John Michael McGurk, M.D., age 31, was born on April 24, 1985. His parents were Donald and Karen Mc- Gurk, both Ph.D. chemists. They were so excited when he was born. They now had a daughter, Suzanne, and a son. Tragically, John died on Friday, February 10, 2017, while vacationing at the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. John loved seeing and experiencing the world. Travel was an important part of his life. It is surmised that while preparing to photograph the beauty of this island from a well known overlook John lost his footing and fell from a cliff. Three heroic fisherman can be praised with successfully recovering John, after a two day unsuccessful effort by the Coast Guard due to treacherous tides and rocky shorelines. One fisherman was quoted as saying, "We are going to send that boy home." At the time of his death, John had never been happier. He had a wonderful job that he loved. He had also met the first love of his life, Michelle Weber. John is now with his Lord John Michael McGurk, M.D. and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a faithful church attendant. John became a child of God in June, 1985, when he was baptized. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church near Bessie, Oklahoma. At his current church in St. Louis, John sang in the choir, participated in the yearly Christmas cantatas, and was one of the church song leaders. Early extraordinary memories of John were centered around his amazing feats of memory. At the age of three, he had studied the Rand McNally United States Road Atlus so thoroughly that he could recite the population of any town or city to the nearest thousand. He also had a profound fascination for weather. John had amassed a scrapbook cataloging the daily forecasts throughout the Unitied States for a number of years. Given a date and city, he could tell you the temperature and weather conditions without hesitation. Being so young and a medical doctor, most of John's life, thus far, was centered around education. John graduated from Weatherford, Oklahoma, high school in 2003, as a valedictorian. He received a standing ovation to the chant of "Mad Dog," the exact opposite of his personality. John attended The University of Oklahoma, intending initially, on becoming a meteorologist. This evolved over the span of his college years. He ultimately graduated with a degree in biochemistry, and a minor in zoology, along with all of the requirements for Pre-Med. He was a summa cum laude graduate with a 4.0 GPA. John was accepted, at his first interview, to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, one of the top-rated medical schools in the United States. Following the four years at UT Southwestern, John accepted a three year residency offer in Internal Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, coupled with Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon completion, he decided to, ultimately, become an internal medicine primary care doctor. With the recommendation of one of his mentor doctors, John received an extraordinary job offer at Memorial Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. It was a very challenging job, but he thrived on challenge. John happily devoted much of his free time in St. Louis to his girlfriend, Michelle, and to his music. In honor of his father, he had made it his personal goal to become an accomplished pianist, as his father was. He was, always, very devoted to his family. John will be deeply missed. Survivors include John's mother, Dr. Karen McGurk; sister, Dr. Suzanne Burnett; brother-in-law, Dr. Hugh Burnett; nieces, Rebecca Burnett and Sydney Burnett; aunts, Carol McGurk, Dr. Pamela Reichert, Dr. Debra Gudgel, and Dr. Linda Nimmo; uncles, Dr. Joseph Reichert and Dr. Charles Nimmo; cousins, Jessica Hicks, Melissa Finnegan, Jamie Johnson, Emily Moore, and Angela Penick; and last, but not least, his cat, Danny. Deceased are his father, Dr. Donald McGurk; and his grandparents, John and Lela McGurk and John and Lillian Reinschmiedt. John inherited his phenomenal memory from his father, and grandfather Mc- Gurk. He inherited his shy, kind personality from both grandmothers. Memorials may be given to: Peace Lutheran Church P.O. Box 97 Bessie, Oklahoma 73622, Friends For Life Animal Sanctuary P.O. Box 1965 Weatherford, Oklahoma 73096, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, or Alzheimer’s Disease Research, P.O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, Maryland 20871. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Peace Lutheran Church on State Highway 183, near Bessie, Oklahoma.

Cecil Holley was born on April 30, 1949, to Orman Ellsworth and Nellie Frances Holley. He went to his heavenly home on March 16, 2017. Cecil spent most of his years growing up around the Cheyenne area. He was drafted in March, 1969, and sent to Viet Nam. After serving a year there he got out of the Army, until 1974. Cecil rejoined the Army and stayed for 24 years, retiring on January 1, 1993. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Burns Flat. Cecil was a very caring, loving husband to Linda, and also to all of his children, Michael, Tim, Richard, Angela, and John. He was preceded in death by his mother, Nellie Frances; his Dad, Orman Ellsworth; four brothers, Roy, Bobby, Kenneth, David; and one son, John. Cecil is survived by his wife, Linda, of the home; three sons, Michael of Clinton, Oklahoma, Tim and Deanna of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Richard of North Bend, Washington; one daughter, Angela, and son, Jacob of Burns Flat; brothers, Don Holley of Lawton, Oklahoma, and Jack Holley and wife, Sandy of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a sister, Lois Brooks of Salamanca, New York; 13 grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends. Services will be held Friday, March 24, 2017, at 12:00 p.m., at Whinery-Huddleston Chapel, Lawton, Oklahoma. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m., at the Ft. Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, under the direction of Whinery-Savage Funeral Service. Condolences may be made Paid for by Steve McLauglin • 1015 Congress, Cordell, OK online at www.whineryfs.com.

Bobbie Viola (Meadows) Meade, 102, a resident of the Cordell Christian Home since early 2009, went to be with the Lord Thursday, March 16, 2017. Bobbie was born on a farm nine miles northwest of McAlester, Oklahoma, on August 20, 1914, to Bert Andrew Meadows and Willie Mae (Self) Meadows. Bobbie and her family moved to Sentinel, Oklahoma, when she was about ten years old. She attended and graduated from Port School. Bobbie married Howard Emanuel Meade on February 18, 1948. Howard served in the U.S. Navy from May 1, 1940, to February 28, 1948. Bobbie was very active in many areas including writing letters to her senators, representatives and even the President, on many issues she thought to be important, such as Social Security and Alzheimer's. She earned certificates in "Effective Speaking and Human Relations," as well as a certificate of appreciation for "Devoted and Invaluable Services" to an Alzheimer Care Center. Bobbie was a member of the National Library of Poetry, where she won several awards and mentions for her poetry. She also taught herself how to paint, accomplishing everything from a self portrait to landscapes, as well as still life painting. Bobbie had no children, but had a beloved cat named SnowCone. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, B.C. Meadows and Bill Meadows; and two sisters, Lita Maude Jones and Dixie Opal Drake. Bobbie is survived by four nephews, Charles Meadows and wife, Linda of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Dirk Meadows and wife, Robin of Edmond, Oklahoma, Randy Meadows and wife, Shawn of McKinney, Texas, and Rick Meadows and wife, Debbie of Sentinel, Oklahoma; and many great nieces and nephews. A graveside service took place at 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at Rose Hill Burial Park, 6001 N.W. Grand Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Cordell, Oklahoma.

Charles Oliver Brown died Wednesday, March 15, 2017. He was born February 2, 1938, in Collinsville, Missouri to Leonard and Virginia (Phillips) Brown. Charlie was raised in a large family of 13 siblings in the coal mining region of Missouri. He went to work in the coal mines at the age of 14 as a mule handler. In the early 1950s, he ventured to California, where he had an uncle, and went to work as a long haul trucker. Charlie moved to Cordell in the early 1990s and marride Margaret Wren on May 3, 1998, in Cordell, Oklahoma. He had worked for several years at Bar S, in Clinton, as a night security watchman and at the Bessie Co-Op. Everyone will always remember Charlie and his long association with Cordell TV and Appliance. Charlie was an avid fisherman and one of his favorite things to do was watch old westerns on television over and over and over again. Most of all, Charlie enjoyed visiting with people he came in contact with. If you asked Charlie how his day was going, be prepared to stay and listen, because he was going to tell you. Charlie is survived by a son, Charles Edward and wife, Marcia Brown, granddaughter, Renee, grandson, Ian, and great-grandson, Eli, all of Angleton, Texas; daughter, Debbie and husband, Burrus of El Cojon, California; granddaughters, Joann Bradford, Jennifer Holdan, and Michell Burrus; grandson, Michall; great-grandchildren, Nicole, Alisha, C.J., Gabbi, Bella, Alysh, Mason, Taylor, Sebastion, and Matison; brothers, George Brown of Des Moines, Iowa, Ralph Brown of Leon, Iowa, Kenneth Brown of Cabot, Arkansas, Gary Brown of Lineville, Iowa, John Brown of Lineville, Iowa, Leonard Brown of Lineville, Iowa, and Michael Brown of Trenton, Missouri; and sisters, Hazel Hayes of Dubuque, Iowa, Georgeann Brown of Trenton, Missouri, Mary Ellen Brown of Des Moines, Iowa, and Nellie Brown of Trenton Missouri. He was preceded in death by farther Leonard Ferrel Brown; mother, Virginia (Phillips) Brown; sister Coleen Brown Lawson; and first wife Caroline. Memorial services were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the New Beginnings Assembly, with Rev. Mike Southerland officiating.

Wanda Haney, age 89, of Plano, Texas, passed away on March 14, 2017. She was born and raised in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. Services were held last week in Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, Dallas, Texas, and burial was held in North Burns Cemetery on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Those wishing to view the full obituary or sign the online guestbook may visit www.teddickeywestfuneral.com.

Harvey Joe Mitchell was born in Hobart, Oklahoma, on October 29, 1948, to A.B. and Bettie Joe (Duty) Wright, and passed away in Hobart, Oklahoma, on March 18, 2017.

Following A.B.'s death in 1951, Bettie married Charles Elbert Mitchell. Joe and his brother, Anthony (Tony) George, were adopted by Mr. Mitchell, in 1953.

Joe's sister, Mary Paul, was born the following year in 1954.

Joe attended Cordell public schools beginning in the first grade. He was elected President of the Student Council and named Mr. CHS in recognition of his leadership and popularity.

Following graduation from high school, in 1966, Joe attended Southwestern State College (now SWOSU) in Weatherford. While there he was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.

Joe had a keen interest in governmental affairs. One year, he went door to door as a volunteer in an effort to raise Oklahoma school teacher's income.

Joe married Susie Kilpatrick in December, 1969, and served his country as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard.

He went to work for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Weatherford, and following his divorce from Susie, he moved to San Francisco and worked for the phone company there.

He married Paige Price, on September 5, 1983, and they later celebrated the birth of their son, Anthony Mitchell.

Joe and Paige later divorced and Joe returned to SWOSU where he graduated with honors, obtaining his degree in accounting.

He then started a new career managing various casinos in California. Joe left California to manage a casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico, then three years later he moved back to Hobart, and managed the Fort Apache Casino in Lawton, Oklahoma, until his failing health prohibited him from working.

Joe, throughout his life, earned a reputation as the person who stood up for the little guy.

In recent years, Joe's health continued to deteriorate but he never complained. Despite his physical limitations, Joe remained passionate about music, history, and his family.

He could always be engaged in a spirited discussion of current events.

Joe had a wonderful sense of humor, lived life to the fullest and would do anything possible to help his family, his friends, or anyone in need. He will be missed.

Joe's parents predeceased him.

He is survived by his son, Charles Anthony Mitchell, and granddaughter, Moxie Lucille Mitchell, both of Santa Rose, California; brother, Anthony George Mitchell of Hobart; sister, Mary Paul Mitchell of Fresno, California; nieces, Terri Dawn Lowe and husband, Jay C. of Pensacola, Florida, Myki jan Keffury and husband, Tom of Arroyo Grande, California, and Audra Lee Jones of Fresno, California; nephew, Monte Jai Mitchell of Grover Beach, California; great nieces, Breonna Marie Lowe, Maggi Jo Keffury, and Jayci Stratton Keffury; great nephews, Samuel Dalton Lowe, Robert "Bobby" Thomas Carter, Kylan Jai Mitchell, and Ashton Charles Morales; and a greatgreat nephew, Joshua Thomas Keffury.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 8, 2017, at the Gotebo Cemetery, Gotebo, Oklahoma.

Services are under the direction of Ray and Martha's Funeral Home, Hobart, Oklahoma.

Funeral services for Henry Charles Horn, 72, of Cordell Oklahoma, will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Herold Mennonite Church in Bessie, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at the Herold Mennonite Cemetery, in Bessie. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 6, 2017, at Ray & Martha’s Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Ray & Martha’s Funeral Home of Cordell, Oklahoma.

Harvey Joe Mitchell was born in Hobart, Oklahoma on October 29th, 1948 to A.B. and Bettie Joe (Duty) Wright and passed away in Hobart, Oklahoma on March 18, 2017. Following A.B.'s death in 1951, Bettie married Charles Elbert Mitchell. Joe and his brother, Anthony (Tony) George, were adopted by Mr. Mitchell in 1953. Joe's sister, Mary Paul, was born the following year in 1954. Joe attended Cordell public schools beginning in the first grade. He was elected President of the Student Council and named Mr. CHS in recognition of his leadership and popularity. Following graduation from high school, in 1966, Joe attended Southwestern State College (now SWOSU) in Weatherford. While there he was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. Joe had a keen interest in governmental affairs. One year, he went door to door as a volunteer in an effort to raise Oklahoma school teachers' income. Joe married Susie Kilpatrick in December 1969 and served is country as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard. Joe began to work for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Weatherford and following his divorce from Susie, he moved to San Francisco and worked for the phone company there. He married Paige Price. On September 5, 1983, they celebrated the birth of their son, Charles Anthony Mitchell. Joe and Paige later divorced and Joe returned to SWOSU where he graduated with honors, obtaining his degree in accounting. Joe then started a new career managing various casinos in California. He left California to manage a casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico, then three years later he moved back to Hobart and managed the Fort Apache Casino in Lawton, Oklahoma until his failing health prohibited him from working. Joe, throughout his life, earned a reputation as the person who stood up for the little guy. In recent years, Joe's health continued to deteriorate but he never complained. Despite his physical limitations, Joe remained passionate about music, history and his family. He could always be engaged in a spirited discussion of current events.

Joe had a wonderful sense of humor, lived life to the fullest and would do anything possible to help his family, his friends or anyone in need. He will be missed.

Joe's parents predeceased him. He is survived by his son, Charles Anthony Mitchell, and granddaughter, Moxie Lucille Mitchell, both of Santa Rose, California, brother Anthony George Mitchell of Hobart, sister Mary Paul Mitchell of Fresno, California, nieces Terri Dawn Lowe and husband Jay C. of Pensacola, Florida, Myki Jan Keffury and husband Tom of Arroyo Grande, California and Audra Lee Jones of Fresno, California, nephew Monte Jai Mitchell of Grover Beach, California, great nieces Breonna Marie Lowe, Maggi Jo Keffury and Jayci Stratton Keffury, and great nephews Samuel Dalton Lowe, Robert "Bobby" Thomas Carter, Kylan Jai Mitchell and Ashton Charles Morales and a great ~ great nephew Joshua Thomas Keffury.

Graveside Service: 10:00 a.m., Saturday April 8, 2017 Gotebo Cemetery Gotebo, Oklahoma Celebration of life party will follow at Bedlam Bar & Grill, Hobart, Oklahoma Under the direction of Ray and Martha’s Funeral Home, Hobart, Oklahoma.

Funeral services for Lt. Colonel Harry Glasgow will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church in Cordell, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at the Lawnview Cemetery in Cordell. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 P.m., at Ray & Martha's Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Ray & Martha’s Funeral Home of Cordell, Oklahoma.

Harold Ray Rippy was born on May 26, 1929, in Madill, Oklahoma, to Laura Bell Lay and Harvey Rippy. He passed April 7, 2016, in Monroe, Oregon.

His Mom divorced when Harold was five and they moved to Cordell when he was six. He was an only child.

Harold attended Cordell schools and a few years in middle school in Hobart. He was from the class of 1947.

Harold then enlisted in the Army Air Corp in May of 1946, when he was just 17 years old. He stayed 21 years in the US Air Force, with service from World War ll through Vietnam.

Harold was a meteorologist and retired a Captain in 1967. He was a business owner in Monterey, Californai, when he met his second wife, Teri Webster.

They enjoyed 38 years together; many of them traveling the lower 48 states in RVs and in later years going on cruises. He and Teri moved to Oregon, in 1988, and lived there until his death, at home, just a month shy of turning 87.

Harold is survived by his wife, Teri; son, Victor Rippy and wife, Celicia; daughter, Phyllis Galvan; grandson, Aroldo Arroyo; granddaughter, Justina Galvan; and step-granddaughters, Noel and Christy.

He was predeceased by mother, Laura; step-dad, Les McDonald; son, Allen Rippy; son, Stanley Rippy; and first wife, Vesta Gwen Williams Rippy.

Graveside services for Harold will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, April 13, 2017, at Lawnview Cemetery, Cordell, Oklahoma, under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Cordell.

Funeral Services for Ron Hughes, 51, Burns Flat-Dill City School Superintendent will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 5, 2017, in the Burns Flat School Gymnasium, officiated by Brother Gary Baird.

Burial will follow in the Sayre Doxey Cemetery in Sayre, Oklahoma, under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home in Clinton.

Rondal “Ron” G. Hughes was born November 13, 1965, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Richard D. and Bonnie Sue (Rutledge) Hughes, and passed away Sunday, April 2, 2017, in the Grace Living Center in Clinton, Oklahoma.

Ron was raised in Alex, Oklahoma, where he also graduated from high school in 1984. He continued his education at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha, receiving his bachelor’s degree.

Ron began his teaching and coaching career in Chickasha and also taught school and coached in Merritt, Elk City, and Sperry.

He returned back to Southwestern Oklahoma State University and earned his Master’s in Education in 2005.

Ron moved to Burns Flat in the 2005/06 school year as principal, and later became superintendent of the school system until the present.

He was married to Kandii Sanders on March 7, 1992, in Altus, Oklahoma. They have had two beautiful daughters and reside in Burns Flat.

Ron was preceded in death by his mother, Sue Hughes, and father-in-law, Venoy Sanders.

He was a member of the Sayre First Baptist Church and had also been attending the Burns Flat First Baptist Church.

Ron was also a member and served on the appeals board of the OSSAA, Southwest School officials, OSSBA, Carol Maynard Scholarship Board, Carla Black Scholarship Board, Burns Flat-Dill City Education Foundation, and the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators.

He loved the outdoors, hunting, and fishing; he was an avid sports fan, and coached many sporting activities, with football being his favorite.

Ron is survived by his wife, Kandii; two daughters, Jordan and Lorsa, all of the home; his father, Richard Hughes and his wife, Betty of Hammon; brother, Rick Hughes and wife, Melea of Tuttle; half sister, Jan McKinney; mother-in-law, Gail Skipworth and husband, J.W. of Elk City, Oklahoma; brother-in-law, Chris Sanders and wife, Amy of Sentinel; sister-in-law, Jennifer Cleveland and husband, Jason of Reno, Nevada; nieces and nephews, Hunter, Rylee, Mavrick, Kristen, Allison, Jadyn, and Cooper; as well as numerous other family members and friends.

The family has suggested those wanting to give a memorial contribution may do so to the Burns Flat-Dill City Education Foundation, P.O. Box 52, Burns Flat, Oklahoma 73624. 

Roberta (Bobbie) Knie, a native of Cordell and an internationally acclaimed dramatic soprano, who sang leading roles on the great stages of Europe and South America as well as at the Metropolitan Opera, died of cancer on March 16, 2017, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Bobbie, the second daughter of Robert G. and Nora Standerfer Knie, was born in Cordell on March 13, 1938. She went to Jefferson Grade School, Cordell Junior High and High School, and graduated from CHS in 1956. While Bobbie enjoyed school and excelled in all her classes, she enjoyed playing clarinet in the Junior High Band, too, and riding horseback in the red hills, and singing in the choir at the First Baptist Church. It was not until 1953, her sophomore year, when Pattie Boothe Arnold became Cordell’s Junior High and High School music teacher, that Bobbie began to take a more serious interest in music. She began practicing more often and more attentively and was soon earning Superior ratings in anything related to music, instrumental or vocal, in regional and state competitions. By her junior year she was singing solos in church and was a member of the competitionwinning Girls Trio, Girls Glee Club, and Mixed Chorus. During her senior year, after some private lessons with her favorite teacher, Bobbie auditioned for and was selected to sing with the National Chorus in St. Louis, the highest honor for a high school vocalist. It was Pattie Boothe Arnold who recognized that Bobbie had a truly exceptional voice and great potential if she chose to develop her formidable natural gifts. With her encouragement, Bobbie declared music as her major soon after entering OU in the fall of 1956. There she studied music theory with Dr. Gail deStwolinski and voice with Elizabeth Parham and the great British soprano, Dame Eva Turner. After graduating from OU in 1960, Bobbie sailed for England, where she continued her studies with Dame Eva at London’s Royal Academy of Music, and made the commitment to pursue an extremely demanding professional career. From 1964 to 1974, nurtured by European musicians, coaches, and conductors with direct links to the mainstream musical past, she began building her extensive repertoire and her reputation in the opera houses of Hagen, Freiburg, and Graz. She made her professional debut in Hagen in 1964, as Elizabeth in “Tannhauser” and from 1971-1974 was a frequent guest artist at the Vienna State Opera as Tosca and as a highly acclaimed Salome, a role she subsequently performed in Vienna, Munich, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Brussels, Pittsburg, Dallas, and New Orleans. Opera News, reporting on her performance as Salome said: “Her singing was of a splendor, a fascination, a freshness and youthfulness which lacks contemporary parallel.” In 1974, Bobbie made her debut in Bayreuth as Brunnhilde in Die Walkure, a performance that was greeted with outstanding reviews, and one that she repeated with equal success in Paris, San Francisco, and Munich. Bobbie performed her first Tristan and Isolde in a Wieland Wagner production in Ravenna in 1975. It was as Isolde that she established her reputation as, quite possibly, the leading Wagnerian soprano of her generation. She performed that role more than sixty times and it was as Isolde with Jon Vickers, the acknowledged leading Tristan of his time, that she made her debuts with the Dallas Opera, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Chicago Lyric Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company. In 1976, Bobbie made her first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as Chrysothemis in Strauss’ Elektra, a performance a critic described as “a first class debut … a delight to hear exactly this kind of voice at the Met.” In 1978, following a bravura performance of Tristan and Isolde at the Kennedy Center, the Washington Post critic wrote: “Roberta Knie may today be the foremost soprano for the large Wagner roles. She is the most impressive artist to appear in this repertoire for years.” In 1980, Bobbie returned to the Met as Isolde. In the same year she was named “Oklahoma’s Ambassador of Goodwill” for representing her native state “with distinction.” When a New York opera news interviewer asked Roberta Knie if she didn’t think it odd and highly unlikely that a little girl from a small town in western Oklahoma would be singing the leading soprano role at the Metropolitan Opera, Bobbie replied: “Not at all. We weren’t taught to think small. I’m reasonably certain that Cordell has more opera singers per capita than New York City.” Sadly, it was not long afterward that a series of health problems, including viral pneumonia, began to interfere with the quality of her performances and dim the promise and prospect of a long and illustrious career. While in Austria preparing for a demanding role as Strauss’ Elektra and looking forward to a performance that would reassure her and the opera world that she was once again in excellent health and voice, she was diagnosed with a weakened retina in one eye and a detaching retina in the other and was told that if she continued singing, she was at grave risk of losing her sight entirely. Although contemplating the unanticipated end to her career as a performer was initially devastating, Bobbie chose sight, and, after 1987, devoted her energy, experience, and performance expertise to teaching, coaching, and counseling young singers, a decision that gave her many years of joy in spite of some increasingly serious health problems. From 1992 until 1995, she was Guest Professor at the Hochschule fur Musik in Graz, Austria, and, in recent years, an Artist-in-Residence at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia. While she enjoyed other aspects of her second act profession such as judging vocal competitions and conducting master classes, Bobbie’s greatest delight was always in finding and nurturing that special spark that a few aspiring young opera singers have and mentoring them through all the steps required to reach their professional debuts. With characteristic commitment and determination, that’s what she was doing until two weeks prior to her death. In 1982, Roberta Knie of Cordell, Oklahoma, as she was and is listed in opera publications all over the world, was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the most prestigious honor the state can confer. She is listed in Who’s Who in Opera (First Edition), Who’s Who in America (Forty-first Edition) and Who’s Who in the World (Sixth Edition). Roberta can be seen on video and DVD in a release by Video Artists International of the Canadian Opera production of extended excerpts from Tristan und Isolde with Jon Vickers and Roberta Knie in the title roles. She can be heard on a relatively recently released CD with Maestro Lovro von Matacic in an all Wagner program singing the “Liebestod” from Tristan und Isolde and “Starke Schelte” from Gotterdammerung. Some of her costumes and other memorabilia from her career are on display in the Washita County Museum, a place she appeared frequently when she was a child and it was the Carnegie Library, the temple of the arts in her beloved hometown. Bobbie is survived by her friend and companion of 24 years, Deborah Karner, of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania; her sister, Rosemary and brother-in-law, Bob Spalding of Cordell; nephews, Greg Spalding and his wife, Terri, and their sons, Christopher, David and his wife, Courtney, Jonathan, and Daniel Spalding, all of Coppell, Texas; and Wes Spalding and his wife, Kristy, and their daughters, Emily and Audrey Spalding of Cordell. A Memorial Service and Reception will be held in Philadelphia from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., on April 27, at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.

Eva Ruth Curtis was born March 28, 1928, in Sentinel, Oklahoma, to John and Cuba (Morrell) Salmon. She passed from this life on Friday morning, April 7, 2017. Eva Ruth attended Port School, graduating with the class of 1946. She and Jack Curtis were married August 3, 1946, in Wheeler, Texas. To this union one son was born, Greg Curtis. Eva Ruth spent her entire life in the communities of Sentinel, Retrop, and Port. She loved being a wife, mother and grandmother. Eva Ruth enjoyed sewing ––– Eva Ruth Curtis ––– and visiting with friends and family, especially her grandchild. She was a member of the Sentinel United Methodist Church. Eva Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Curtis; parents, John and Cuba Salmon; five brothers, Jasper, Sam, Bill, Royal and Robert; and six sisters, Manila, Edna, Norma, Murray, Nadine, and Dosia. She is survived by her son, Greg and wife, Reita Curtis of Sentinel, Oklahoma; grandson, Mark and wife, Tina Curtis of Norman, Oklahoma; two great-grandsons, Harper and Beckam Curtis of Norman, Oklahoma; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other dear family and friends. Graveside services for Eva Ruth Curtis were held on Monday, April 10, 2017, 1:30 p.m., at Sentinel Cemetery, Sentinel, Oklahoma, with Charles Sappington officiating. Services were under the direction of Ray and Martha's Funeral Home of Sentinel, Oklahoma.

Henry Charles Horn, age 72 of Cordell, Oklahoma, passed away on April 3, 2017, in his home. He was born on November 25, 1944, in Cordell, to Henry Preacher and Bonnie Mae (Bookout) Horn. Charles married Paula Mason on January 26, 1968, at the Baptist Church in El Reno, Oklahoma. He worked as a farmer selling and transporting hay, selling organic eggs at the farmer's market, working with the rural water system, and even brought the first Angora goats to Oklahoma. Charles was a life long member of the Herold Mennonite Church in Bessie, Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Paula Horn of the home; daughter, Christie Parks and husband, David of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma; sons, Henry Kevin Horn of Cordell, and Chad Horn and wife, Nicole of Cordell; grandchildren, Ashleigh Horn, Henry Austin Horn, Meagan Rogers and husband, Troy, Destiny Ezell and husband, Randall, and Kassidy Parks; great-grandchildren, Jacy and Jagger Rogers; sisters, Aleene Joyce Darnell of Maryland, and Phyllis Wiersig and husband, David of Edmond, Oklahoma; along with a host of nieces, nephews, friends and other family. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Henry in 1992, and Bonnie in 2016; and brother-in-law, Raymond Darnell in 2013. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Tipton Children's Home (1000 N. Broadway Ave, Tipton, Oklahoma 73570). Visitation was held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2017. Services for Charles were held on Friday, April 7, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., at the Herold Mennonite Church in Bessie. Interment followed at the church cemetery. Services were under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Cordell.

Perry Marvis Owens, 67, died Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas.

He was born August 12, 1949, in Hobbs, New Mexico, the son of J.W. & Willie Mae (Sutton) Owens.

As a child, Perry moved with his family to Sayre, Oklahoma. He attended school in Sayre and graduated from high school in Sayre, in 1967.

He then served in the United States Army and later with the Navy SeaBee’s.

Perry was first married to Vivian Hornsby, in 1971, in Sayre, Oklahoma.

He later married Cecelia Short in Sayre, Oklahoma. Perry later married Renda Jones in Hobbs, New Mexico.

He worked as Lt. Sheriff for ten years for the Beckham County Sheriff’s Department. Perry then worked as a sheriff deputy for the Washita County Sheriff’s Department.

He enjoyed watching television and solving crossword puzzles.

Perry’s survivors include five children, Monica Dyer of Scott City, Kansas, Nathan T. Owens of Scott City, Kansas, David W. (Jacklyn) Owens of Mustang, Oklahoma, DeeDee Day of Elk City, Oklahoma, and Colton Owens of Lovington, New Mexico; two brothers, Loy Owens of Carlsbad, New Mexico and Richard Owens of Amarillo, Texas; a sister Juretta Pope of Conroe, Texas; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Perry was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Perry M. Owens, Jr.; and a sister, Linda Burthalter.

A private family interment will take place at a later date, in Oklahoma. There will be no calling hours. The family request memorials given to the Perry Owens Memorials Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City. Condolences may be given at garnandfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements by: Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N. 7th St., Garden City, Kansas 67846

Funeral services for Mary Francis Leppke, 88 year-old Weatherford, Oklahoma resident, were held Friday, April 14, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., at the Calvary Baptist Church in Corn, Oklahoma, with Bob Burkle and Earl Stephenson officiating.

Burial followed in the Corn Mennonite Brethren Cemetery, under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home.

Mary was born November 21, 1928, in Cordell, Oklahoma, to Frank J. and Augusta (Krewall) Klaassen and passed away Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Corn Heritage Village in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

She was raised north of Corn and attended school at Springfield Rural School and Corn High School.

On September 6, 1945, she married Arthur William “Bill” Leppke at her parents’ home north of Corn. After the wedding Bill and Mary made their home south of Corn.

Mary worked for 23 years at Tena’s Coffee Shop in Corn, and 14 years at Allen Pharmacy in Weatherford, where she retired in 1995.

Bill and Mary lived on the farm south of Corn for 12 years, before moving into town for 24 years. They moved to Weatherford in 1981, to be closer to their daughters.

Mary was an avid Thunder fan, and she enjoyed camping, playing dominoes and card games, going to Gospel singing events, and spending time with family and friends.

Memorials may be made to the Weatherford Pioneer Center.

Mary is survived by two daughters, Judy Hartsell and Sandra Miller of Weatherford, Oklahoma; one brother, Bob Klaassen and wife, Betty Ann of Weatherford, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, June Klaassen of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; brother-in-law, Steve Owen of Clovis, New Mexico; five grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Roy, Orville, and Denver; one sister, Beatrice Owen; two sons-in-law, Rusty Hartsell and Vernon Miller; and a granddaughter, Jennie Miller Morgan.

Frances Laverne Brown Zisman was born April 3, 1938, in Sterling, Oklahoma.

She graduated from Walters High School in 1956. Frances attended OCU from 1956- 1957, where she was a Surrey Singer and a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority.

In 1962, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree of Education from Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Oklahoma, followed by a Master's Degree of Education from Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma, in 1970.

Frances married Allen Lamar Zisman on February 15, 1958, in Fletcher, Oklahoma. Mrs. Zisman taught at many Oklahoma schools including Bessie, Cordell, Frederick, Roosevelt, and Walters.

She retired from public school teaching in 1997. Mrs. Zisman enjoyed teaching reading and literature, and loved the antics and stories of her middle schoolers.

She was a member of the Oklahoma Retired Teachers' Associate and a delegate to the Association of South Central Oklahoma Government.

Mrs. Zisman was an active member of the Crown Heights United Methodist Church and sang alto in church choirs for years. She thoroughly enjoyed singing and dancing.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Allen L. Zisman; her father, Rev. Lawrence J. Brown; her mother, Edna M. Brown; and her sister, Mary Spears.

She is survived by daughter, Julie Williams and her husband, Scott of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; son, Stan Zisman and his wife, Whitney Zisman of Houston, Texas; her fall crop, Jan Zisman and husband, A. Stewart MacInnes of Ogden, Utah; sisters, Helen Vodicka and Sybil Eliasen of Dallas, Texas; brother, Paul Brown of Garland, Texas; and ten grandchildren, Blake Zisman, Ryan Zisman, Olivia Zisman, Reagan Clark, Robert Clark, Mitchel Williams, Kate Williams, A. Maximus Mac- Innes, Samuel MacInnes, and Camden MacInnes.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations in honor of Frances and her family to the Allen and Frances Zisman Excellence in Chemistry Endowed Scholarship Fund at Cameron University, 2800 W. Gore Blvd., Lawton, Oklahoma 73505.

Bonnie Belle Schmidt passed from this life on April 19, 2017, in Midwest City at the age of 84.

Bonnie grew up southeast of Hobart and attended Roosevelt School and was a graduate, with the class of 1952. She married her long time love Raymond Schmidt on June 15, 1952.

She worked for many years as a home health aide caring for many people and eventually retired from the Cordell Hospital as a dietician.

Bonnie was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Cordell.

She like to sew, loved to camp, and an avid animal lover, but especially her beloved Pomeranians, which she raised many litters.

Bonnie is survived by her daughter, Theresa Schmidt of Oklahoma City; brother, Jimmy Eberhart of Texas; brother- in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Elma Schmidt of Piedmont, Oklahoma; one grandchild, Addison Smith of Yukon, Oklahoma; many nieces and nephews; special friend, Alice Peet, who was there for Bonnie anytime; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond in 2003; son, Anthony Schmidt in 2005; and brothers, Walter Jr. and Cecil Eberhart.

The family would like to thank Encompass Home Health Caregivers for the special care given to Bonnie.

Services for Bonnie were held Monday, 10:00 a.m., April 24, 2017, at the First Baptist Church in Cordell, with Pastor Terrell Romberg officiating.

Arrangements were entrusted to Peoples Cooperative Funeral Home located at 1400 West Main, Lone Wolf, 580- 846-9018.

On-line condolences can be made by visiting www.peoplescooperativefuneralhome.com.

Irvin Wilson Lemasters, Jr., age 77 of Elk City, Oklahoma, passed away April 8, 2017.

He was born on November 21, 1939, in Dill City, Oklahoma, to Irvin Wilson, Sr. and Ina Mary (Kimray) Lemasters.

Irvin served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965, and served as a member of the 165th Military Police Company, in Germany.

He worked to manufacture tires with Firestone Tire in Oklahoma City, and later retired from Firestone.

Irvin is survived by his nephews, Lanny Bright and wife, Kathy of Fairfield, California, and Don Kirkland and wife, Laurel of Colorado Springs, Colorado; along with many other relatives, classmates and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation for Irvin was held on Saturday, April 15, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Ray & Martha's Funeral Home in Cordell.

Graveside services for Irvin were held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, April 17, 2017, at Lawnview Cemetery, Cordell, Oklahoma, with Mr. Carl Thionnet, a former classmate, officiating.

Services were under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Cordell, Oklahoma.

Bennie Ray Frazier was born on March 27, 1931, in Oklahoma, and passed away January 23, 2017, at the age of 85, in Colorado Springs.

Bennie met Barbara, his wife of 62 years, in High School in Cordell, Oklahoma, and they married shortly after.

They moved to California, where they raised their four children Pamela, Paula, John, and Debbie.

Bennie worked as a loyal employee for McDonald Douglas/Boeing building airplanes for over 35 years.

He loved spending time with and spoiling his dog Lola, spending time with his family, and watching any Oklahoma team and the Broncos.

Through the television set, Bennie helped Coach Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos to a world championship in 2015.

He was preceeded in death by his wife, Barbara and daughter, Pamela.

Bennie is survived by sister, Faye; daughter, Paula and husband, Henry; son, John and wife, Nancy; daughter, Debbie and husband, Chris; children of Pamela: Gregory and Mathew; and many loving grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, other relatives and friends.

A graveside service celebrating Bennie and Barbara's lives will be held on May 3, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. The location will be Lawnview Cemetery, Cordell, Oklahoma.

Services will be under the direction of Ray & Martha’s Funeral Home of Cordell.