Arden C. Finch 
BLACKWELL - Arden C. Finch, longtime Blackwell businessman, died Sunday morning, Dec. 29, 1996, at Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home in Blackwell. He was 80.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, in the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charles Ryser, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the Blackwell IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Hackler Funeral Home.
Arden C. Finch was born Jan. 26, 1916, at White Mound, Kan., the son of Ernest O. and Bessie (Clifton) Finch. As a young child, he moved with his parents to Braman and at age 10 moved to South Haven, Kan., where he received his education.
He was married in 1938, to Berneice M. Boals in Blackwell, where the couple established their home. Finch began his 57-year business career in the service station business in 1939 as operator of the city Service Oil Company Service Station on South Main Street. In 1940, he built a service station located at Main and Lincoln in Blackwell and in 1960 built a second station at Interstate 35 and U.S. 60, west of Tonkawa. In 1965 he built the Conestoga Restaurant at the same location. He and his son were still operating the station at Main and Lincoln at the time of his death. Finch was a member of the Blackwell First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Berneice, of the home; one son, Ron Finch of Blackwell; one sister, Letha Mae Norris of Tonkawa; one brother, Paul Finch of Ponca City; and one grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Hazel Loretta Keener 
BLACKWELL - Hazel Loretta Keener, longtime resident of Blackwell, died Friday evening, Dec. 27, 1996, at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was 76 years, six months and five days old.
The funeral service will be held at the First Christian Church of Blackwell at 2 p.m., Tuesday, with the Rev. George Wood presiding. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home.
She was born Hazel Loretta Stewart on June 21, 1920, on a farm near Gage. Her parents were William Washington and Adeline Bell (Culley) Stewart. The Stewarts moved their young family to Blackwell where Hazel and her five brothers grew up and attended school. Hazel graduated from Blackwell High School in 1938.
On her 18th birthday, June 21, 1938, Miss Stewart became the bride of Harlen Leon Keener. They were wed in the Nazarene Church in Blackwell and made their first home in Tonkawa. In March the following year, their only child, Chleora Kay, was born. The Keeners moved to Blackwell in 1941, but soon after Harlen joined the U.S. Marines and Hazel kept the home-fires burning in various towns throughout California where her husband was stationed during World War II.
After the war, the Keeners once again settled in Blackwell. Hazel worked in the office of Cities Service Gas and later as a sales clerk for Hunt's Department Store (later Peter's Department Store) where she worked until they closed. She then began working for Bob's Picture Box Too until earlier this year.
Hazel was a longtime member of the First Christian Church and sang in the choir most of her life. She also sang with the Sweet Adelines for many years. Hazel and Harlen were avid "rock hounds," and spent most of their vacations prospecting rocks and fossils all over the United States. Both were members of the Gem and Mineral Society. They loved to travel and spend time with their grandchildren. After her husband's death on Jan. 22, 1987, Hazel continued to live in Blackwell, devoting her time to church, family, and singing.
Hazel leaves behind her daughter, Mrs. Rex R. (Chleora Kay) Tebow of Blackwell; two brothers, Chester Stewart of Shawnee, and Les Stewart of Green Valley, Ariz; five grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, Mrs. Dale (Kimberly Lynn) Coons, and sons Trey and Brandon and daughter, Jenna; Michael Harlen Tebow and sons, Mickey and Robbie and daughters, Cady and Jessica; Mrs. Stan (Lisa Dawn) Rains and sons Eric, Kyle, Jacob, Joseph, and Ted; Tracy Lee Tebow, and son Tyler and daughters Tanya and Alicia; and Devry Dwaine Tebow, and sons Dimtri and Dylan and daughter Devra.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sisters, who died in infancy, Bernice Jewell and Ruby Mae; three brothers, Virgil Stewart and Clinton Stewart of Ponca City, and Glenn Stewart of Blackwell; and one great-granddaughter, Michelle Tebow.
Jotted in the back of her well-worn address book was this brief epitaph; "Another link is broken in our beloved band - but a golden chain is forming in a far, far better land."
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 306 East Coolidge, Blackwell, OK 74631.

Wilburn B. Wilson 
Wilburn B. "Barney" Wilson, longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 57.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1996, at Trout Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Kip Wright, pastor of Albright United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Oddfellows Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home until 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Mr. Wilson was born June 23, 1939, in Perkins, to John Lewis and Cora Mae (Inman) Wilson. He grew up in Perkins, attending Perkins and Stillwater schools. He served in the U.S. Army.
On May 16, 1989, he married Janice Kay Jones in Miami, Okla. He was employed as the purchasing manager with Lindsay Manufacturing Company. He enjoyed playing golf, traveling, being with friends and working in the yard. He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, American Legion, Moose Lodge and Elks Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Janice (Jones) Wilson of the home; one daughter, Kim Chavez and her husband, Bill, of Albuquerque, N.M.; one son, Brian Wilson and his wife, Stacy, of Dallas, Texas; a step-son, Todd Archer, of Oklahoma City; a sister, Norma Horton of Stillwater; three grandchildren Kristin Charles, Jimmy Charles and Zane Wilson. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Don Wilson; and a sister, Wilma Barbara.
The family will be at 2700 Ames Street.

William S. Carlisle 
GRAINOLA - William S. "Bill" Carlisle, longtime resident of Grainola, died Monday, Dec. 30, 1996 at his home. He was 63.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 1997 in the Grainola Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Long officiating. Burial will follow in the Maple City Cemetery in Maple City, Kan. under the direction of Grace Memorial Shidler Chapel.
Bill Carlisle was born June 28, 1933 in Grainola, Okla., the son of Straud Franklin and Alice Marie (Helms) Carlisle. He grew up and received his education in the Grainola schools.
Mr. Carlisle served overseas in Korea in the United States Army from 1956 to 1958. Following his discharge he worked as an oilfield pumper, roustabout, welder and also as a ranch hand.
On May 27, 1963 he was united in marriage to Doris Christine Anderson in Miami, Okla. They have made their home in Grainola since that time. He worked as a fencing contractor for several years before going to work for Osage County in the road maintenance division. He retired in June of 1996.
He was a member of the Methodist Church and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Surviving are his wife, Christine of the home; two sons, William S. Carlisle Jr. and Herman Wayne Carlisle, both of Shidler; one daughter, Debbie Jackson of Grainola; one brother, John V. Carlisle of Shidler; three sisters, Mrs. Paul (Frankie) Fulsom of Cedar Vale, Kan., Mrs. Jerry (Arley) McNeil of Argonia, Kan., and Mrs. Jay (Hazel) Pontious, of Lincolnville, Kan.; 10 grandchildren, 31 nieces, 43 nephews, five aunts and two uncles. He was preceded in death by his parents, one granddaughter, Montana Anderson Carlisle, and six nephews.
The family will be at the home in Grainola.

Nell Ethridge 
NEWKIRK - Nell Ethridge, resident of Newkirk, died early Monday morning, Dec. 30, 1996 in the Newkirk Nursing Center. She was 82.
The funeral service has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, in Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel with Danny W. Cornish, minister of the Newkirk Church of Christ, officiating. Burial is to be in Park Hill Cemetery in Columbus, Ga.
Nell Ethridge was born Nov. 5, 1914 at Phoenix City, Ala., the daughter of John Wesley and Sara Fletcher (Skinner) Osteen. She grew up and received her education in Columbus, Ga., where she graduated from high school.
On Dec. 24, 1934 she and James Wesley Ethridge were married at Phoenix City. They established their home in Columbus, and she worked for a number of years for a chiropractic doctor there. Mr. Ethridge died in 1970.
In 1985 she moved to Newkirk and made her home with her son and his family until she entered the nursing center.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Columbus, and enjoyed crocheting and reading.
Mrs. Ethridge is survived by two sons, James Ethridge of Enterprise, Ala., and John Ethridge of Ponca City; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, and a sister.

Doyle Wesley Warren 
Doyle Wesley Warren, resident of Portland, Ore. and nephew of Velma Falconer and Opal Neal of Ponca City, died Thursday, Dec. 26 while helping saw limbs that had fallen during one of the recent storms on the west coast.
His body was to be cremated.
Doyle was born Feb. 10, 1938 in Billings, Okla., the son of Albert Lee and Iva (Bozworth) Warren. He attended schools in Tonkawa, Elk City and Weatherford. He and Lenora Mae Sanders were married May 26, 1962.
Doyle was a pharmacist at one time on the Indian Reservation in Poplar, Mont. and later worked in Walla Walla, Wash, before moving to Portland, Ore.
He is survived by his wife, Lenora of the Portland home; one son, Brandon Warren of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, Farrell Warren of Lawton and Earl Warren of Wetumka. He was preceded in death by his father, Albert Lee Warren.

The Rev. Leonard Carl Anderson 
BLACKWELL - Leonard Carl "Pete" Anderson of Blackwell, Okla., died Sunday morning, Dec. 29, 1996, at the Blackwell Regional Hospital at the age of 84 years.
Leonard Carl "Pete" Anderson was born on April 3, 1912, in Berry County, Mo., to William and Salesta (Yates) Anderson. He grew up and attended school near Aurora, Missouri. Following his schooling he began working for a highway construction company until he was twenty years old at which time he moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma. He began working for Acme Foundry Company in 1932. He married Opal V. Wood on January 24, 1936, in Blackwell and they settled in Blackwell. He then went to work for the Blackwell Zinc Company in 1938, and in 1942 they moved to a farm located south of Blackwell. In 1946, they moved to Washington State to work in a foundry there. Acme Foundry Company called him back to Blackwell to work and he returned later that same year, working for Acme until his retirement in 1977. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Blackwell, and was ordained as a deacon on November 25, 1962. He later surrendered to preach in 1969, and was ordained into the ministry in the First Baptist Church of Blackwell on September 17, 1969. His first pastorate was in the First Baptist Church in Burbank, Oklahoma, where he served for eight years. He then served as an interim pastor for Longwood First Baptist Church. His second pastorate was with the First Baptist Church in Lamont, Oklahoma, serving there for a few years. He then accepted the call to the First Baptist Church of Marland, Oklahoma, in 1991, and he ministered there for three years before he retired. He had also served as Senior Minister for the First Baptist Church in Blackwell for a number of years. He operated the Anderson Electric Shop at his home since 1954. He was an avid bird hunter and loved his dogs, looking forward to each quail season. He was also a member of the Blackwell Ministerial Alliance.
Survivors include his wife, Opal V. Anderson of Blackwell, Oklahoma; one daughter, Janet Haymaker of Blackwell; a son, Max Anderson of Leesburg, Florida, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, Tom, Heairl, Ross, and Charles Anderson and an infant brother; three sisters, Lucille Sapp and two infant sisters.
The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, January 2, 1997 in the First Baptist Church of Blackwell, Oklahoma. The Rev. Gregg Engle, First Baptist Church, Blackwell, will officiate. Burial will follow in Blackwell Cemetery.
Honorary casket bearers will be Jim Liles, Dan Kennedy, Cliff Fite, Jackie Crafton, Dennis Wideman, Chester Ward, Warren Case, Russell May, Roland Briggs and Phillip Lieber.
Casket bearers will be Same Cauthon, David Haney, John Selvey, Olen Riley, Roger Clark and Bob Landis.
Memorial contributions may be made in the Rev. Mr. Anderson's name to the First Baptist Church of Blackwell, Okla.
The family will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. to meet friends.

C.L. "Loyd" Ward 
Loyd Ward was born March 4, 1914 at Sulphur, Okla. He was the son of Henry Clay Ward and Cora Moss Ward. Loyd passed away at Ponca City, Oklahoma on Sunday, December 29, 1996. He was 82. 
The funeral service for C.L. "Loyd" Ward will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 31, 1996 in the First Baptist Church, Bixby, Oklahoma with interment in Bixby Cemetery, Bixby, Oklahoma. Dr. Odell Carpenter and the Rev. Garnett Cole will officiate under the direction of Jack Selby, Bixby Funeral Service.
Loyd served in the U.S. Army during WWII and enjoyed reminiscing about some of his experiences in the service. Loyd and Ethel Bradford were united in marriage on February 5, 1936 at Tulsa, Okla. He was a retired independent contractor and bail bondsman and had resided in Bixby since 1968.
Loyd was a member of First Baptist Church of Bixby and was an avid golfer until his health failed. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Ulys and sister, Opal; son, Gary Ward and grandson, Robert Allen Ward.
Loyd is survived by his loving wife, Ethel, of the home; one son, Lester Ward and his wife, Rhonda of Ponca City, Oklahoma; one brother, Bill Powell of Yuma Arizona; two sisters, Leona Pasley of Corpus Christi, Texas and Anna Mae Plank of Lafayette, Indiana; grandsons, Mike and Greg Ward of Ward's Air Conditioning Co.; four grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Casket bearers for the service were Tom Bradford, Johnny Lee Bradford, David Bradford, Jacky Grimes, Steve Ward, Terry Ward and Sid Ward. Honorary casket bearers were Orville Blevins, Marvin Williams, Ira Smithee, Jack Selby, Fred Burnley, Ted Swingle, Ray Linebarger, Virgil Cox, Paul Earp, Luther Metcalf, Jr. Baker, Jerry Ezell and Ernest Crocker. Music for the service was provided by vocalist, Leonard Crockett and pianist, Brenda Evans.
In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to donate to the Hospice of Ponca City, c/o First Baptist Church, Bixby, Oklahoma.

Rollo Wilson 
Rollo Wilson, longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996, at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa. He was 71.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 1997, at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel with Bob Innis, pastor of the Word of Life Christian Center, officiating. Burial will be with military honors in the Masham Cemetery, north of Pawnee. Friends may call at the funeral home until noon, Thursday.
Mr. Wilson was born Sept. 2, 1925, in Fayetteville, Ark., to Rollo R. and Gleela (Whitcomb) Wilson. He came to Ponca City at the age of five and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1943. Throughout high school, he played football and was a member of the All-State team during his senior year. Also during his senior year of high school, he worked for the Ponca City fire department. He attended Oklahoma State University during the fall semester of 1943 and was on the football team. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and served a tour in Okinawa during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
He married D. Lucile Brien on Oct. 4, 1947, in Ponca City. He was employed with the Ponca City Fire Department for 32 years retiring as Deputy Fire Chief in 1978. He was a member of the Oklahoma Fireman's Association. Mr. Wilson enjoyed sports, fishing, and hunting.
He is survived by his wife, Lucile Wilson, of the home; a daughter, Peggy Brooks, and her husband Phillip, of Broken Arrow; three sisters, Barbara Pappan of Pawhuska, Jacqueline Hinton of Ponca City and Joan Brooks of Lake Charles, La.; and two grandsons, Gregory and Matthew Brooks.
Casket bearers will be J.L. Brien, Morris Brien, Royce Brien, Tony Brien, Mike Brown, and Randy Clark. Honorary casket bearers will be the Ponca City Firefighters.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 3545 N.W. 58th Street, Suite 400-C, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, or to the American Cancer Society, 2233 N.W. 39th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.
The family will be at 2213 Jane Street.

Elizabeth Lucille Butler Clark 
BLACKWELL - Elizabeth Lucille Butler Clark, former Blackwell resident, died in the Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus, Tuesday evening, Dec. 31, 1996. She was 90.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Lone Wolf (Okla.) First Christian Church with the Rev. Bill Worthington officiating. Burial will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Blackwell IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell.
Elizabeth Lucille (Isenhart) Butler Clark was born July 2, 1906, in Wichita, Kan., the daughter of Walter Ramsey and Florence Nancy (Ally) Isenhart. As a small girl she moved with her parents to Blackwell, where she grew up and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1924. She attended Oklahoma A&M College and received a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1929.
She returned to Blackwell and was married to Alex Butler, and taught in the Blackwell public schools for many years. Mr. Butler preceded her in death on May 25, 1955. She later returned to Oklahoma State University to take refresher courses in education so she could return to teaching.
She then moved to Lone Wolf, where she met and was later married to V. Jack Clark on Jan. 28, 1961, in Blackwell. The couple made their home in Lone Wolf, later moving to Altus. Mrs. Clark was a member of the Lone Wolf First Christian Church, Oklahoma Education Association, and the National Education Association.
Survivors include her husband, V. Jack Clark of Altus; one step-daughter, Sheila Blevins of Lone Wolf; one step-son, Robert (Bob) Clark of Altus; one foster brother, Howard Fisher of Ellinwood, Kan.; and four step-grandchildren. In addition to her first husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Patricia Butler, and one brother, Walter R. Isenhart Jr.
Casket bearers will be Kirk Clark, Stephen H. Fisher, Dub Blevins, Randy Blevins, Scott Fisher and Tim Blevins.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Clark's name to the Lone Wolf First Christian Church, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74604.

Virginia Mae Henke 
Virginia Mae (Ray) Henke, 99 Stoneridge Drive, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1996, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was 77.
The funeral will be held graveside, at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Rosston. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City.
Virginia Mae (Ray) Henke was born Feb. 28, 1919, in Rosston, the daughter of William and Virgie (Jeffries) Ray. She attended Rosston schools.
On Nov. 30, 1938, she was married to Clete Henke at Arnett, and the couple established their home in Alva. Mrs. Henke was a legal secretary and later worked in the office of Judge Advocate General in Victoria, Texas. When the couple moved to Okmulgee in 1954, she was employed as an executive secretary in of offices of East Central Electric Cooperative. Following retirement in 1978, the couple moved to Libby, Mont., before moving to Ponca City in 1990. Mrs. Henke was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. She enjoyed making stuffed animals for children's hospitals, writing children's stories and canning fruits and vegetables.
Survivors include her husband, Clete, of the home; one son, Dr. Fred Henke of Ponca City; two brothers, Dr. Darrel D. Ray of Stillwater and Douglas K. Hickman of Morrison; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and eight siblings, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Cleta Rae Henke, in 1940.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Henke's name to Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Ponca City, OK 74601.
The family will be at the home, 99 Stoneridge Drive.

E. P. Jones 
E. P. Jones, longtime Ponca City resident, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1997, at the South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City, Kan. He was 72 years of age.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 1997, at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kan., with the Rev. Larry Heslip, Minister of Education, Ponca City First Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
E. P. Jones was born June 11, 1924, in Floydada, Texas, the son of James W. and Maudie B. (Dempsey) Jones. He grew up in Seligman, Mo., and received his education in the Seligman schools. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during his senior year of high school on Dec. 1, 1942. He served aboard the USS Phaon as Petty Officer 1st Class. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 1, 1945.
On Jan. 1, 1945, he was united in marriage to Virginia Lee Perkins of Arkansas City. The couple made their first home in National City, Calif., where Jones was stationed. Following his discharge they moved to Arkansas City. He worked as an electrician for Osage Electric until moving to Ponca City in 1951. Mr. Jones worked for Snyder Electric in Ponca City for 37 years until retiring in 1984, due to ill health.
Mr. Jones was a charter member of the Asbury United Methodist Church and was also a member of the IBEW local No. 444, the Ponca Lodge No. 83 AF&AM, the Scottish Rite, and the Eastern Star Fanchon Chapter No. 53. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, golf, traveling and spending time with his family.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia, of the home; one daughter and son-in-law, Deanna and Kenn Orr of Ponca City; a daughter-in-law, Sheryl Jones of Shidler; his step-father, C.W. Ownsby of Amarillo, Texas; one sister, Joye Amyx of Amarillo, Texas; a step-brother, Bill Ownsby of Amarillo, Texas; four grandchildren, Kenny and Cindy Orr, Terri and Tom Stephenson, and Sundy and Travis Van Hauen, all of Ponca City and Jason Jones of Edmond; and two great-grandchildren, Heather and Daniel Orr of Ponca City. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Phillip Eugene Jones; a brother, Walter Jones, and his twin brother, J.P. Jones.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Route 2, Box 990, Arkansas City, KS 67005.
The family will be at the home.

Doyle Wesley Warren 
Doyle Wesley Warren, resident of Portland, Ore. and nephew of Velma Falconer and Opal Neal of Ponca City, died Thursday, Dec. 26 , 1996, at his home. He was 58.
No services were to be held and arrangements and cremation were under the direction of Ross Hollywood Chapel in Portland, Ore. 
Doyle W. Warren was born Feb. 10, 1938 in Billings, Okla., the son of Albert Lee and Iva (Bozworth) Warren. He attended schools in Tonkawa, Elk City and Weatherford and was a pharmacist by trade.
He and Lenora Mae Sanders were married May 26, 1962. Warren was employed as a pharmacist one time on the Indian Reservation in Poplar, Mont. and later worked in Walla Walla, Wash., and Ainsworth, Wash., before moving to Portland, Ore., in 1970. He had also been employed in the Providence Hospital Pharmacy. He retired in 1993.
He is survived by his wife, Lenora, of the home in Portland, Ore.; one son, Brandon Warren of Athens, Ga.; his mother, Iva Warren of Wewoka; two brothers, Farrell Warren of Lawton, and Earl Warren of Wewoka. He was preceded in death by his father and his parents.