Obituaries

Celebration of life services for Judy Sears will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 1:00pm at MMS-Payne Funeral Home Chapel. Judy passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023, she was 74.

On a cold winters night she was the first of 5 children born to Gene and Peggy Tucker in the small riverside town of Helena,...

Service for Maxine Early will be, 11:00 am on Saturday, December 2 at the Foyil Methodist Church, Foyil Oklahoma.

The daughter of O.M. and Elsie Patrick was born July 11, 1927 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. As she said, I was born "way out in the country". At the age of 10 the family moved to an area north of...

John Wilson Lamason, known affectionately to all as Wilson, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2023, in Claremore, OK. He was born on January 1, 1933, in Marysville, MO, to the late Evelyn Elizabeth Lamason and John T. Lamason. Wilson was a devoted family man, a skilled craftsman, and a decorated veteran whose...

Harvey Lee Hendrix was born in Claremore on March 5th, 1938. He was the son of Harve Hendrix and Prudence Mae Epple. He and his brother Gene hunted and fished to help feed the family in some very lean times. He was popular in school and was on the football team at Claremore high School.
He met Treba Nell Tanner in...

Myrna Beth Young, a beloved mother, grandmother, and respected educator, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2023, in Claremore, OK. Born on September 4, 1938, in Kiowa, KS, to Charles and Lucille Hildebrand, Myrna was a beacon of kindness and love to all who knew her.
Beth was preceded in death by her husband,...

Funeral services for Ronald Gene "Ron" Sullivan will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Claremore First Baptist Church, followed by burial at Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends are invited to pay their respects at the funeral home on Wednesday, November 8, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family...

Gary Mills Johnson was born November 26, 1938, and passed away October 30, 2023 at 84 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mills and Nell Johnson, and his sister Linda Huey and brother Steve Johnson.
In 1954 his family moved to Pryor, Oklahoma where he graduated from Pryor High School. There he...

Ludmila Elliott Robson, wife, mother, and patron of the arts, passed from this life to the next on October 25, leaving behind friends, family, and a lifetime of good works.
Visitation is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Thursday, November 2, at MMS-Payne Funeral Home in Claremore, Oklahoma. A public graveside service will be...

Clifton Curtis McCoy unexpectedly left his earthly body for a glorified one in the presence of his Savior on Thursday morning, October 26, 2023 just 45 days shy of his 92nd birthday. Clifton C. McCoy, will be celebrated at Claremore Assembly of God Thursday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. Graveside service will follow at...

Carolyn Wetherington, age 76, a resident of Claremore, Oklahoma passed from this life Tuesday, October 24, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Carolyn was born to Walter D. and Helen Delores (Barnes) Jenkins in Tulsa. Carolyn married the love of her life, Dennis Wetherington, September 21, 1969, in Las Vegas, Nevada after a...

Estill "Ed" DeWitt Jr. was born December 8, 1934, to Estill and Lena DeWitt of Claremore, Oklahoma. He passed away at home on 10/4/23, at the age of 88, with family by his side. Although he was born at a hospital, his crib was the bottom dresser drawer at home. He is predeceased by his sister, Mina Lee Schmoll, and...

Bessie Bell (Smith) Hermon was born to Carl and Grace Smith on January 16, 1929 in Jetmore, Kansas and died October 8th, 2023 in Owasso, Oklahoma.

Bess grew up on a Kansas Hereford ranch with her parents, three brothers, and one sister. This is where she learned to sew, cook, keep house, milk cows, drive a...

Darlene Lea Buelke passed away on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at the home she shared with her daughter and son-in-law near Michigan Valley, Kansas.

Darlene was born on April 3, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio to James and Hazel (Syverson) Phipps. In 1947, her parents, in partnership with her Uncle Sy and Aunt Edith...

Funeral services for Katherine Roberts will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 11:00am at Claremore First Christian Church. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 1:00pm-8:00pm at the funeral home with family greeting friends from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Katherine Roberts was born on August 8, 1920, in Claremore,...

Cheryl Sue "Susie" Jones Harner passed from this life on July 7, 2023. Susie was born in Miami, Oklahoma to Harold and Bessie Jones on October 21st, 1946.

Susie is survived by her children, Geri Wheaton and husband, Rick of Broken Arrow, Stephanie Shults, of Broken Arrow, Michael Harner and wife, Andrea of Owasso....

A graveside memorial service to celebrate and remember the life of Donald Lee "Don" Thomas will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Wofford Cemetery in Catoosa. Don passed away on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at the Clarehouse in Tulsa. He was 88.

Born in Joplin, MO on December 13, 1934, Don was raised by...

Funeral service for Marilyn Ann Kirk will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, September 18, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Sunday, September 17, from 1pm-6pm.

Marilyn Ann Kirk passed away on September 9th, 2023, at the age of 79, with...

Harry Lee Copeland went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 11, 2023, at 4:28 PM. He was born on August 22, 1939, in Tulsa Oklahoma and was the only child of Dora Nadine Thatcher Copeland and Walter Lee (Jack) Copeland.
Harry met the love of his life, Mary Louise Bell, at Northeastern State College in...

A funeral service will be held on Friday September 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Inola First Baptist Church.

Visitation will be held at the Inola Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. to 7;00p.m. Family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday September 14, 2023.

Marlin Blaine Brown, beloved, selfless and...

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 8, 2023, at Claremore First Assembly of God. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM at MMS-Payne Funeral Home. Family will greet friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Billy Gene Tolbert passed away peacefully...

Diana Gay Litchfield, Claremore, Oklahoma resident received her heavenly reward on September 4, 2023 following a brave battle against cancer. Diana took her first breath of life on May 2, 1960, in California, a beautiful daughter to Dale and Mary Jane Litchfield both native Oklahomans who were visiting family in...

Elizabeth Ann Heiligman Rhine was born in Claremore, OK on February 7, 1954 to Richard and Billie Heiligman. While attending Claremore High School, she met the love of her life, Mark Rhine. They recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary.

Elizabeth attended Oklahoma State University as a...

Beverly J. Mitchell of Claremore, wife of Dr. Joseph E. Mitchell passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2023. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 26, at 2:00 pm at MMS-Payne Funeral Home Chapel, 102 W. 5th Street, Claremore, Oklahoma.

Margie Mae (Dudley) Wallis McGuire, 95, formerly of Talala, Oklahoma passed away peacefully on August 13, 2023. She was born October 15, 1927, in Garland, Arkansas and traveled to Oklahoma in a covered wagon when she was 3 months old. Margie was the daughter of Frank and Cordelia (Coble) Dudley. She was raised in...

Charles "Chuck" Delane Holler, 76, of Eufaula, passed away on July 12, 2023. He was born on April 23, 1947, in Shidler, Oklahoma, the son of Dallas Carl and Tressie Ilene (McClure) Holler. He graduated from Duncan High School in 1965 and then attended Cameron University. He married Kathleen Henneke and two children...

Norma Ruth (Rader) Parker, passed away on July 9, 2023, in her hometown of Claremore, Oklahoma. She was born on December 20, 1937, in Claremore to her loving parents, Jess Willard and Archie Elgin (Dennis) Rader.

Education held great importance to Norma. Growing up in Claremore, she attended Claremore schools...

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Lake Center Baptist Church.
Teresa (Turner) Dill, a spirited adventurer with a giving heart, passed away on July 14, 2023, at the age of 65. She was born to Carl and Janis Turner in Miami, Oklahoma, and grew up in Monkey Island, Oklahoma,...

Tobie Richard Titsworth, III of Claremore, Oklahoma went to be with Jesus on July 4, 2023. Tobie was surrounded by all of his loving family during his final earthly journey. Born to T. Richard and Edith (Stephens) Titsworth on May 13, 1945 in Henryetta, OK. Tobie graduated from Beggs High School before going on to...

Funeral service for Bobby Joe Holt will be held on July 12th, 2023 at 12:30 at Faith Holiness Tabernacle in Claremore, OK. Prior to the service there will be a visitation from 10:30 to 11:30, and lunch from 11:30 to 12:30.
Bobby Joe Holt departed his earthly life and went home to be with Jesus on July 1st,...

Carter Bergdorf, a beloved resident of Rogers, Arkansas, passed away on June 16th, 2023, at the age of 55. He touched the lives of many with his profound sense of wonder, compassion, and musical talent.
From a young age, Carter's passion for music was evident. He embarked on his musical journey at the tender age of...

Services to remember and celebrate the life of Leroy "Bud" Thompson will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 19, 2023 in the chapel at DeLozier Funeral Service. Burial will follow at Washington Cemetery in Claremore. Visitation will be 1-4, Sunday, at the funeral home, with family there to receive visitors. Leroy passed...

Freddie Dean Long was born October 29, 1933, in Bristow, Oklahoma, to Omar James Long and Carrie Arlena Haggard Long. He died Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 89 years. Fred completed his secondary education in Pryor, Oklahoma, and graduated with the Pryor High School Class of 1951. He...

Funeral service for Jerry Reynolds will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at the First Baptist Church of Verdigris. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1-8 p.m with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at MMS-Payne...

Donna Lynn Bruce passed away May 25th, 2023 after a short-lived battle with her health. She peacefully passed at the home of her niece and nephew-in-law, Chelsea and Derrick Heflin, in Tulsa, Ok.


Donna was born January 8th, 1957 in Claremore, Ok to Dr. William D. Munson and Shirley Ann Munson (Houx). Beloved best...

Evelyn Mae Hovis was born on October 15, 1924, in Coffeyville, Kansas. Her parents, C.W and Ella, later moved the family to Oklahoma City where C.W. worked in the oil drilling business. She was the youngest of 4 children. She graduated Foster High School as valedictorian and later earned a nursing degree at...

A celebration of life for Jerry Lingenfelter will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 10:00am at First Baptist Church, Claremore; burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Monday, May 8 from3pm-8pm, with family receiving visitors from 6pm-8pm.

Kind father, beloved husband, and...

William "Bill" E. Bassett, age 55, passed this life at his home with his sister Jana Bassett-Fulkerson by his side in Claremore, Oklahoma. He entered this world on February 11, 1968 in Portland, Maine, to his parents Malcolm O. Bassett and Janet M. (McCullum) Bassett. Bill lived many places including going from...

Linda Norene Baker was born on July 15, 1944 in Bethany, OK. She grew up with her siblings in Oklahoma and Arizona. Linda graduated from Vinita High School in 1962 after which she married her high school sweetheart Tom Lehman who preceded her in death in 2022. After a brief separation in this life, Linda was...

Tommy Wayne Dowell was born on August 17, 1939 to Josephine McKibben Dowell and Waymon Grady Dowell in Claremore, Oklahoma.
He passed on February 22, 2023 at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico from stroke related issues. He was 83 years old.
Claremore was his home for most of his...

Doris Colleen Guess Hancock

Doris Hancock of Claremore, Oklahoma passed away on March 6, 2023. The Iowa cornfields were where Doris Guess was raised by her family (Stutenberg) after her birth on August 30, 1928. Her strong work ethic began as she taught school in a one room schoolhouse. She told us that she was...

Patrick Lewis Arnold, born July 9th, 1979 to Stewart and Ann Arnold. He passed on March 21, 2023. He's survived by his mother and father, siblings, Megan Cottom and Tim Arnold, their families, his children, Mike and Stewart and their mother Kimberly. He is joining his grandparents, Theo and Toddy White, Lewis and...

Curtis L. Kirkley, 88, of Inman, KS, died March 13, 2023, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born March 1, 1935, in Claremore, to Clarence and Rena Mae (Gilbert) Kirkley.
Curtis graduated from Claremore High School in 1953 and Oklahoma State University at Okmulgee in 1957. He served in the United States...

The Lord called a loving Grandma home after more than 100 years on March 8, 2023. Mrs. Geraldine Hester Henson Birdsbill passed away at home in Albuquerque, NM from complications of old age and bone cancer. She was just two days shy of her 104th Birthday.

Geraldine was born at home in Claremore, OK on March 10,...

It is with great sadness that the family of Pamela (Pam) Louise McGuire announces her passing after a brief battle with cancer, on Tuesday 28 February 2023, at the age of 70 years.

Pam will be lovingly remembered by her children, James (Terrie), and Thomas (Emily). Pam will also be fondly remembered by her six...