Published: July 18, 2007 11:52 am            

Obituaries: July 18, 2007

Lori Darlene (Largent) Parsons

Lori Darlene (Largent) Parsons, 41, passed away July 6, 2007, in Buffalo, N.Y. A memorial service was 11 a.m. July 16 at the Erin Springs Church of God in Erin Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association. She was born July 25, 1965, in Pauls Valley. She was the daughter of Jimmy V. Largent and Johnie Sue (Blevins) Chumley. She grew up in Harrah and graduated from Harrah High School in 1983. She also lived in Excelsior Springs, Mo., and Buffalo, N.Y. She loved all kinds of animals and riding horses. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Hap and Elva Lee Blevins; and her paternal grandfather, Bert Largent. She is survived by a son, Michael I. Parsons of Edmond; a daughter, Sue Ann Parsons of Purcell; a brother, Cody Largent of Choctaw; her mother, Johnie Chumley and Walter Elam of Purcell; her father, Jimmy and Gina Largent of Choctaw; her grandmother, Nomie Largent of Lindsay; her life partner, Carl Psalzer and his five children and four grandchildren of Buffalo, N.Y.; and many other relatives and friends.



Billy J. Lawson

Billy J. Lawson, 73, of Choctaw passed away July 10, 2007. Funeral services were 10 a.m. July 16 at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home Northeast Chapel. Burial took place at Jones IOOF Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Bill Eisenhour Northeast. He was born June 9, 1934, in Coalgate, to Emmitt Cecil and Bonnie Adla Lawson. He graduated from Jones High School and enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and the Oklahoma National Guard for 42 years. He retired from Tinker Air Force Base in 1988. He was a 32 degree Mason and a Shriner and also served as a volunteer fireman and a Reserve Deputy in Oklahoma County. He was an active member of the Choctaw United Methodist Church and was well loved by his church family. He was a dedicated and loving family man with a giving heart. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Elmer and Andy; and daughter-in-law, Carla. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Beverly; four sons, Jeff and wife Kathy, Mark and wife Danna, Scott and wife Shelly and Bryan and wife Suzy; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother; a sister; and many relatives and friends.



Ida Blanche Ray

Ida Blanche Ray, 95, passed away July 12, 2007, in Midwest City. Services were 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14 at the Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle. Services were under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle. She was born to Tom and Peggie Redfearn Sept. 7, 1911, in Ozark, Mo. She married Clarence Ray in 1953. He preceded her in death. She is survived by a son, Bert Redmon and wife Peggy of Midwest City; and four grandchildren.



Lynda Kay Cox

Lynda Kay Cox of Tuttle died July 11, 2007, in her home, surrounded by family and friends, after a three-year battle with breast cancer. Services were 1 p.m. Friday, July 13 at Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Newcastle. Services were under the direction of Ford Funeral Service. Graveside service followed at Resthaven Cemetery in Oklahoma City. She was born June 12, 1943, to Wayne and Goldie Ward. She was a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church, a church family she loved and cherished. She was employed at Midwest City Regional Hospital where she truly loved her job as a registration clerk. She will be remembered by fellow employees and patients for her smiling face, sweet spirit and sparkly hats. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and infant daughter. She is survived by her children, Richard Cox of Oklahoma City, Donna and Kevin McKinney, Kristy and Shawn Bonilla and Dena and Brian Moody, all of Tuttle; nine grandchildren; two sisters, Terry Locke and Jackie Dunning; a brother, Johnny Ward; several other family members; and many friends. The family thanked all those who cared for her during her illness, especially her favorite nurse, Peggy.



Royce Hays Gateley

Royce Hays Gateley, 80, of Edmond passed away July 11, 2007, in Oklahoma City. A graveside service was 2 p.m. Saturday, July 14 at Jones IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Hibbs Funeral Home. He was born Sept. 17, 1926, to Wesley Miller Gateley and Lassie Pilgrim (Burfield) in Danville, Ark. He was a firefighter in Midwest City for 20 years before retiring. He and his wife, Ann, lived in Choctaw until 2006 when they moved to Edmond. He loved classic automobiles, bird watching, vegetable gardening and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Ray Britton Gateley; two brothers; and two sisters. He is preceded in death by his devoted wife, Anna Lea Gateley; three sons, Larry Eugene Gateley and his wife Marjorie of Oklahoma City, Glen Wesley Gateley his wife Debra of Edmond and Jimmy Royce Gateley and his wife Deborah of Edmond; a sister, Mary Janet Ellis of Oklahoma City; a nephew, Bob Gateley; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.



Melvin Carey

Melvin Carey, 83, died July 14, 2007. He was born Dec. 1, 1923, in Enid to John and Helen Carey. Services were 11 a.m. Thursday at Sooner Baptist Church. Burial was at Kolb Cemetery under the direction of Ford Funeral Service. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank Manor Care for the excellent care they gave him. He was an avid athlete and broke the state track record in high school. After graduation from high school, he worked for Enid News and Eagle for 23 years and then went to work for Oklahoma Journal. He retired from Unit Parts. Mr. Carey was an active member of Sooner Baptist Church for more than 35 years where he played on their church softball team. He was a member of the Spencer Garden Club. He was an enthusiastic OU fan and had attended OU football games since 1942. He was preceded in death by his parents, John William Carey and Helen Knaggs Carey; two brothers, John and William of Texas; and a sister, June of Enid. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Carey; three sons, Don Carey of Choctaw, John Carey and wife Ernie of Midwest City, Larry Carey and wife Sheryl of Choctaw and Steven; two daughters, Pam Neidhardt of Spencer and Jeanie Hill and husband Gavin; 25 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.



Wanda Maxine Sanders Dunn Cummings

Wanda Maxine Sanders Dunn Cummings, 85, died Friday, July 13, 2007. Funeral services were 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 18 at the First Baptist Church of Midwest City. Burial followed at Arlington Memory Gardens. Services were under the direction of Barnes & Johnson Funeral Home. She was born April 29, 1922, in Rocky, the fourth child of James Joseph Malcolm Sanders and Nellie Carrie (Probasco) Sanders. She was a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Midwest City, where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was a member of Chapter El and FH of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was a member of the Shangri-La Rose Garden Club and Our Sewing Club. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Dr. Oral Sanders, Dr. Harold Sanders and Alvie Sanders; two husbands, Drexel Bruce Dunn and Ralph Cummings; and a daughter, Mary Ann Dunn Eddleman. She is survived by two daughters, Martha Minnis and husband Mike of Edmond and Debbie Kirksey and husband Jerry of Edmond; seven granddaughters; and two grandsons. The family would like to extend special thanks to her wonderful caregivers, Glenda Sousa, Julie Milburn, the staff of Russell Murray Hospice and The Wellington. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Campus Crusade for Christ, Account No. 0507651, c/o Mary Beth Minnis, 10512 Galsworthy Lane, Austin, TX, 78739-1749.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.