Gene W. Fillmore
Gene W. Fillmore spent a lifetime farming wheat, alfalfa hay and raising Angus cattle. He died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at his home southwest of Cushing, after a courageous 21-month battle with cancer. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Church of the Brethren, three miles west and one-half mile south of Cushing, with the Rev. John Holderread officiating. The congregation will sing favorite hymns. Burial will follow in the church yard cemetery, under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home. He was born June 2, 1924, in Cushing to E. Roy and Elsie (Pote) Fillmore. He attended Cushing schools and graduated with the class of 1944. Under the F.F.A. instructor D.H. Fisher, Gene receive the Junior Master Farmer Degree, the Firestone Award and at the age of 21 years the American Farmer Degree. He married Patricia Gillespie on Nov. 28, 1946. He was rich in faith and love of family. He was a member of the Big Creek Church of the Brethren and over the years served as Sunday School superintendent, youth sponsor, teacher, and on the boards of ministerial, trustee, deacon and cemetery. He was also an avid bowler. He was predeceased by a sister, Zula, in 1923, his father in 1959, grandson Robert Wayne Judge in 1971, daughter Vickie Judge in 1991, and his mother in 1993. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of 53 years; daughter and her husband, Regina and Joseph Lacovara, of Lakewood, Colo.; son Randall Roy Fillmore, of Salina, Kan.; ex-son-in-law, Ken Judge, of Perkins; grandchildren Rudolph Lacovara, of Arvada, Colo., Kelly Whitney, of Norman, and Peter Judge, of Perkins; great-grandchildren Mikayla and Michael Lacovara, of Arvada, Colo.; one sister, Darlene York, of Wichita Falls, Texas; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. Serving as casketbearers will be Kris Kinzie, Charles Holderread, Carl Ed Tarver, Darrell Stiles, Chris Gerfen and Kenny Robinson. Honorary casketbearers will include Doyle Miller, Lee Ray Stiles, Oliver Kinzie and Dale Gillespie. Memorials may be made in Gene Fillmore's name to the Church of the Brethren, Rt. 3 Box 3760, Cushing, OK 74023, or to the Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076.

Eva A. Sutliff
Eva A. Sutliff, 85, died Monday, Jan. 3,1999, at Stillwater Medical Center. Services, with Dr. James P. Gragg officiating, will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater. Interment, under the direction of Strode Funeral Home, will be at Resthaven-Sunset Memorial Parks in Ponca City. She was born Oct. 4, 1914, in Elk City to George C. and Lizze (Foreman) Walter. She married Jack W. Sutliff on May 8, 1938 in Stillwater. She attended schools in Elk City and attended Oklahoma A and M for one year. She then went to Oklahoma Teachers College in Edmond where she received her Bachelor's degree in 1936. After World War II began she moved from Wellston to work for Tinker Air Force Base. She later moved to Miami, Fla. to join her husband. She returned to Oklahoma to teach at Happy Valley Schools, south of Cushing. In 1944, after her husband returned from the war, the couple moved to McAllen, Texas where she taught in the McAllen school system. When the air base in McAllen closed, the couple returned to Cushing where Mrs. Sutliff taught in the elementary schools. She retired to become a homemaker and to take care of their son. In 1989, the Sutliffs moved to Stillwater to retire and be near their son. She belonged to the First United Methodist Church and the Methodist Women's Group. She was predeceased by her parents, two brothers and three sisters. In addition to her husband, of the home, she is survived by one son, Steve Sutliff, of Stillwater, and a number of nieces and nephews. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at STRODEFH@AOL.COM.

Ruby Lee Phillips
Medford resident, Ruby Lee Phillips, 85, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000. Services, with the Rev. Sherry Shaw officiating, will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Congregational Church in Medford. Interment, under the direction of Hills-Ely Funeral will be at Rosemound Cemetery. She was born Feb. 1, 1914, near Medford to Lester Lewis and Grace Alea Brewer Sharp. She graduated from Medford High School and attended Oklahoma A and M, now Oklahoma State University. She and Albert Joe Phillips were married and lived in Tulsa, Muskogee and Alabama for a short period of time before moving to Medford. They owned and operated the Phillips Appliance Store in Medford for several years. She was deputy sheriff and dispatcher for Grant County for 18 years. She also worked for the Grant County Welfare Department and was a bookkeeper for Kennedy Drug Co. and Scottianne Shoppe in Medford. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Medford. She was predeceased by her husband; one son, David. D. Phillips; her parents; and one grandson, Bart Phillips, who died in March, 1999. She is survived by two sons, Dr. William J. Phillips and his wife, Annette, of St. Louis and Steve Phillips and his wife, Margie, of Ponca City; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Foster, of Stillwater; one nephew; and other relatives and many friends. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Jon R. 'Randy' Messbarger
Jon R. "Randy" Messbarger worked for US Air Express for 20 years. He died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, at North Kansas City Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., at the age of 44. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in St. Joseph, Mo. under the direction of Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. Cremation will take place after the service. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with parish rosary at 7 p.m. tonight. Family will receive friends following the rosary until 9 p.m. He was born Nov. 10, 1955, in Kearney, Neb., to Gerald and Sally Messbarger. He was a graduate of Kearney Catholic High School, and attended Kearney State College. He lived in Clovis, N.M., Liberal, Kan., Decatur, Ill., and Sioux Falls, S.D. before moving to St. Joseph, Mo., four years ago. He married Cathy (Coryell) Messbarger on Nov. 5, 1977. He worked for US Air Express for 20 years, the last five of those at the Kansas City International Airport. He was also a volunteer fireman and EMT in Liberal, Kan. He was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and Knights of Columbus Council No. 571. He was predeceased by his grandparents. He is survived by his parents, of Omaha, Neb.; his wife, of the home; son Aaron Messbarger, of the home; and daughter Meghan M. Messbarger, of the home; two brothers, Jeffrey Messbarger, of Kearney, Neb., and Mick F. Messbarger, of Omaha, Neb.; three sisters, Terri Schutte, of Stillwater; Sara Hermanson, of Pierre, S.D., and Ann Erks, of Omaha, Neb. Memorials may be made to the Education Fund, care of Commerce Bank, St. Joseph, Mo.

Hulbert Henry Gray
Services for Hulbert Henry Gray, 85, of Agra, who died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Palmer Funeral Chapel in Cushing. Brother Ferman Davis will preside. Interment, under the direction of Palmer Funeral Home will be at Parkland Cemetery in Parkland. He was born on Jan. 27, 1914, in Parkland to Harley and Laura (Gollaher) Gray. He received his early education in Parkland. He married Patricia Camren on Aug. 20, 1945, in Harrison, Ark. Before retiring in 1978 he owned and operated a dairy farm. He was a member of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn and was baptized on Jan. 25, 1975. In his spare time he loved to fish and camp with his family. He was predeceased by his parents, one infant daughter, five brothers and one sister. In addition to his wife, of the home, he is survived by three sons, Gerald Gray of Agra, Bobby Gray of Cushing and Johnny Gray, of Enid; three daughters, Carol Moody of Sapulpa, Shirley Copper and her husband, Terry of Agra, and Gail Brown and her husband, Carl of Tryon; one brother, Floyd Gray and his wife, Mary of Chandler; a sister, Oma Peoples of Agra; and 13 grandchildren. Pallbearers will be J.J. Dooley, Brett Miller, Dennis Matheson, Tony Gray, Donnie Gray, George Wright, Melvin Selcer and Jerry Hale.

Donald M. Kerr, M.D.
Donald M. Kerr, M.D., 78, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Bedford Regional Medical Center in Bedford, Ind. Services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home. Interment, under the direction of Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home will be at Green Hill Cemetery in Bedford. Military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Gillen Post No. 33. He was born Dec. 1, 1921 in Chicago to Milton P. and Elsa Maack Kerr. He married Jane Hermann in 1943 in Indianapolis. She died in 1984. He later married former Stillwater resident, Patricia Kyme. He was an undergraduate and Medical School graduate of Indiana University and attended the U.S. Army School of Neuropsychiatry at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. He was in private practice in Lawrence, Colo. for 41 years and, from 1964 until the present was a health officer. He was predeceased by his first wife and one daughter, Susan Kerr. In addition to his wife, of the home, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Ray (Connie) Snapp, of Bedford, Ind. and Mrs. Robert (Kathy) Birge, of Falls Church, Va.; two grandchildren; one stepson, Col. John W. Kyme, of Woodbridge, Va.; two step grandchildren; two brothers, Melvyn P. Kerr, of Arlington, Va. and Richard Kerr, of Goldsborough, N.C.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorials may be made to the White River Humane Society, P.O. Box 792, Bedford, Ind. 47421; American Cancer Society, P.O. 64, Bedford, Ind. 47421-0064; or the Bedford Regional Medical Center Foundation. P.O. Box 1254, Bedford, Ind. 47421.

James Arthur Ridenour
James Arthur Ridenour, 77, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000, at the Cushing Memorial Hospital. Services, with Rev. Steve Lopp will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Yale. Interment, under the direction of Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing, will follow at Euchee Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, east of Cushing. He was born March 10, 1922, near Chelsea in Rogers County to Arthur Riley and Ollie Jane (Hubbard) Ridenour. He married Edna Pauline Sherrill on Aug. 27, 1942, in Meeker. He received his early education in Winganon and graduated from Winganon High School in 1941. He was employed by Midland Oil, later Hudson Oil Refinery, for 35 years as an operator. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Park Place Baptist Church in Cushing. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his wife and a sister, Dorothy Irene Kennedy. Survivors include one son, James Lloyd Ridenour, of Cushing; two daughters, Pauletta Jeanne West of Tulsa and Sherrill Rae Reaves, of Cushing; three brothers, Leonard Ridenour, of Afton, Riley Joe, of Miami, and Raymond Lee Ridenour, of Copan; one sister, Blanche Martin, of Ardmore; three grandchildren, Randall Scott West and his wife, Kim, of Paola, Kan., Tonya Rae Cobb, of Cushing, and Carl Ray Cobb and his wife, Crystal, of Yale; and three great-grandchildren, Miranda Faye West, Clark Andrew West and Taylor Danielle Cobb. Pallbearers will be Carl Eugene Cobb, Jerry Dale Gordon, Lyle Morris, Glen Wright, Don Cross, Forest Fuqua and Guy Buckles.

Clare V. Kunesh
Clare V. Kunesh, 94, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2000, at Sterling House. Services are planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Church in Willoughby, Ohio. Interment will follow at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, Ohio. She was born March 27, 1905, in Portsmouth, Ohio to Joseph and Clara Vetter. Her early education was in Portsmouth, and she graduated from St. Theresa College in Winona, Minn. with a degree in secondary education in 1927. She was married to Joseph M. Kunesh on Nov. 11, 1937, in Portsmouth, and resided with him in Cleveland, Ohio until his death in 1985. She moved to Sun City West, Ariz., and in 1996, to Stillwater. She is survived by a son, John Kunesh and his wife, Denise, of Stillwater; a sister, Elizabeth Kunesh of Cleveland; three grandchildren, Dr. Susan Burke and her husband of Phoenix, Ariz., Dr. John Kunesh of San Diego, Calif., and Dr. Jan Kunesh of Los Angeles, Calif.; and two great-grandchildren, Sean and Megan Burke of Phoenix. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Hall. Memorials may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, 824 S. Main, Stillwater, Okla. 74074.

Rama Lea Hamble
Services for Rama Lea Hamble, 78, of Stillwater, are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at GSS-Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid, with Bob Fellows officiating. Strode Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Humble died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, in Renaissance. She was born Aug. 22, 1921 in Tecumseh to W.C. and Florence Young Wyatt. She attended Shawnee school and graduated from Shawnee High School. She completed studies at Conners College in 1941 and completed Nurses Training at University Hospital in Enid to become a registered nurse. She went to Chicago Lying-In Hospital to complete post graduate work in obstetrics. She married John K Hamble on Nov. 18, 1950 in Enid, and they lived in Enid after their marriage. She also spent time in El Paso, Texas, and Fort Riley, Kans., while her husband was in the service. Mrs. Hamble worked for Dr. R.E. Roberts. She retired in 1986 after 18 1/2 years with Oklahoma State University Hosptial and Clinic. She was a member of the Oklahoma Nurses' Association and Stillwater Chapter #54, Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church. She was predeceased by her husband on May 25, 1995, by her parents and a brother. Survivors include a son, John Hamble of Stillwater, and a sister, Violet Bruster of Grand Junction, Colo. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076 or to the Stillwater Humane Society, 1710 S. Main, Stillwater, OK 74074. Condolances may be e-mailed to the family at .

Lt. Col. Douglas Melbourne Ames
Memorial services for Lt. Col. Douglas Melbourne Ames, USAF, ret., 78, of Stillwater, are at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. B. Gordon Edwards and Associate Pastor Trudy R. Morphew officiating, directed by Strode Funeral Home. Mr. Ames died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, at Stillwater Medical Center. He was born May 4, 1921 to Lowell and Olive Randall Ames in Muskegan, Mich. He graduated from Shelby High School in Shelby, Mich., in 1939. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1940 and attained the rank of Master Sergeant. He served in the European Theater during World War II and was involved in U.S. operations at Normandy Beach. He married Shirley King in Boston, Mass., in 1945 after the war. On Dec. 20, 1947, he became the first officer commissioned in the newly-formed United States Air Force. He served until 1967, when he retired as a lieutenant colonel after teaching Air Force ROTC at Oklahoma state University since 1962. He then joined the faculty of OSU as administrative assistant to the dean of engineering, and retired in 1987 He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1959. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. His first wife, Shirley, predeceased him in 1965. Survivors include their two children, Penny Ames Anderson, Oklahoma City, and Michael Ames, Stillwater. He married Jean Walsh Connell in September, 1967. Survivors also include his wife, Jean; their children, Chris White of Ames, Iowa, and Patrick Connell of Las Vegas, Nev.; four grandchildren, Sarah and Thomas White, Jerome Connell and Chad Anderson, who were the light of his life; and two brothers, Bill Ames of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Kermit Ames of Kalamazoo, Mich. He was predeceased by his parents, first wife, brothers Ken and Dan and two sisters, Marge and Maxine. Memorials may be made to the Stillwater Public Library, 1107 S. Duck, Stillwater, OK 74074. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at .

Mary Ellen Matthews
Services for Mary Ellen Matthews, 73, of Coalgate, will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000 at St. John's Catholic Church in McAlester. Father Ray Acker-man will officiate. A rosary will be held at 7 o'clock tonight at Bishop Chapel of Memories. Interment will follow the funeral services at Memory Gardens Cemetery at McAlester under the direction of Bishop Funeral Service. Born June 19, 1926 in Wilburton to Hiram Leonard and Helen Powers Leonard, she grew up and attended schools in the Wilburton area. She graduated from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill., in 1947 with a nursing diploma. She was employed by St. Mary's Hospital, McAlester General Hospital and Mary Hurley hospital in Coalgate. She married Patrick J. Troy, Sr. in 1949. They resided in McAlester throughout their married life and had 11 children. Patrick J. Troy, Sr. preceded her in death in 1970. In 1976, she became director of nurses at Mary Hurley Hospital in Coalgate. She married Jack Matthews on March 9, 1978, and they resided in Coalgate throughout their married life. She spent her entire adult life caring for her children, her patients, and her friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Robert Randol and Tom Randol; her first husband, Patrick J. Troy, Sr., and three children; Michael Troy, Henry Troy. and Lincoln Troy. Survivors include her husband, Jack Matthews of the home; eight children and their spouses, Patrick J., Jr. and Linda Troy of Chester, N.J., James R. Troy and Jane E.. Seys of Winamac, Ind., Kathy Troy of St. Louis, Mo., Jeff and Melanie Troy of Stillwater, Peter Troy, of Stillwater, Luke Troy of Tulsa, Judy Bryant of Owasso, Jonathan and Betsy Troy of Owasso; 13 grandchildren, Michele, Taylor, and Ryan Troy, Jennifer Troy, Rachael Bryant and Patricia Skye Troy, Heather and Jason Troy, Joie, Jennifer, Sean, Matthew and Erin Matthews; one great-grandchild, Madison Parker and one step-son and his spouse, Bill and Kay Matthews of Tokyo, Japan. Her sons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Lawson Ramshaw, Dub Langston, Ernest McKean, Buell painter, J.P. Waters, Danny Burns and Ronnie Barnes. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Will Rogers Memorial Fund of the Pulmonary Institute, c/o Tad Fratenberg, 1640 Marengo Street, Suite #406, Los Angeles, Calif. 90033, (888)994-3863.

David I. Mefford
Funeral services for David I. Mefford, 39, of Stillwater will be held at 3 p.m. today at the Palmer Funeral Home Chapel in Cushing. Rev. Sonny Johnston will preside. Interment will follow at the Osage Cemetery south of Agra. He died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000 at the Tulsa Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be under the direction of the Palmer Funeral Home of Cushing. Born Sept. 28, 1960 in Salinas, Calif. to William Harold and Bessie Elen (Ware) Mefford, he received his early education in California. He moved to Oklahoma in 1982 and had lived in Agra and Cushing prior to moving to Stillwater. He was employed with Payne County as a grader operator. Survivors include two brothers, Harold Mefford of Tryon and Mikel Jones of Sonora, Calif.; two sisters and brother-in-law, Gail and Jim Jester of Longview, Texas and Marie Wiggs of Sonora, Calif.; one niece, Brenda Wiggs of Sonora, Calif.; one nephew and wife, George Allen and Gail Stanley of Gib, Texas; one aunt, Dean Whitaker of Turlock, Calif.; close friends, Helen Brown of Tryon and Linda Hoipkemier of Ripley, as well as numerous other nieces, nephews and friends. Pallbearers will include Jim Arther, Jessie Jones, Troy Toles, Robert Jones, Sonny Smith and Doug Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will include Ray Allison, Ed Sullivan and Mike Howard.

Robert M. Lorett
Funeral services for Robert M. Lorett, 73, of Yale were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Yale. Linda McIntyre, Ferlan Dean and Michael Dershem presided. Interment followed at the Greenwood Cemetery southeast of Yale. Full military honors were presented by the Ft. Sill Military honor guard. Services were under the direction of the Yale-Palmer Funeral Home. He died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000 in Norman. Born Dec. 21, 1926 in Bristow to Lambert 0. and Alpha (Fitch) Lorett, he was a graduate of the Cushing High School Class of 1944. He was married to Billie Faye Farrell June 13, 1954. They had lived several places during his military career. They moved to Yale in August of 1968 and lived there until moving to Norman in November 1995 to be near their children. He was a Ret. Chief Warrant Officer No. 3 and had served WWII, Korea and the Vietnam War. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star. He was past president and member of the American Legion in Yale. He was preceded in death by his father and by his wife, Billie Faye Lorett on Jan. 30, 1997. Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Jim McIntyre of Norman and Susi and Steve Pettijohn of Oklahoma City; one son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Deena Lorett of Cache; his mother, Alpha Lorett of Stillwater; two brothers, Don of Stillwater and Pat of Kildare; one sister, Ruth Moffatt of Oklahoma City; six grandchildren, W.T. and Danaon Lorett of San Marcos, Texas, and John, Robert, Kelly and David McIntyre all of Norman.