Obituaries

Janet Whitecotton

Janet (Howell) Whitecotton, 95, passed from this life on Sep. 16, 2025.Janet was born June 17, 1930, in Shawnee, OK to Corliss and Manilla (Chilson) Howell.Janet married Bill Whitecotton, in June of 1948, and they spent 50 beautiful years together.

Laura Jean Pennock

Laura Jean Pennock passed away on Sept. 16, 2025. She was born on Oct. 7, 1957, in Pawnee, OK to William and Genevive (Meeks) Pennock and was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation.Laura dedicated 25 years of her life to working at Firecracker Joes.

Jewel Dean Jones

Jewel Jones passed away Sept. 10, 2025. Jewel was born to Leora Green Webber and William Webber on July 5, 1931, in Hotulka, OK. She grew up in Hotulka, OK, and attended school there and in Shawnee, at Dunbar High School.She married Calvin Jones III in Shawnee on Oct 27, 1947.

Miyoko Strong

Miyoko Strong passed away on Sept. 7, 2025. She was 92 years old. Miyoko was born on April 6, 1933 in Gauji, Japan. She married Robert Lee Strong in Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 4, 1952.Miyoko was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church.

Glenda Jean Ferguson

Glenda Jean Ferguson passed away on Sept. 18th, 2025. Glenda was born on Jan. 23rd, 1944 in Cleveland, TX to Joyce Elaine and Virgil Warner Pratt. She graduated from Smiley High in 1961. She worked as a paralegal for about 40 years.

Micheal Anthony Ruiz

Micheal Anthony Ruiz passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 14, 2025. Mike was born on July 31, 1989, in Smithfield, NC, to Everardo and Millie Ruiz. On March 27, 2017, Micheal and Katie Lynn were married. In 2015, Mike obtained his CDL licensure.

Kimberly Ann Johnson

Kimberly Ann Downs-Johnson passed away on Sept. 16, 2025, after a courageous, long-draining battle with pain and depression.Kimberly was born in San Pedro, CA, on Feb. 1, 1968, to Cynthia Elaine Downs and Paris R. Winkleman. With four children to raise, she remained a stay-at-home mom.

Teresa Potts

Teresa Ann Potts passed away Sept. 12, 2025. Teresa was born in Oklahoma City, OK on Mar. 31, 1956, to George and Barbara (Baughman) Rother.Teresa managed the candy shop at Frontier City, where she mastered her candy making skills. She later managed several fuel stations.

Mary McGee

Mary Ann (Balentine) McGee passed away Sept. 12, 2025. Mary was born on Feb. 4, 1940 in Okemah, OK to Arvil Balentine and Alpha (Stroud) Balentine.Mary graduated from Okemah High School then married Robert Lee McGee in Okemah, OK. She remained happily married until Robert’s death on Dec. 19, 2003.

Charlotte (Kieffer) Forrester

Charlotte (Kieffer) Forrester passed away Sept. 9, 2025. Charlotte was born on Nov. 7, 1944 in Skagg City, southeast of Tecumseh, OK, to Lester Boone Kieffer and Ruth Elizabeth (James) Kieffer. Charlotte graduated from Tecumseh Public Schools in 1962.