Obituaries

Guy Roy Parker

Guy Roy Parker passed away on Jan. 13, 2024. Guy was born on Sept. 25, 1956, to Roy and Leda Parker in Shawnee, OK. Guy’s professional career was spent working for OG&E. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; brother Rodney Parker, and daughter, Sheena Nicole Parker.

George Benson Jones

George Benson Jones, 75, of McLoud, OK passed away on January 6, 2024. George was born September 26, 1948 to Ethel Merrel, soon adopted by Casey and Erma Jones. George graduated from Longview High Hchool in 1968.

Clara G. Bristow

Clara G. Bristow passed away January 3, 2024. Clara was born February 16, 1942 in her parent’s log cabin in Bergman, Arkansas to Pearl K. and Hazel Whiteside. Clara married Paul F. Bristow in February 21, 1958 in Seminole, OK.

Artie M. Sparks Nixon

Artie M. Sparks Nixon passed away on January 7, 2024. She was 99 years old. Artie was born on December 31, 1924 in Shawnee, OK to Henry and Eunice Maxey. She married Dee Sparks on October 2, 1944. They were married 41 years before his death in 1986. Artie worked for a short time in real estate.

Kurt Shirey

Kurt C. Shirey passed away January 5, 2024. Kurt was born February 4, 1952, in Shawnee, OK, to Barney Leon and Theresa Roberts Shirey. Kurt graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1970. He began his law enforcement career, with the City of Shawnee, on March 21, 1977.

Carl Annanders

Carl Ray Annanders passed away January 3, 2024. He was born August 13, 1947 in Shawnee, OK to C. W. and Audrey Sybil (Riddle) Annanders. Carl attended New Hope and Tecumseh schools. He married Juanita Kay Fisk on October 19, 1967 in Lander, WY. Carl was a mechanic for Bob Townsend Ford.
Betty Lou Wood

Betty Lou Wood

Betty Lou Wood

Betty Lou Wood, 89, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2024 in Seminole, OK. She was born July 8, 1934 to Roy A and Corda (Everett) Hanks in Stratford, OK. Betty was raised in Stratford and attended Corley and Stratford Public Schools.

Iris Matthews

Iris “Irlene” Matthews passed away on Dec. 24, 2023. Irlene was born Oct. 5, 1941, in Sasakwa to Harold and Iris McClead. She graduated Class of 1959 from Sasakwa High. Irlene married George Graves, Jr. in Feb. 1961.

Barbara Melott

Barbara June (Sanders) Melott passed away on Dec. 23, 2023. Barbara was born Aug. 11, 1939 in Tecumseh, OK to Noah Benjamin and Mabel Girldean (Tanner) Sanders. Barbara’s nickname was “Barbie June” and she attended Black school and graduated from Bethel High School in 1957.

Henryetta Ellis

Henryetta Ellis passed away on Dec. 22, 2023. Henryetta was born on Oct. 14, 1952, to Henry and Helen Marie Blanchard in Little Axe, OK. She married Leroy Ellis on Aug. 27, 1970, in Shawnee, OK.