior high and high school. Tennis was a passion of his. Richardson then went to East Central University where he played tennis and graduated with a bachelor’s in education and a master’s of teaching degree. He proudly served in the National Guard from 1959 to 1961. In the fall of 1958, Richardson began his teaching career in Seminole, where he coached football, basketball, baseball and tennis. He stayed with the Seminole schools until 1966. In the fall of 1966, he was to take a job teaching school in Hawaii. However, that very summer, his father suffered a heart attack and Richardson decided he wanted to stay closer to home. In August of 1966, Arnold accepted a job with Midwest City High School where he taught social studies and coached tennis until 1971. He married Dawn Davis, the love of his life, July 18, 1969. In the fall of 1971, Richardson accepted a job with Del City High School as a counselor. In the fall of 1975, he became assistant principal, a job that he kept until his retirement on May 25, 1996. Richardson was hard-working, thorough and most importantly, ethical and fair. He believed in doing what he felt was right even if it was not popular or convenient. He believed in the value of hard work and he taught his kids to stay with it until the job was done and done correctly. He and his sons spent many hours together working in the yard and working on the different cars. After retiring, he spent a great deal of time watching his youngest son, Rod, play football and baseball during his senior year at Midwest City High School. Richardson and his wife enjoyed vacationing in Estes Park, Colo., with our very good friend, Duane Oliver. In February of 2004, Arnold suffered a stroke and his health began to decline. In October of 2005, he was inducted into the Del City High School Faculty Hall of Fame. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice Quality Care and especially Barry Weintraub and Linda Miller. They also would like to thank Vanessa Cook. He was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Dawn Richardson; three sons, Scott and wife Wauneva of Oklahoma City, Bart of Midwest City and Rod and wife Lacie of Oklahoma City; and many other family and friends. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Jan. 4, 2007, at the Bill Eisenhour Southeast Chapel. Burial was held at 2 p.m. at the Little Cemetery in Little. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Southeast.



Velbert C. Foshee

Velbert C. Foshee, 72, of Newalla, was born Sept. 15, 1934, in Paris, Ark. He was the son of Martin and Flora (Bullock) Foshee. He left this life Jan. 3, 2007, in Newalla. Velbert served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Forshee married Shirley Roadlander Oct. 9, 1971, in Fairview, Mo. He retired from Tinker Air Force Base, after 20 years where he worked as an aircraft mechanic. He was raised and baptized Pentecostal. He was a member of the VFW and he enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, playing the guitar and woodworking. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lorretta Joyce; two brothers, Jeff and Robert; and a sister, Etna. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Foshee of Newalla; a daughter, Elizabeth and husband Bryan Claunch of Tulsa; five step-children, Frank Warford of Riverdale, Ga., Gary Warford of Newalla, Maria Harmon of Tulsa, William West of McLoud, and Myra Scott of McLoud; two brothers, J.W. Foshee of Idabel, and Neil Foshee of Paris, Ark.; three sisters, Yuvonne Mcquire of Rochester, N.Y., Janette McMurtey of Paris, Ark. and Judy Foshee of Paris, Ark.; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many relatives and friends. Services were held at 2 p.m. Jan. 8, 2007, at the Asa Smith Memorial Chapel in Harrah. The Rev. Bill Derrick officiated. Services were under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah. A guest book is available at www.smithparks.com.



Iris Dailene Thompson

Iris Dailene Thompson, 72, died Jan. 4, 2007 in Midwest City. Born Dec. 12, 1934 in Oklahoma City to William D. and I. Florene Boyle. She was married to Homer Thompson on June 23, 1953 in Wichita, Kan., where they lived until 1965. She was also a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church, Choctaw Creek, and Tinker Ladies Golf Clubs. She was preceded in death by her parents, W.D. and Florene Boyle, a sister, Vickie Lynn Gilliam, a son, D.J. Thompson, and a grandson, Seth Joseph Thompson. She is survived by her husband, Homer A. Thompson of Nicoma Park; two sons, Ricky Paul and wife Patti of Waterloo, Ind. and Donald Q. of Nicoma Park, a daughter-in-law, P.J. McGary of Moore; a brother, William Dale Boyle of Nicoma Park; two sisters, Nancy Stavros and husband Jim of Oklahoma City and Judy Watson and husband Mitch of Golden Valley, Ariz.; an aunt, Mary Ellen Boyle of Oklahoma City; four grandchildren, 11 great-granchildren, and many other relatives. She loved them all. In lieu of flowers, please donate to any animal rescue. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Airport Assembly of God in Oklahoma City. Visitation will be held on Monday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Monday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.



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The Sun and The Sunday Sun staff would like to let the funeral homes and readers know that starting Feb. 4, obituaries will follow a strict format as defined by the staff. Anyone wishing to include extra information will have to pay $25 per obituary or $35 with a photo.

        

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