Elzada Trawick

Notes:

Ken Harvey writes that she was known as Zadie or Elzadie. Her family moved to Coffeyville, Kansas, shortly before she was born.

It was Zadie's habit, as with all the pioneers, to conserve water. She used to wash the dishes and disposing of that water she would then rinse them with fresh water. This rinse water was retained for the next dish washing. When piped water was installed Zadie continued her old routine for the rest of her life to the amusement of all.

Obituaries (Both courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

Duncan Eagle
Jan. 25, 1951

Mrs. Gentry, Pioneer Resident, Dies Tuesday

One of the first settlers of what is now Stephens County, Mrs. J. E. Gentry, 705 North 2nd, died Tuesday in a Duncan hospital after suffering a stroke last week. Mrs. Gentry, 80, had lived in Alma since 1889. She moved to Duncan several years ago.

Survivors include five sons, Arthur, Lee (sic), Elmer, Delbert, all of Duncan, and Lloyd of Oklahoma City; three daughters, Ruth Gentry of the home address; Mrs. Bessie Payne, Oklahoma City, and Mrs. Tolbert Goodwin of Bell, Calif.; a brother George Trawick of 705 Pecan; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Rennels of Carpenter, and Mrs. Susie McMinn, Merkle, Texas; 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Daily Banner (Duncan Banner)
January 23, 1951

'89er Dies in Hospital Here

Mrs. J. E. Gentry of 704 North 2nd, died at 8 a.m. today in a Duncan hospital. She had suffered a stroke Friday. Mrs. Gentry 80, had been a resident of Alma and Duncan since 1889. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Rangeley-Holden Funeral Home. Survivors include 5 sons, 3 daughters, a brother, 2 sisters, 16 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. The sons are Arthur Gentry, 305 South 7th; Jess Gentry, 704 North 2nd; Elmer Gentry, 1116 Elm; Delbert Gentry, Duncan; Lloyd Gentry, Oklahoma City. The daughters are Ruth Gentry, home address; Mrs. Bessie Payne, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Tolbert Goodwin, Bell, Calif. The brother is George Trawick, 706 Pecan. The sisters are Mrs. Mary Rennels, Carpenter, Okla. and Mrs. Susie McMinn, Merkle, Tex.

Elzada married James Edwin Gentry about 1891. James (son of John Melton Gentry and Pamelia C Harpole) was born on 25 Mar 1869 in Johnson County, Texas; died on 16 Jan 1950 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Arthur was called "Al" by a lot of people in Duncan because of his initials A.L. Lyn Cordell writes that on his World War I Draft registration, his middle name is listed as Lemoyne. Arthur lived at 305 South 7th. in Duncan for years. He taught at the Arthur School, east of Duncan and then started work at the Duncan Post Office. He became Assistant Postmaster by his retirement. He didn't live for too long after his retirement and died just after they moved to a new house.

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: Arthur Lemoyne Gentry
City: Duncan
County: Stephens
State: Oklahoma
Birthplace: Oklahoma;United States of America
Birth Date: 03 Aug 1892
Race: Caucasian
Roll: 1852128
Occupation: Postal Clerk, Duncan Post Office
Nearest Relative: wife and one child
Height/Build: Tall/Slender
Color of Eyes/Hair: Brown/brown
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: Delbert Gentry
City: Arthur, OK
County: Stephens
State: Oklahoma
Birthplace: Alma, Oklahoma; United States of America
Birth Date: 05 Oct 1893
Race: Caucasian
Roll: 1852128
Occupation: Farming
Married or Single: Single
Height/Build: Tall/Slender
Color of Eyes/Hair: Gray/light
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Name: Jess Newton Gentry
City: Arthur
County: Stephens
State: Oklahoma
Birthplace: Alma, Oklahoma; United States of America
Birth Date: 07 Sep 1896
Roll: 1852128
Next of Kin: James Edwin Gentry, father. Arthur, OK
Height/Build: Tall/Medium
Color of Eyes/Hair: Brown/Brown




The Duncan Eagle-Jan. 5, 1961 Al Gentry Dies Here Monday

A familiar face will be missing from the scene at the Duncan Post Office following the death of assistant Postmaster Arthur L. (Al) Gentry, 305 South 7th, early Monday morning in a local hospital. Death came following two heart attacks last week. He suffered his first attack early Saturday morning after reporting to work on his 46th anniversary of employment with the Post Office Department. His condition became critical after a second attack Saturday afternoon. The service was held Wednesday at the First Christian Church. Burial was in the Duncan Cemetery by the Brooks Funeral Home. Gentry was born in Alma, August 3, 1892 and later taught school there. He served as assistant postmaster since January 12, 1957.Gentry held every office in the local Independent Order of Oddfellows Lodge and several appointive offices in the grand lodge. He also was an elder in the First Christian Church. Survivors are the widow, Myrtis Burch Gentry of the home, who he married April 15, 1913 at Velma. Also a son, James E. Gentry of Wichita Falls, Tex.; three daughters, Mrs. Robert P. Sanders of Pasadena, Tex.; Mrs Roy L. Winters of Ada and Mrs. James Eldridge of Ruston, La. Also four brothers, Loyd R. Gentry of Oklahoma City, Delbert Gentry, 516 Pine; Jess Gentry, 802 Sycamore, and Elmer Gentry, who lives on West Main in Duncan. Also two sisters, Mrs. Richard Meeks, 704 North 2nd, and Mrs. T. N. Goodwin of Belle, Calif.; 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

(Research):
Census Information:

1930 census
Stephens Co. OK 305 So. 7th
187/210
Gentry, A.L., MW 37 M 20 OK TX TN
Myrtis, wife FW 34 M 17 TX AR MS
James, son MW 14 S OK OK TX
Marie, dau. FW 12 S OK OK TX
Mary H., dau. FW 10 S OK OK TX
Dorothy, dau. FW 6 OK OK TX

Arthur married Myrtis Burch on 15 Apr 1913 in Velma, Stephens County, Oklahoma. Myrtis was born on 19 Jul 1895 in Garland, Dallas County, Texas; died on 22 Apr 1998 in Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1930 census Stephens Co. OK Parks Twp., ED 69-21 Sheet 3A 33/37 Gentry, Delbert, MW 36 M 31 OK TX KS
Eva, wife FW 22 M 17 TX TX TX
Harold, son MW 1 11/12 OK OK TX
Blue, Elizabeth, mother-in-law FW 54 Wd 16 TX TX TX

Duncan Banner-July 1974 Gentry Funeral Set Thursday--Bud Gentry, 80, 516 Pine, died at 6 p.m. Tuesday after a short illness. Service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Northside Church of Christ conducted by John Cannon. Burial will be in the Duncan Cemetery under direction of the Brooks Funeral Home. Gentry was born Oct. 5, 1893 at Alma. He was a life-long resident of Stephens County, moving to Duncan in 1950 from Velma. He married Eva Blue on March 5, 1925 in Duncan. He was a veteran of World War I and was a retired Halliburton Services employee. He was a member of the Northside Church of Christ. Survivors are his wife of the home; a son, Harold Gentry, 911 N. C.; two daughters, Mrs Mansel (Betty) Daniels, Duncan Rt. 3, and Mrs Glen (Lynell) Cordell, Duncan Rt. 4; a brother, Elmer Gentry, 2104 Birch; two sisters, Mrs. Tolbert Goodwin, Bell, Calif., and Mrs Richard Meeks, 704 N. 2nd, and six grandchildren.

(Courtesy Lynell Cordell)

Delbert married Eva Leona Blue on 5 Mar 1925 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. Eva was born on 30 Apr 1907 in Van Zandt County, Texas; died on 17 Aug 1993 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When Bessie's husband vanished in the late 1920's, she was left as the sole supporter of their five children. She worked as a housekeeper and seamstress for various families in Duncan, including the Ederington's, who owned the local service station, and for the parish priest. She also had to rely on her and Tom's family for financial assistance. One person who was especially helpful was Tom's first cousin, Annie O'Neill Sparks. Annie was able to help Bessie enroll her older children in nearby Catholic Boarding Academies. These academies had been set up to service the needs of impoverished Native American children. But because Tom was enrolled in the Chickasaw Nation, and Annie was well known in her parish, she was able to help make this happen. Patty Gay, the youngest child, remained with her mother. She was a sickly child, with a congenetial heart defect that led to her early death.

Lynn Moroney told Charles that although Bessie received help from some of her kin, at times was resentful of being the object of their charity. Lynn also related a story that her mother Fay had told her, concerning a different type of charity. Bessie and her children lived for a while in a duplex in Duncan. This duplex had adjoining closets which actually allowed you access to your neighbors living quarters. Bessie's neighbor explained it would be of great service to her if Bessie could "keep her beans from burning" while she was at work each day. She would have a large pot of beans or stew simmering on the stove all day long, and each day Bessie would take one of her children through the closet with her "to stir the beans." She would give the child a small sample of the hot food every time they helped her to stir them, and admonish them to keep this a secret from the other children. The neighbor was fully aware of this, and both she and Bessie kept up the pretense that it was Bessie helping her, and that it wasn't the other way around. The girls compared stories years later, and were each surprised they weren't the only one whose meager lunch was supplemented by hot beans or stew.

After her daughters were grown, Bessie lived with each of them for a time. Charles recalls when she lived with his family in Duncan. He recalls that she was shy to the point of being reculsive, and fearful of many things, most especially of inclement weather. Whenever a storm even threatened, Charles was dispatched to take her to the storm celler, and to remain with her until it was all clear. His younger brother Bill soon discovered Bessie's almost obsessive attention to detail, and took delight in secretly tormenting her. He would turn the telephone in the wrong direction, or slightly tilt pictures and doilies in their home. Bessie would immediately fix things back to way they should be. When she would walk through the room again a few hours later, she would be upset to find everything slightly out of order again, and worriedly set about put things back in order.

Charles Strong reports that as a youngster, he on occasion thought he heard a Payne relation let slip a reference to how "Uncle Tommy" was doing, and immediately change the subject when they realized he was in the room. He suspects that Tom may have been in touch with one of more of his relations back home. If this was so, however, no one shared this information with Bessie or her daughters.

Bessie had an ulcer on her leg that never healed, and after several unsuccessful skin grafts she eventually had to have it amputated, and was give a wooden prosthetic. Her grandchildren were both scared and fascinated by the leg, and hid it from Bessie occasionally to tease her. Charles heard that the leg infection started when she was a young girl, helping her parents in the fields. She would scratch mosquito bites until her legs were raw and ragged. One of the sores became infected with ragweed, and never properly healed. Charles is not sure as to the veracity of this story, and suspects that a genetic skin condition may have contributed to this. He and several of his children and grandchildren also suffer from severe skin allergies which may be related.

FUNERAL IS HELD FOR MRS. BESSIE PAYNE

A native of Alma, Mrs. Bessie Payne, 63, died in a local hospital early Saturday after a two week illness, following a stroke. She had lived in Oklahoma City the past 15 years. Funeral was in the Church of the Assumption Monday morning with Rev. Ferdinand Strasser officiating. Rosary was in Grantham Funeral Home Chapel Sunday afternoon. Burial was in Duncan Cemetery. Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Homer Strong, 1806 Birch, and Mrs. Fay Pierce and Mrs. Jim Hanna, both of Oklahoma City; a son, Thomas of Newport Beach, California; two sisters, Mrs. Richard Meeks, 704 No. 2nd, and Mrs. T.M. Goodwin, Belle, California. Five brothers, Al Gentry, 305 South 7th; Delbert Gentry, 516 Pine; Elmer Gentry, west of Duncan; Jess Gentry, Duncan and Lloyd Gentry, Oklahoma City and 13 grandchildren. Bearers were Lucien Haas, I. G. Imming, L.W. Jennings, Eldon Pickrell, Louis Scott and Robert Walter.

(Research):Census Information:

1930 census Stephens Co. OK
King Twp. Duncan city, ED 69-4 Sheet 19A 17 ? No. 7th - Hot
el 396/435C

Payne, Bessie B., FW 35 M 18 OK TX TX
Patty G., dau. FW 2 2/12 S OK OK OK

Bessie married Thomas Hamilton Payne, II on 27 Dec 1912 in Stephens County, Oklahoma. Thomas (son of Thomas Bunker Payne and Mary T. "Mollie" Hardwick) was born on 20 Mar 1893 in Marlow, Indian Territory; died on 12 Dec 1957 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon; was buried in Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jesse [Newton] Gentry (b.1896), was listed in the 1920 census as a boarder with Thomas H. and Bessie Payne, his elder sister, in Parks Township, Stephens Co. He was twenty three years old.

The Duncan Eagle-Nov. 11, 1963 Death Takes Jess Gentry Rites were pending today for 67-year-old Jess Newton Gentry, a retired farmer, who died Sunday night in his home at 407 1/2 Pine. Gentry, a native of Alma, died of an apparent heart attack. He was born Sept. 7, 1896 and had lived most of his life in Stephens County. Gentry left here in 1951 and lived in California until 1956. He was a member of the Church of Christ and a veteran of World War I. Brooks Funeral Home will announce arrangements. Survivors include three brothers, Elmer Gentry, West Main Street; Lloyd Gentry, Oklahoma City, and Delbert Gentry, 516 Pine. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Richard Meeks, 704 N. 2nd, and Mrs. T. N. Goodwin, Bell, Calif., and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Al Gentry, 1315 Beech.

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

Notes:

On her marriage she was described as "of Arthur, Oklahoma." They were married by L. G. Maynard

Dera married Tolbert Newton Goodwin on 28 Dec 1920 in Stephens County, Oklahoma. Tolbert was born on 13 Sep 1897 in Indian Territory; died on 30 May 1972 in Bell, Los Angeles County, California; was buried in Rose Hills Memorial Park Cemetery, Whittier, Los Angeles County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On his marriage he was described as "of Arthur, Stephens Co., Oklahoma."

He loved music and played both the piano and the fiddle.

The Duncan Banner-Mar. 30, 1984 Elmer Fred Gentry, 82, 2104 Birch, died Friday, March 30, at Duncan Regional Hospital after a sudden illness. Service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Westside Church of Christ with Jon Hosch officiating. Burial will be in the Duncan Cemetery under the direction of the Don Grantham Funeral Home. Born Nov. 6, 1901, in Stephens County, Gentry was a longtime resident of Duncan. He was a farmer, worked at Tinker Air Force Base during World War II and retired from Ridley Packing in 1967. He had been an elder for the Westside Church of Christ for 31 years. Gentry married Hazel Truitt on Sept. 22, 1928. Survivors include his wife, Hazel of the home: a daughter, Juanell Leard of Oklahoma City; a son, Don Gentry of Phoenix; two sisters, Ruth Meeks of Duncan, and Dera Goodwin of California; and seven grandchildren. Bearers will be Alfred Lewis, Sam Stovall, Don Douglas, Charles Bently, Kenneth Nunley and Loyd Cowan. Honorary bearers will be the elders and deacons of the Westside Church of Christ.

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

(Research):Census Listings:

1930 census
Stephens Co. OK King Twp. Duncan city, ED 69-28 Sheet 10B 8
06 Cherry
253/259 Gentry, Elmer F., MW 28 M 26 OK OK OK
Hazel, wife FW 18 M 16 OK TX OK
Juanell L., dau. FW 9/12 S OK OK OK

Elmer married Hazel Truitt on 22 Sep 1928 in Stephens County, Oklahoma. Hazel was born on 14 Jul 1912 in Alma, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 4 Jan 1985 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lloyd was very interested in photography and took a lot of pictures. He had an early amateur movie camera. His daughter Pat sent a copy of some of these movies to Lynell Gentry.

His garage in Oklahoma City was full of ham radio equipment and electronics.

His niece, Anna Laura, also reported that he sang and played the guitar beautifully. She remembers him sitting on the porch at sundown, his music entrancing his young nieces and nephews. He was too shy to sing in public however.

The Daily Oklahoman-July 24, 1967 Lloyd Gentry Dies, Rites Are Tuesday Lloyd R. Gentry, 57, of 4605 NW 11th, husband of Mrs. Esther Gentry, cafeteria manager at The Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoman City Times, died Sunday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Smith & Kernke Funeral Home with burial pending. Gentry was born in Duncan and had lived in Oklahoma City for 25 years. He was an instrument specialist at Tinker Air Force Base and a member of Downtown Baptist Church. He was also music director for Southside Mission. Survivors include, in addition to his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Ann Lawson, of 4108 Nicklas; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Meeks, Duncan, and Mrs. Dera Goodwin, Bell, Calif., and two brothers, Delbert and Elmer, both of Duncan.

(Lloyd's daughter Pat gave her father's birth place as Amber, Grady Co., not Duncan as stated in the obituary.)

Lloyd married Esther Mae Ray on 22 Oct 1938 in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas. Esther was born on 24 Dec 1914 in Winder, Barrow County, Georgia; died on 3 Dec 1992 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the Mederian Nursing Home (1996), south of Duncan, Oklahoma.

The Duncan Banner-Mar. 29, 1998 Ruth C. Meeks Meridian -- Ruth C. Meeks, 85, of Meridian died Saturday, March 28, 1998, in a Meridian nursing home. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Duncan Cemetery with Ron Stough officiating under the direction of Carter-Smart Funeral Home. Mrs. Meeks was born April 29, 1912 in Alma to James E. and Zada (Trawick) Gentry. On April 7, 1951, she married Richard Meeks in Duncan. A lifelong resident of the Duncan area she was a member of Eastside Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband on May 30, 1993. Survivors include several nieces and nephews.

Ruth married Richard "Red" Meeks on 7 Apr 1951 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. Richard was born on 22 Nov 1913 in Oklahoma; died on 30 May 1993 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Duncan Eagle Thursday, November 29, 1935 James Gentry Will Head DeMolay Club-- James Gentry was elected master councilor of the Duncan DeMolay Chapter at the annual election of officers Tuesday night. Hudson Coombs was named senior councilor and Bill Robinson was elected to the junior councilorship. Two pledges, Alton Askins and Earl Fisher were given final initiation degrees. Other officers will be appointed soon.

James E. 'Jim' Gentry January 12, 2006

James E. (Jim) Gentry, 90, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, in Wichita Falls.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at First Christian Church of Wichita Falls with Dr. David Hartman officiating. Entombment will follow at the Crestview Memorial Park Mausoleum. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hampton Vaughan Crestview.

Jim was born on June 3, 1915, in Duncan, Okla., to Arthur and Myrtis Gentry. On Feb. 28, 1942, Jim married Alma Melissa Givens. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II in Europe. He continued his military service in the Army Reserve attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. He founded Jim Gentry Lumber Company in November 1965. He operated the business for 30 years before retiring in 1995. He served as President of the Lumberman's Association of Texas and also as President of Southwest Rotary receiving the Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of First Christian Church for 49 years and served as a Deacon and Chairman of the Property Department.

Survivors include his wife, Alma Gentry; sons, Jimmy Gentry and wife Sharon, Fred Gentry and wife Susie, and Danny Gentry all of Wichita Falls; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Marie Sanders of Corpus Christi, Texas, Mary Helen Newton and husband Leland of Ada, Okla., and Dorothy Jeanne Eldridge of Shreveport, La.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls or First Christian Church of Wichita Falls

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/trn/local_obituaries/article/0,1891,TRN_5786_4381359,00.html

James married Alma "Lou" Melissa Givens on 28 Feb 1942. Alma was born on 1 Sep 1918 in Ninnekah, Grady County, Oklahoma; died on 15 Jan 2010 in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas; was buried in Crestview Memorial Park Mausoleum, Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Personal Mention (14 December 1917 DUNCAN BANNER)

"Assistant Postmaster and Mrs. Gentry are entertaining a fine girl at their home, the little miss making her appearance Saturday." (Note: This article refers to Arthur Lamoyn Gentry and wife Myrtis Burch Gentry, parents of Myrtis Marie Gentry. She was born December 8, 1917).

Obituary
M. Marie Gentry Sanders
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas ? Former Duncan, Okla., resident M. Marie Gentry Sanders, 90, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away Thursday, April 3, 2008, in Corpus Christi.Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, April 18, in Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel in Duncan with Dr. Scott Fenton presiding. Inurnment will be in Duncan Cemetery. There is no visitation at the funeral home.Marie was born Dec. 8, 1917, in Duncan, to Arthur L. and Myrtis Gentry. She grew up in Duncan, and married her high school sweetheart, Bob Sanders. After raising three children, she and Bob moved to Houston and then to Pearland, Texas. Marie retired from the Houston Shriners Hospital for Children in 1990 after 23 years of dedicated service as the director of building services.Survivors include a son, Phil Sanders Sr. and wife, Patricia, of Kingman, Ariz.; a daughter, Yolanda Hobbs and husband, Rick, of Corpus Christi; a daughter-in-law, Ann Sanders of Austin, Texas; four grandsons: Rob Sanders and wife, Melanie, Steve Sanders, and Phil Sanders Jr. and wife, Teresa, all of Austin, and Adam Stoner of Corpus Christi; three granddaughters: Suzanne Vaughan and husband, Mark, of Austin, Desiree Hankins and husband, Charlie, of San Antonio, Texas, and Sabra Thornburg of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sisters: Mary Helen Newton and husband, Leland, of Ada, Okla., and Dorothy Jeanne Eldridge of Shreveport, La.; and five great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 65 years, Robert P. Sanders Jr.; a son, Robert P. Sanders III; and a brother, James E. Gentry.

Published in The Duncan Banner from 4/16/2008 - 4/18/2008

A nearly identical obituary was also published in the Corpus Christi Caller Times. The Corpus Christi paper further reported that a memorial service was to be hald at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Memorial Funeral Home, Holly chapel, and that interment would be held at a later date at Duncan Cemetery, Duncan, Oklahoma.

(Courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

Family/Spouse: Robert Perry Sanders, Jr.. Robert (son of Robert Perry Sanders, Sr. and Electa Smith) was born on 9 Sep 1913 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 22 Feb 2001 in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ada ? Services for Mary Helen Newton, 93, of Ada, formerly of Duncan are 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel; Dr. Scott Fenton will officiate. A Committal Service will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Duncan Municipal Cemetery in Duncan.

Mrs. Newton died Thursday, April 17, 2014, at her home. She was born July 3, 1920, in Duncan to Arthur L. and Myrtis Birch Gentry. She graduated from Duncan High School and attended business college.

She married Leland Newton Oct. 10, 1981. Mrs. Newton had been employed with the USDA Soil Conservation Service, the General Motors Company in Oklahoma City and later, Todd Construction Company in Ada. She was also a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Leland Newton, of the home; two daughters, Barbara Fischer and her husband Gary of Denton, Texas, and Judy Fenton and her husband Scott of Plano, Texas; a sister, Dorothy Jean Eldridge of Shreveport, La.; and her grandchildren, Matthew Fischer and wife Lauren, John Fischer and wife Julie, Jessica Fenton, Jason Fenton and Seth Fenton; and two great grandchildren, Caleb Fischer and Grant Fischer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, James Gentry; and a sister, Marie Sanders.

Bearers will be John Fischer, Matt Fischer, Jason Fenton, Seth Fenton, Gary Fischer, and Scott Fenton.

www.adanews.com
Published 19 Apr 2014

Family/Spouse: Roy L. "Pete" Winters. Roy was born on 12 Aug 1925 in Oklahoma; died on 22 Apr 1996 in Elmore City, Garvin County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Dorothy Jeanne and Jim Eldridge of Ruston, La."

Shreveport, LA. Dorothy Jeanne Gentry Eldridge, formerly of Ruston, went home to be with our Lord on May 4, 2014. A celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, Louisiana.

amily Visitation will be at 1:00 PM prior to the service. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Ruston.

Dorothy Jeanne was born on October 1, 1923 in Duncan, Oklahoma, the youngest of four children, to Arthur LeMoyne and Myrtis Gentry. On January 16, 1943, Dorothy Jeanne (Dot) married James Eugene Eldridge while he was stationed at Coleman, Texas in Cadet Training School. After the war, Dot and Jim settled in Texas, Arkansas, and finally Ruston Louisiana, where they reared their 3 children. Dot moved to Shreveport, Louisiana in 1998 after the death of her husband to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Dot's relationship to God and her service to Him were most important in her life. She spent her time visiting people in nursing homes, taking care of children in church nursery, working in vacation bible school and taking mission trips with members of her church. Friends and family knew of her kindness and gentleness. She was a dedicated wife and mother, and found great joy in being with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, her mother and father, sisters: Marie Sanders and Mary Helen Newton; brother: James Gentry; and precious great grandchildren: Wade, Melissa, Olive and Noah. Left to love and cherish memories of her are her children: Kandy McEachern and husband Darrell, Bill Eldridge and wife Connie, and Betsy Ebarb and husband Danny; grandchildren: Phillip McEachern and wife Robin, Meredith Guice and husband William, Elizabeth Cobb and husband Chris, Billy Eldridge and wife Brandy, Daniel Eldridge and wife Shannon, Joshua Eldridge, Sarah Ebarb and Christina Ebarb; great grandchildren: Arden Guice, Aubrey Guice, Abram Guice, Clara Cobb, Allie Cobb, Hava Eldridge and Liam Eldridge; and Jeni Eldridge.

Church was an important part of Dot's life. Memorials in her honor may be made to Cook Baptist Church in Ruston, Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport or Noel Methodist Church in Shreveport.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?pid=170921895#sthash.ffkNm5FE.dpuf




Posted on Kilpatrick Funeral Homes website (Courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

Dorothy"Dot" married James Eugene Eldridge on 16 Jan 1943 in Coleman County, Texas. James was born about 1923; died about 1998. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lyn Cordell writes that both Harold and Betty were born in a little house on Base Line Road, probably a mile west of Granny and Grandad Gentry's place. About a year after Betty's birth in 1930, they moved on to Granny and Grandad Gentry's place, just south of their home.

Eva Gentry enrolled her son in the Payne School when he was about five years old. She would walk him to school by way of the road, which was 2 or 3 miles. Before she could get back home herself, however, Harold had cut across the fields and was already at their home, waiting for her. It was actually not much shorter cutting across the fields, but Harold was in a hurry to get back home and away from school. He just wasn't ready for a teacher yet! His sister Lyn writes that Wildhorse Creek was in between and that was a big, wild river of water at the time. She imagines her mother would have been worried about her son trying to cross it. So, after a few times of being beat home by her Harold, she just gave up and waited until the next year to enroll him, this time at the Arthur School, which was probably around 1934-1935. Gladys Powell Payne was a new teacher at the school at the time.

Harold worked for the International-Harvester Co. in Duncan for many years. As of 1996, he was mostly retired from the Eddie Johnson Trucking Co. in Ratliff City, Oklahoma.

Obituary
duncanbanner.com

DUNCAN ? Lloyd Harold Gentry, 84, of Duncan, died Wednesday, May 23, 2012, in Duncan. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 26 at Eastside Church of Christ, with David Frost officiating. Interment will follow in Duncan Cemetery under the direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Lloyd was born May 8, 1928, in Duncan, the son of Delbert "Bud" and Eva Leona Blue Gentry. He married Reba Leavelle Mitchell Aug. 18, 1956, in Wichita Falls, Texas. She preceded him in death Feb. 23, 1999.

He worked as a truck mechanic for 36 years at Green Merrill Truck Company and later at Eddie Johnson Crane and Equipment Service. He was also a longtime member of the Eastside Church of Christ.

He is survived by two sons, Harold Brant Gentry and Blane Edwin Gentry, both of Duncan, and a sister, Lynell Cordell and husband Glen, also of Duncan.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Eva, his wife, Reba and a sister, Betty Jean Daniels.

Pall bearers will be Dale Towell, Mike Bilbrey, Dale Bragg, Bill Nelson, Gerald Kierbow and Tommy Anthony. Honorary bearers will be members of the Discussion Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Tipton Children's Home at P.O. Box 370 Tipton, OK 73570.

Online condolences may be made at www.granthamfuneralhomes.com.

Lloyd married Reba Leavelle Mitchell on 18 Aug 1956 in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas. Reba was born on 22 Sep 1935 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 23 Feb 1999 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Duncan Banner - Dec. 19, 1991 Betty Jean Daniels Betty Jean (Gentry) Daniels, 60, Duncan Rt. 3, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1991, at home. Service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Carter-Smart Funeral Home Chapel with Roger Schwinn officiating. Burial will be in Duncan Cemetery. Mrs. Daniels was born Dec. 28, 1930, in Velma. She was retired from Halliburton and was a member of Velma Church of Christ. On June 10, 1949, she married G.W. 'Pete' Daniels in Velma. Survivors include her husband of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Judy Daniels of Duncan; a daughter, Angela Daniels of the home; her mother, Eva Gentry of Duncan; a brother, Harold Gentry of Duncan; a sister, Lynell Cordell of Kingston; and three grandchildren, Jeramie, Ashlie and Travis. Bearers will be Brant Gentry, Blane Gentry, Roger Cordell, Roy Cordell, Mike Tomlinson and Rusty Morland. Memorial contributions for cancer research may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Betty married George "Pete" Mansel Daniels on 10 Jun 1949 in Velma, Stephens County, Oklahoma. George was born on 2 Dec 1924 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; died on 1 Jul 2007 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Member of the Chickasaw Nation. Her father, Thomas Hamilton Payne (Original Enrollee #3686) was a Chickasaw by blood.

It is believed she was named after the popular Scottish Folk ballad, Annie Laurie. Her nickname, "Roonie" was also a product of popular culture, based on the Little Annie Rooney comic strip that ran during the depression.

Anna Laura was baptized in 1922, her sponsors being her Aunt and Uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Sparks. According to a brochure from the Church of the Assumption, Duncan, commemorating Religious Heritage Day on Sunday, June 28, 1992, "Both sides of Anna Laura (Roonie) Strong's family history intertwines in their settlement of Duncan before the 1900's. Her Uncle John and Aunt Annie Sparks O'Neil's home, presently the Phil Leonard home, was used regularly for masses before the first church was built in 1909. Roonie attended the first parochial school, "Joan of Arc", which had been built by one of the outstanding parish priests, Fr. J.A. Garvey, and run by Sisters of Divine Providence."

After their father left home, Bessie had trouble making enough money to support her family. When Anna Laura was 15, she and Fay were sent to Saint Elizabeth Academy, an Orphanage and Boarding School for Native American Girls in Purcell, Oklahoma. Anna Laura remembers the long train ride being frightening. Although the distance from Duncan to Purcell was not particulary long, it was a freight train and made numerous long stops. It was very late at night before they finally arrived, and they had long since finished the sack lunch their mother had made them. Lois joined them at the school when she was old enough. Both Anna Laura and Faye graduated from St. Elizabeth's. Lois returned to Duncan to live with Anna Laura, and she graduated from Duncan High School.

Anna Laura's graduation was on the 26 of May in 1931. Her diploma was signed by Rev. Jacques Van Castel, Sister Adelhelma, Sister Theresa and Sister Lena. The nuns were members of the Sisters of St. Francis. Sister Lena had arrived at St. Elizabeth between 1889 and 1890.

Sisters Adelhelma and Lena were from Germany. Sister Lena worked in the kitchen and Roonie had been assigned to help her. She recalls the day Sister Lena accidentally dropped her rosary while cooking and loudly proclaimed, "Mein Lord and Mein Gott! I dropped my Jesus in the Soup." Sister Lena presented this same rosary to Anna Laura as a graduation gift, in memory of the work and faith they had shared. An article about the history of this school is contained under the "research" tab of these notes.

When Roonie's children were all school age, she returned to work. She was the head cook at first the parochial school in Duncan, and later at Duncan Junior High School. She held this position for approximately 20 years.

Roonie and her sisters Fay and Lois remained close friends throughout their adult lifes, often traveling together.

The Duncan Banner, Sept. 16, 2004 Anna Laura 'Roonie' Payne Strong

Anna Laura "Roonie" Payne Strong, 90, of Duncan, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in her home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Assumption Catholic Church with the Rev. Victor John officiating. Burial will be in Duncan City Cemetery, under direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home.

A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel. Roonie was born Oct. 23, 1913, in Alma (sic) to Thomas H. and Bessie Gentry Payne. She married Homer Richard Strong on Oct. 23, 1931 (sic), in Waurika. He preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 1990.

Roonie was a graduate of St. Elizabeth's Academy in Purcell in 1931. She later attended Duncan Business School. She was employed by the Duncan Public School System for 28 years before retiring.

She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir for 60 years and was a member of the Ladies' Altar Society. She was also a member of the Fatima Study Club and was a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.

She was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother.

Survivors include five sons and spouses: Charles and Pat Strong of Edinburg, Texas, Bill and Betty Strong of Yukon, Tom and Vickie Strong of Laveen, Ariz., and John and Brenda Strong, and Paul David and Jane Strong, all of Duncan; a daughter, Caroline Brasher of Duncan; a sister, Lois Marie Payne Hanna of Oklahoma City; 22 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Theresa Marie Rutledge; a great-granddaughter, Alexandra Kathrine Brasher in 1994; and a sister, Fay Pierce Yeager. Bearers will be her grandsons.Memorial contributions may be made to Chisholm Trail Hospice, P.O. Box 2000, Duncan, OK 73534-2000.

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

(Research):BELOW IS A TRANSCRIPTION OF AN ARTICLE ABOUT ST. ELIZABETH'S ACADEMY

A PIONEER PASSES
By Mary Jo Turner
Sunday, August 15, 1948
The Daily Oklahoman
D-Three

Purcell, Aug. 14-Historic St. Elizabeth's convent, which for 60 years played a vital part in cultural development of Indian territory and early growth and education of Oklahoma, is closing its doors September 1 for lack of funds.

Founded in February, 1888, one year before Oklahoma was opened to settlement and barely a year after Purcell was established as a junction point on the Santa Fe, it is one of Oklahoma's most famous old schools.

The spacious, roomy, two-storied frame building, set in a grassy plot with a peaceful background of slender poplars, elms and cedars, is still a thing of considerable beauty. For many years it was the only educational landmark in an unsettled area, and the sight of students playing about its grounds, supervised by the black-robed nuns, against the bright southwestern skies, has become familiar to nearly all Oklahomans who have lived here any length of time.

When St. Elizabeth's convent was founded, in 1888, Purcell was a part of the Chickasaw nation of the old Indian territory, and the gateway to the great ranching empire which lay to the west and south. The country then was all pastureland, heavily wooded and a ranch of 10,000 to 20,000 acres was commonplace. Most of the settlers were Chickasaws, but here were also Choctaw families, and a good many white settlers. All were eager to send their children to school and the news that St. Elizabeth's convent had opened in Purcell was welcomed far and wide. Families packed their children and brought them to board and room at the convent, or if there was no space there, boarded them in homes and they attended day school.

Three eager young nuns, all now dead, of the Order of St. Francis, made their way west from Philadelphia and arrived in Purcell on Feb. 14, 1888. They were the late Sister Barbara, Sister Mary Joachim and Sister Patricia. At the time there was under construction a three-room frame building on the same lot where the Benedictine priests had built a one-room church. Sunday services were conducted in the church which on week days was converted into two school rooms by hanging a heavy carpet to form a partition. In one room a Miss Fritch taught the boys, whil in the other room Sister Mary Patricia taught the girls. By November, however, the new three-room frame building was completed and enrolment consisted of 120 pupils. Ages of these pupils ranged from 6 to 18 years. Soon, there were 25 boarders, then 50. The one-room frame building was used for boys.

Money for the grounds, buildings and teachers was paid for by Miss Katherine Drexel of the wealthy Philadelphia Drexel family. She had become interested in educating the Indians through the efforts of Father Vincent Jolly, O.S.B., who taught at the Sacred Heart academy situated in unsettled wilderness in what is now Pottawatomie county. Father Jolly, accompanied by Father William Capital, took turns in coming to Purcell to hold services. Father Jolly told Miss Drexel of the Indian boys and girls who needed educational opportunities, and described the great wilderness, which pioneers were still to conquer. One church was unable to bear the expense. But Miss Drexel could and did for 60 years.

Miss Drexel furnished money for the grounds, buildings and early support, and a new building site was selected in 1891 by the Very Rev. Ignatius Jean, Benedictine priest, while Rev. F. Steven, director of the Indian bureau, gave the plans of the building to Miss Drexel. At her instigation, Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia designated the Sisters of St. Francis of the Philadelphia Foundation, Mother House in Glen Riddle, Pa., to take charge of the mission. Miss Drexel also offered to pay of the sister's support.

In an area known as Love's pasture, named for the late Robert Love, Purcell's founder, who proved to be very helpful to the new school, ground was broken and the building erected which still stands today. On the second floor near the chapel is a bronze plaque dedicated to the founder, the late Father Vincent Jolly.

In the summers of 1889 and 1890, three more sisters, Sister Valentine, Sister Lena, and Sister Ludemiller joined the little bands of nuns and in 1891, Sister Mary Teresa, who is now the only one of the early group left, came to teach.

Sister Teresa, now the Sister Superior of St. Elizabeth's convent, is 80. She is small of stature, being only 4 feet 9 inches in height and is slender and frail. Born in Philadelphia Ja. 29, 1868, she was an only child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Caterson, also natives of Philadelphia. In May, 1888, she took her vows at Our Lady of Angels convent at Glen Riddle, Pa., and taught one year in Wilmington, Pa. The death of her mother the next year left her free for her appointment ot the new convent in the Indian territory. On the way to the new town of Purcell, she has two companions, twos sisters who were going to the missions near Pawhuska in the Osage nation. She she came alone from St. Louis and arrived at Purcell on Sept. 4, 1891, just in time to see the ground being broken for the present site.

Government support by which the Indian girls' tuition was paid in part by the government was withdrawn in 1932......(Causing the sisters) to run the institution on practically no income except from Miss Drexel. For some time the sisters kept the girls without government aid from their own slender resources as teachers. Continued maintenance was impossible during these depressing days. This meant that the girls representing the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee and Pottawatomie tribes as well as others in all probability would be deprived of an eduation.

However, through the mediation of George C. Wells, at that time supervisor of Indian education, Oklahoma district, and Chief Dwight, chief of the Choctaw nation, a contract of 10 was received. But things have changed during the "war" years. There is a scarcity of teachers and enrollment is down. All in all, it seemed best to close the doors.

So historic St. Elizabeth is closing its doors. And good little Sister Superior Teresea will teach no more. She will take a long rest. She would like to spend the rest of her life in Purcell but will go where the church decrees.

(Medical):mtDNA Results (based on test of a child of Anna Laura PAYNE, a direct female descendant of Mary Richardson).

Your Haplogroup and mutations relative to the Cambridge Reference Sequence (CRS) are shown below. A value of CRS indicates no mutations. High resolution (HVR2) results are shown only if you have requested the mtDNAPlus or mtDNA Refine test. If you ordered a Mega mtDNA the Coding Region (CR) will be displayed below.

As you go through your mtDNA results, we strongly encourage you to read the ?u?mtDNA Results Tutorial ?/u? that we have put together in the form of frequently asked questions about mtDNA results.
HVR1 Haplogroup J

HVR1 differences from ?u?CRS
?/u?16069T
16126C
16209C
16265G
16319A

?b?Haplogroup Description?/b? J* Specific mitochondrial haplogroups are typically found in different regions of the world, and this is due to unique population histories. In the process of spreading around the world, many populations-with their special mitochondrial haplogroups-became isolated, and specific haplogroups concentrated in geographic regions. Today, we have identified certain haplogroups that originated in Africa, Europe, Asia, the islands of the Pacific, the Americas, and even particular ethnic groups. Of course, haplogroups that are specific to one region are sometimes found in another, but this is due to recent migration. The mitochondrial haplogroup J contains several sub-lineages. The original haplogroup J originated in the Near East approximately 50,000 years ago. Within Europe, sub-lineages of haplogroup J have distinct and interesting distributions. Haplogroup J* -the root lineage of haplogroup J-is found distributed throughout Europe, but at a relatively low frequency. Haplogroup J* is generally considered one of the prominent lineages that was part of the Neolithic spread of agriculture into Europe from the Near East beginning approximately 10,000 years ago.

Anna married Homer Richard Strong on 23 Feb 1932 in Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma. Homer (son of Walter Winfield Strong and Terezie Rose "Tessie" Soukup) was born on 29 Feb 1908 in Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma; died on 19 Sep 1990 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried on 22 Sep 1990 in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Duncan Banner Mar 12, 2002

Dora Fay Pierce Yeager

Dora Fay Pierce Yeager, 87, of Oklahoma City died Thursday, March 7, 2002, in Oklahoma City.

Service was held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Assumption Catholic Church in Duncan, with the Rev. Donald Wolf officiating. Burial was in the Duncan Cemetery under the direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home. Mrs. Yeager was born on Jan. 30, 1915 , in Duncan to Thomas H. and Bessie Gentry Payne.

She married Edward R. Pierce, who preceded her in death in 1951. She then married George Yeager in 1965. He preceded her in death in 1977.

She was a homemaker and also worked as a bookkeeper.

She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church. She is survived by one daughter, Lynn Moroney of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Anna Laura Strong of Duncan and Lois Payne Hanna of Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas H. Payne III; a sister, Patty Gay Payne; and her parents. Grandchildren include Siobhan Moroney of Highland Park, Ill.; and Tracy Moroney of Studio City, Calif. Great-grandchildren are Michael Moroney and Anne Green of Highland Park, Ill.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas H. Payne III; and a sister, Patty Gay Payne.

(Transcription courtesy of Lynell Cordell).

Avid genealogist, and gathered much of the information contained in these files.

Dora married Edward Roscoe Pierce on 27 Mar 1935 in Jefferson County, Oklahoma. Edward (son of James William Mills Pierce and Alice Emaline Tussey) was born on 15 May 1909 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; died about 1951 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Dora married George Yeager about 1965. George was born before 1915; died in 1977. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Duncan Weekly Banner
Friday, Jan. 19, 1917
Born - To Mr. and Mrs. Tom Payne, east of town, Wednesday, Jan. 17, a fine twelve pound boy. Congratulations are in order.

Thomas was educated in a boarding school/orphanage for Native American boys after his father left the family. It was a different school than that attended by his sisters, whom all attended St. Elizabeth's in Purcell.

Thomas H. Payne, Jr. Chief Petty Officer

Thomas H. Payne, jr. son of Mrs. Bessie Payne, 915 Oak, has been promoted to the rank of chief petty officer in the U.S. Maritime Service. his address now is Los Angeles, California, and he is stationed at west coast ports. Payne attended Duncan High School. He formerly was employed by Lynn COURSEY. (Undated, unreferenced news clipping, courtesy of Fay Payne Yeager).

Information from the California Death Index at Rootsweb.com:

Payne, Thomas Hardrick Mother's Maiden Name: Gentry Born: January 17, 1917 in Oklahoma Died: 4/12/1997 Shasta County, California SSN: 549-01-5512 Age: 80 years

Great nephew Tom Strong recalls that Thomas Payne worked as a butcher in California.

Thomas married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ken Harvey writes that she studied to be an attorney "but married one instead." She worked as a secretary in Oklahoma City.

Attended Saint Elizabeth Academy, an Orphanage and Boarding School for Native American Girls in Purcell, Oklahoma. She graduated from Duncan High School, however, in 1938. She told Lynell Cordell she had only one skirt and two sweaters to wear throughout her entire senior year.

The Duncan Banner - Monday, April 25, 1949 Marlow News - Pg. 5 Miss Lois Marie Payne of Oklahoma City was a guest of Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Gregston Sunday. (Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

Obituary
Chickasaw Times, January 2014, Page 21

Lois (Marie) Payne Hanna

Lois (Marie) Payne Hanna died November 20, 2013 at the Lakes Nursing Facility in Oklahoma City, after a long struggles with Alzheimer's disease and a short battle with congestive heart failure.

She was born February 10, 1920 to Thomas Hardwick Payne and Bessie Bird Payne at Duncan, Okla. Though her early formative years were spent at St. Elizabeth's School in Purcell, Okla.; and education provided to her from the altruism of the Chickasaw tribe, she graduated from Duncan High School in 1938. Some years later she moved to Oklahoma City where she became a lifelong resident. After the War, she enrolled in the Oklahoma City School of Law (currently OCU) where she met her future husband, James Cullen Hanna. As one relative put it, "she studied to be an attorney, but married one instead." In the early 1960's she secured employment with the architecture firm of Coston, Frankfurt, Short (now Frankfurt Short Brusa) and rose from a secretarial position to retire in the 1990's as a member of the firm's board of directors. It was from this career position that Mrs. Hanna became a long lasting member of Executive Women Incorporated (EWI). Lois served in many capacities during her lengthy membership in EWI including that of president. Association with this organization provided her with the opportunity to travel and cement lifelong friendships. In later life she fondly recalled the places and people she had the pleasure to know.

While her sharp and penetrating mind permitted her to explore a keen interest in myriad of subjects, her main focus was on just a few. Aside from her whole family,---her offspring, her siblings, her sibling's offspring, in-laws and everything in-between---which she cherished above all else, her great passions in life were music, literature, history, Sooner football and all things Oklahoman.

Her enthusiasm for music and above all, opera brought her great happiness. She delighted in being a proud patron of the Oklahoma City Symphony, holding season tickets for more than thirty consecutive years. Last year Mrs. Hanna was honored when the Chickasaw tribe recognized her as a senior member of the tribe and presented her with a brooch.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Hardwick (sic, s/b Hamilton) Payne and Bessie Bird Payne; her husband, James Cullen Hanna; sisters, Anna Laura Strong, Dora Faye Yeager, Patricia Gabriela (Patty Gay) Payne; and a brother, Thomas Hardwick Payne.

She is survived by her three sons, Fred Hanna, Tom Hanna and John Hanna; a daughter-in-law Gabrielle Hanna; grandsons, Brandon Hanna, Travis Hanna, and Cameron Hanna, children of Fred and Gabrielle; and a great-grandson, Jack Hanna, son of Brandon Hanna.

She will be forever remembered for the warm tender kindness that she shined on those that were closest to her and the unique glow of genuine charity with which she embraced all that were lucky enough to be close to her for however momentary.

She will be dearly missed by all those who knew, and therefore, loved her.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2014)

Lois married James Cullen Hanna on 22 Nov 1951 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. James was born on 16 Dec 1925 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; died on 21 Nov 1990 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Patty Gay died when she was about eight years old. The day before she died, after six weeks of illness, she said to her sister Fay "I am so tired of being tired."

Charles Strong reports that she had a leaky valve in her heart. It would be something fairly easy to fix by today's standards. It might have been something that could have been fixed even in the 1930's, had the family had the resources available to them.

They were quite poor however. Charles reported that money was so tight that one winter Bessie got behind on her utility payments, and the company threatened to cut off their power. Patty's doctor intervened, telling the company that they would be responsible for her death if the power was cut off.

Notes:

Lynell Gentry Cordell found her listing on the SSDI:

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
Name: Mary G Adair
Born: 21 Mar 1923
Died: 11 Feb 2012
State (Year) SSN issued: Texas (Before 1951)

Ken Harvey writes: One of Mary's daughters was Dianne, who died from cancer at the age of 51 (1944 - 17 March 1995). Dianne had one daughter Lori (?) and two grandchildren. She used to visit Edith Lynell Gentry every year in Oklahoma. Lynell Cordell writes that she also had a son named Mitch Adair.

Notes:

Lives in Garden Grove, California. He has four children. This was his last place of residence as well, according to the Social Security death index.

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

After Don and Patsy divorced, he and his children did not remain in contact. His second wife, Betty, had daughters that he helped raise.

Donald married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Grantham Funeral Home, Duncan, OK
Jan. 13, 2016

Harold Brant Gentry, 55, of Duncan, OK passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2016 in Oklahoma City, OK.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 14, 2016 in the Duncan Cemetery with Ron Stough officiating. Services are under the direction of the Don Grantham Funeral Home.

Brant was born July 30, 1960 in Duncan to Lloyd Harold and Reba (Mitchell) Gentry. He attended Duncan Public Schools and was a welder by trade.

Brant is survived by one brother, Blane E. Gentry; aunt and uncle, Lynell and Glen Cordell and aunt, Corine Burch; a special friend, Jackie Speed; and a host of other family and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Reba Gentry.

Notes:

Alexander Gray Funeral Home
Ratliff City, OK

Memorial Services for Mr. Gregory Mansel Daniels, 60, of Countyline are scheduled for 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Countyline Baptist Church with Rev. Jason Williams officiating. Services are under the care and direction of Alexander Gray funeral home of Ratliff City.

Gregory Mansel Daniels was born August 30, 1959, in Duncan, Oklahoma to the late Mr. George "Pete" Mansel Daniels and Mrs. Betty Jean (Gentry) Daniels. He departed from this life on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at his home in Countyline.

Greg was a Velma-Alma High School graduate, class of 1977. He married the love of his life, Judy (Galloway) Daniels on November 27, 1980 at Duncan, OK. Greg worked as a Well Service Operator for Kleen Oilfield Service. He enjoyed golfing and was a member of the Velma Golf Course Club. In his younger years Greg participated in rodeo as a bronc rider. He loved fishing and hunting especially for deer and turkey.

Greg is preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Judy of the home; daughter, Ashlie Driver and Joe McCormick of Velma; sister, Angela Daniels of Velma; grandchildren, Alysyn and Grayson Driver of Velma and Justice Daniels of Healdton; nephew, Travis Daniels of Massachusetts; numerous other family and friends.

(Courtesy of Lynell Gentry Cordell)

Gregory married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Charles was born in the midst of the Depression, and vividly remembers the financial struggle faced by his impoverished parents. In the summers, Charles was usually sent to stay on the farm owned by his great-grandparents, James and Zada Gentry. Charles remembers Zada as a tiny woman, and a good cook. She often remarked, after he devoured her meals, "Charles, you must be hollow to your toes."

Charles eventually rebelled against his father's stringent demands. In a bid for independence, he dropped out of school for in the eighth grade, staying out late most nights or not coming home for days at a time.

His parents sent him to Oklahoma City, to live with his Aunts Fay and Lois, who shared a home. His grandmother, Bessie Payne, lived there with her daughters as well. Charles slept in a cot in the back room. He remembers his grandmother having a Chocolate Hostess Cupcake waiting for him each day when he returned from school. Charles graduated from the 8th grade at Holy Angels Parochical School in Oklahoma City on May 25, 1947. After his graduation, he enrolled in the Oklahoma National Guard. He added two years to his age so he would be eligible to enlist. He was 5'8" and 138 pounds, and told the unit he was age 17, not 15. After seven months of duty, on June 4, 1948, he was honorably discharged as a Private. The reason for his discharge was listed as "Business Interference"

Charles returned home to Duncan to attend High School. He later dropped out of High School as well, and went to work at a bakery. He developed a lifelong aversion to most baked goods, remembering the overwhelming smell. Charles finally realized that education, was the best way to escape poverty, so he returned to school. He graduated from Duncan High School in May, 1952, along with his younger brother Bill.

Charles and Bill both enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) in Stillwater. Charles borrowed money from his Aunt Lois to pay for his freshman year, and then was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He received a medical discharge due to a chronic skin condition which made it impossible for him to wear combat boots. After his brief military service, he returned to OSU and used the GI bill to pay for the remainder of his education. He was original a Chemistry major, but changed to business and accounting due to these same skin allergies.

A Feb. 7, 1956 article in the student paper reported that "Charles Strong, arts and sciences junior from Duncan, was named president of the Newman club Sunday evening during the election of the 1956 officers. Strong, a chemistry major, replaces Stan Prochaska, agriculture journalism senior from Enid, as proxy of the organization of Catholic students. He had been vice president and one time co-chairman of the membership committee. Ed Wakeen, OIT student from Massachusetts was elected vice president...(also from Massachusetts) Joe Hayden was elected treasurer...Beverly Kirchmeyer from Ponca City was elected secretary. Continuing as chaplin.....will be Rev. Joseph Dillon, assistant pastor of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater."

Being president allowed Charles to live in the Newman club, further helping him with financing his education. It was also through the Newman club that Charles met his wife, Pat, a fellow student at OSU.

Charles received his B.S. degree in May, 1959 with a major in accounting and minor in economics. His first job was as an instructor of accounting and economics at Bloomsburg State College in Pennsylvania. He was there for one year, after which time he went to work as an auditor for a public accounting firm in Tulsa. After two years in public accounting, he worked as an auditor for two years at Halliburton in Duncan, Oklahoma. He received his CPA certificate (#1659) from the State of Oklahoma in 1963. Charles went back to OSU, and received his M.S in accounting in May, 1964.

Later, he went on to obtain his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama (May, 1972, Major in Industrial Relations with minors in Economics and Finance). It was at the married student housing at the University of Alabama that the Strong's started their lifelong friendship with JF and Earlene Burney.

While working on his Ph.D., the Strong's moved between small college's in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas at which Charles had short term teaching assistantships. He was an instructor at OSU, the University of Alabama, Mississippi State College for Women, University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Montevallo (in Alabama).

Charles looked a bit like Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State under Richard Nixon). Once, while on a business trip, he was in a bar in Washington D.C. He heard a whispered conversation between two people, who were hotly debating whether or not he was indeed Dr. Kissinger. When the waitress came up to ask if he wanted a refill, he drolly answered, in his Kissingerian best, "Yah."

In May, 1973, Charles was offered a position in the Accounting Department of Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas. He also received his Texas CPA Certificate (No. 12,595) in January, 1974.

While in the Rio Grande Valley, Charles became an avid bird watcher and member of the National Audobon Society. He participated in many bird censuses. He also enjoyed sailing.

Dr. Strong later became a full professor at Pan American. He taught mainly accounting classes, although towards the end of his career he began to teach in the management department. He retired in December, 1997. During his tenure at Pan Am, he served on numerous committees, was a N.A.S.A. Faculty Intern at the Johnson Space Center during the summer of 1974, and served as a visiting professor at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. He also did the accounting, taxes, and financial planning for a corporate client in Edinburg. Charles retired from Pan American in December 1997.

Charles is a voracious reader, and is especially interested in nature and history. In the late 1990's he and his brother Bill made several trips to Europe to visit their cousin Pete Kubik and to visit various battle sites of World War II. He also became interested in Genealogy, and began travelling throughout the southwest, visiting courthouses in search of land records and also interviewing family members.

He is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw nation, as was his maternal grandfather, Thomas Payne. He is also a Mason.

(Medical):Had Covid-19 in December 2020.

Charles married Patricia Marion McGuire on 25 May 1957 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. Patricia (daughter of Keith David McGuire, Sr. and Josephine Marguerite Morlas) was born on 30 Oct 1933 in Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma; died on 16 Mar 2018 in Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas; was buried in Camargo (Westside) Cemetery, Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Bill attended Oklahoma A&M at the same time his brother Charles was there. He served in the Army from 1957 to 1978. He was a Major, and in Military Intelligence. He was stationed in Germany for many years. After his retirement, he became a regional sales manager for Motor Manual.

Obituary

William "Bill" Robert Strong passed away on March 4, 2024. Bill was the second child of Homer Strong and Anna Laura Payne born in Duncan, Oklahoma on February 20, 1934. As the second son of seven children, he had four brothers and two sisters.

Bill gained a love of music and singing from his father who sang in a Barbershop quartet throughout his childhood. He received a scholarship in music to Oklahoma State University in 1953 and helped to create the singing group called The Four Chi's as a part of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He met the love of his life Betty Wehunt on a blind date at the University. He was drafted into the Army after college in late 1957. During boot camp he married Betty in Colorado Springs on February 22, 1958. He spent 20 years in the Army and then had a 20-year career with Hearst Publishing. He enjoyed traveling, and both of his careers provided plenty of it. They lived in Europe several times and transferred to six different states while in the military. He also traveled all over the states for his job at Hearst while based in Oklahoma.

Bill was a class clown who loved one liners and corny "Dad jokes" which always made us laugh. He also had a lifelong love of dancing. No matter where we lived, he would find a restaurant with a dance floor and would dance with mom while the kids ate. He loved going out on a family vacation. While his children were young, they either went camping, boating, sailing or drove cross country to visit out-of-state relatives every summer. Later in life he and his wife would take 2 vacations a year traveling either to Europe or visiting their children across the nation. When Bill retired, he bought a home in Texas and spent his later years "snow birding" from Oklahoma to Texas with a few trips to see his children in the US or friends in England.

He was diagnosed with cancer over 10 years ago. His cancer resurfaced in 2019 and then again last year in 2023. The last reoccurrence eventually took his life after nearly a year of chemotherapy. Bill is survived by his brother Thomas Strong (wife Vicki) and his brother Paul David Strong; his son, Richard Strong; his son, John Strong (wife Kim and son Benjamin); his son, Stanley Strong (wife Ginger and daughters Kennedy, Brooklyn and Rayanna); his son, Gregory Strong (wife Cecille and son Maximillian).

Obituary published on Legacy.com by YANDA & SON FUNERAL HOME - YUKON on Mar. 12, 2024.

William married Betty Alice Wehunt on 22 Feb 1958 in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. Betty was born on 4 Mar 1935 in Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma; died on 29 Apr 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; was buried on 3 May 2013. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary

John Ralph Strong, 86, of Duncan, Oklahoma passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 4, 2022.

Graveside funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2022 at the Duncan Cemetery with Rev. David Galletly, and arrangements have been entrusted to the family care of Carter-Smart Directors.

Family visitation will be Thursday evening April 7, 2022 at the Carter-Smart Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

John was born June 16, 1935 in Duncan, Oklahoma to Homer and Anna Laura (Payne) Strong. He attended Duncan Public Schools, where he participated in Choir, and graduated in 1954. He joined the U.S. Air Force in June of that year and served until May 1968. After his military service he worked for Halliburton, Texas Instruments, and retired from Duncan Public Schools after working as a janitor at Woodrow Wilson Elementary for many years. He married Brenda Cole in 1979. They had two children, Carrie and Taylor. He was a practical man and was excellent at mechanical repair. In his younger years he was an avid fisherman, spending hours at the lake. He was above all. though a voracious reader and history buff, and was passionate about subjects he studied. He was also a lover of classical music. During his military service and after, he was fortunate to work and travel all over the glob and always had an interesting story to share. These stories about his travels helped instill his love of history and the arts in his children.

He was preceded death by his parents, two sisters and one brother.

John is survived by his wife; Brenda of the home, daughter; Carrie and her husband Andy Walters, son; Taylor and his wife Catherine Strong, two grandchildren, Edward and Anne Strong, and three brothers; Bill, Tom and Paul David Strong and numerous nieces and nephews.

https://www.cartersmartfuneralhome.com/obituary/John-Strong

John married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Mary Caroline Brasher, 78, of Duncan, Oklahoma passed away Friday morning, January 5, 2018 in Duncan. Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM Monday January 8, 2018 at Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Glenn McGee officiating. Interment will follow at Duncan Cemetery under the care of Don Grantham Funeral Home. The family will receive friends 5:30 to 7:00pm Sunday evening, January 7, 2018 at the funeral home.

Caroline was born in Duncan, Oklahoma on March 18, 1939. She was the fourth of seven children of Homer and Anna Laura. She was baptized and raised in the Assumption Catholic Church in Duncan where she was a member for many years. She often spoke of warm childhood memories of family, friends, dancing and music. She recalled as a very young child meeting her father on Friday afternoons coming home from Ft. Sill during the War and walking home with him and about being the fastest runner on the street as a child, frequently out running her male playmates. She dearly loved her brothers and sister.

After high school, she met James Earl "Jim" Brasher, an army serviceman stationed at Fort Sill and they soon fell in love and were married May 28, 1960. Caroline and Jim became lifelong residents of Duncan where they raised their four children. Caroline was a tireless homemaker, ran a small day-care from home, and was avidly involved in her children's school and sports activities. Caroline enjoyed spending her later years collecting and watching classic movies, listening to Frank Sinatra tunes, remodeling her homes, attending family reunions and traveling. She loved the colorful Southwest desert landscape, and made a few trips to visit the rich cultural heritage found in Santa Fe, New Mexico with family and church members. She loved following OU football and OKC Thunder basketball. Most of all, she loved her family and was very proud of her children's and grandchildren's accomplishments. She was passionate about giving to charitable causes including religious and cultural affiliations. She drew strength from Billy Graham and other evangelical ministries and was a prayer warrior, especially during her beloved husband's prolonged illness.

Caroline is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 57 years, her parents, Homer and Anna Laura Strong, her sister, Theresa, and beautiful granddaughter Alexandra. Caroline is survived by her children Regina Stuart and her husband, Don; Libby Morris and her husband Terry; Andy Brasher and his wife, Kim; and Patti Moore and her husband Steve. Grandchildren Brandon, Shelby, Beau, Victoria, Trevor, Caroline, Jeremy, Caelan, Shannon and Kathleen. Great-grandchildren Jackson, Addison, James, Elizabeth and Clay all of whom she loved and was so very proud of.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christians Concerned at 702 W. Willow Ave, Duncan, OK 73533. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.granthamfuneralhomes.com.

Mary married James Earl "Red" Brasher on 28 May 1960 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. James was born on 10 Nov 1938 in Decaturville, Decatur County, Tennessee; died on 15 Jul 2017 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried on 18 Jul 2017 in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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The Duncan (Okla.) Banner Sunday, July 30, 1995

Theresa Strong Rutledge

Austin, Texas--Former Duncan resident Theresa Strong Rutledge, 53, of Austin died Friday, July 28, 1995, in Austin.

Services will be 10:30 am Monday at Duncan's Assumption Catholic Church with the Rev. James Rapp officiating. Burial will be in Duncan cemetery under the direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home.

Ms. Rutledge was born March 25, 1942, at Duncan to the late H.R. "Sarg" and Anna L. Payne Strong. She had been an employee of the Word of God Benedictine Monastery in Watertown, S.D. and homemaker. She was affiliated with the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Austin.

Survivors include two daughters, Anna Marie Rutledge and Sarah Rutledge, both of Austin, five brothers Charles Strong of Edinburg, Texas; Bill Strong of Oklahoma City; John Strong of Duncan; Tom Strong of Phoenix, Arizona; and Paul Strong of Santa Barbara, California; a sister, Carolyne Brasher of Duncan; and a grandson, Matthew Rutledge of Austin.

Bearers will be nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Williamson County Hospice, 308 W. 17th, Georgetown, Texas 78626, or to the Chisholm Trail Hospice, P.O. Box 1142, Duncan, Oklahoma 733534.

Theresa married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]