Maurice Erwin Wise

2/18/1942-11/14/2006

Katie, Okla., resident Maurice Erwin "Skip" Wise, 64, passed from this life on Tuesday, Nov. 14. He was born February 18, 1942 in Warsaw, Ind., to Leonard and Lennis (Carrothers) Wise. Skip grew up and attended school in Warsaw, Ind. In 1969 he married Linda Lou Ransbottom. They moved to Wynnewood, Okla., before making their home in Katie, Okla. Linda preceded Skip in death on March 10, 1997. On July 21, 2005, Skip married Becky Morton in Warsaw. Skip was a journeyman printer in Indiana before going to work for Lonestar/Ensearch in 1977 before retiring in 1984. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Elmore City and chairman and charter member of the Katie Fire Department. Skip was also a former mayor of Katie, a member of the Murray County Antique Tractors Associations, Rope Makers Guild, and a member of the West Davis Rural Water Board. Skip was involved with the American Red Cross and won the Save The Day Award in 2001 as a mentor/role model. Always known for being generous with his time and talents, Skip volunteered at Elmore City, Pauls Valley, and Sulphur School systems as a reader. He had a great love for rope making and traveled all over the United States doing ropemaking demonstrations. The most popular was the Chuckwagon Festival in Oklahoma City on Memorial Day. Preceding him in death were his first wife, Linda Wise; his father, Leonard Wise. He is survived by his wife, Becky of the home; his mother, Lennis Wise of Warsaw, Ind.; two daughters and husbands, Kimberly and David Kennedy of Elmore City, Lynette and Larry Leidner of Norman; two step-daughters, Jessina Morton of Norman, and Emily Morton of Shawnee; two stepsons, Aenon Morton of Shawnee, Logan Viers of Guam; two brothers, Dexter Wise of Menton, Ind., Doug Wise and his wife Tammy of Warsaw; one sister, Carol Sue Hawkins of Warsaw; three grandchildren, Charles Erwin Kennedy, Katie LuEllen Kennedy, Nicole Lynn Smith; two step-grandchildren, Landon and Lauren Viers; one great-grandchild, David Royce Kennedy. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Elmore City First Baptist Church with Dr. Bruce McCray officiating. Burial will be in the Katie Cemetery under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. The family request that memorials be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation: 825 N.E. 13th Street; Oklahoma City, OK 73104-9930 You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com

Jack Coy Morris

7/24/1920-10/29/2006

Shawnee resident Jack Coy Morris, 86, died Sunday, Oct. 29, in Shawnee. He was born July 24, 1920, in Wetumka, Okla., to Chester Albert and Zella Mae (Chapman) Morris. Although raised in Wetumka he lived in many places while working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Jack had lived in Bethel Acres since 1988 and had recently moved to Shawnee. On Sept. 13, 1968, he married Marthabelle (MacDonald) Beck in Illinois. Jack was a 1939 graduate of Wetumka High School and attended Wetumka Jr. College for one year. He also attended OBU for one year before joining the Army Air Force. Jack served in the Army Air Force, piloting B-24's over Europe during World War II. He discharged as a Captain. He worked in marketing for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Regulatory Branch, retiring as manager of the midwest office in Chicago. Jack was a member of the Oklahoma Farming Heritage Tractor Club. He enjoyed woodworking, metal work, gardening and his Border Collie, "Jodi." His parents preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife, Marthabelle Morris, of the home; step-granddaughter, Tammy Lee Beck of Florida; brother, Carl Matthew Morris and his wife, Zelda, of Wetumka; two sisters, Betty Jo Holdridge of Stigler and Nelma Morgan of Muskogee; and numerous cousins.

Norman (Norm) G. Wood

9/5/1930-12/16/2005

Norman (Norm) G. Wood 75, of Norman died December 16, 2005 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was born on Sept. 5, 1930, in Chanute, Kansas to Richard Ola Wood and Rovena Frances (Worthington) Wood. He attended school in Chanute, Kansas and graduated from Chanute High School in 1948 and attended one year at Chanute Junior College. After moving to Arkansas City he graduated from Arkansas City Junior College in l950. He served 2 years in the Air Force. He worked for Boeing in Wichita, Kansas from 1949 to 1953 as an Aircraft Mechanic then joined General Electric from 1953 to 1964 as a Jet Engine Mechanic and a Field Service Technical Representative. During his 27 year career with Aero Commander which began in 1964, the company name changed to Aero Design Engineering, Rockwell Standard, North American Rockwell, Rockwell International, Gulfstream American and Gulfstream Aerospace Technology. The jobs he held in the company were Experimental Mechanic, Production Flight Line Mechanic, Flight Line Supervisor, Demo and Delivery Aircraft Supervisor and Safety Supervisor. After retiring in 1990 he developed an interest in antique John Deere engines. He collected and restored a large number of engines. He enjoyed showing his engines at area Tractor and Engine Shows. He was a member of the Murray County Antique Tractor and Implement Association, Shawnee Tractor and Engine Club, and Oklahoma Farming Heritage Association. He married Nathana Grace Winton on Dec. 25, 1957 in Arkansas City,Kansas. They lived in Wellington, Kansas, Arkansas City, Kansas, Tullahoma, Tennessee and Jackonsville, Arkansas before moving to Norman, Oklahoma in 1964. He was an active member of First Christian Church, Norman where he was in the Christian Men's Fellowship, Charm Group and served on various committees. He was actively involved with the Boy Scouts troop 230, in Noble, while raising his three sons. He was preceded in death by his parents and son, Nelson in 2003.Survivors include his wife; sons and daughters-in-law, Nick and KathyWood, Norman, Neal and Susan Wood, Noble, and Paula Wood of Norman; Five grandchildren, Michelle (Wood) Cain, Melissa Wood, Larry Wood, Blake Wood and Zachary Wood; one sister Evalyn Wood, Clearwater, Florida; one sister-in-law and brotherin-law, Donna and Bill Rakestraw, Canton, Texas; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Carol L. Jackson

11/26/1962-7/29/2005

Carol Lynn Jackson, 42, died Friday, July 29, 2005 at her home in Bearden. She was born Nov. 26, 1962 in Holdenville to Buster and Virginia (Harrison) Brown. She has been a resident of the Okfuskee County for most of her life. She married Jimmie Ray Jackson on Feb. 8, 1982. Jackson worked as a cook manager for Bearden Schools for approximately 17 years. She loved antique tractors, fishing, and was a member of the Thlopthlocco United Methodist Church. Her father preceded her in death. Surviving is her mother; her husband Jimmie of Bearden; two sons, Mark Jackson of Okemah and Heath Jackson and wife Brenda of Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters, Marcia Caudill and husband Dave of Holdenville and Cynthia Borelli and husband Frank of Las Vegas, Nev. In addition, four brothers, Steven of Oklahoma City, Chris, Jeff and Ronnie, all of Seminole; two sisters, Sharon Brown of Seminole and Jessie Bear of Wewoka; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive her. Pallbearers for the services are Roy Johnston, Dale Harris, Bob Harris, Johnny Wilson, Ed Shoemaker and Dale Ramsey.

Andrew Chrystal (Criss) Deaton

3/17/1914-4/3/2004

Andrew Crystal Deaton (Criss) was born last in a family of nine siblings, six boys and three girls, March 17, 1914 to the parents George Madison and Nancy Ann (McMurtry) Deaton in Chandler, Oklahoma. Criss received his elementary, junior high and high school education from the public school system of Choctaw, Oklahoma, graduating from Choctaw High School. During his school years Criss was involved in the sports of basketball and baseball. He grew up on a farm north of Choctaw where his father was involved in raising cattle, some truck farming, selling produce at the Farmers Market, and it was said the “chickens” got him through High School. After High School Criss began working for the C.C.C., the work program started by President Roosevelt. He helped build the Lincoln Park Amphitheatre and then went to Wyoming, working there for a while. The men who worked for the C.C.C. received five dollars a month for themselves and twenty-five dollars was sent home to family. During the fall term of 1942, Meeks School had a “pie supper” (men bet on decorated pie boxes prepared by the young ladies) and Criss was introduced to a young lady by the name of Lillie Fay Hummel at this supper. They began to talk and get acquainted. He asked if she was going to be in Oklahoma City the next evening and she said yes. That began their courtship that lasted for a little over a year. They became friends and then love found its way into their hearts and they were married on January 5, 1944 by the Justice of the Peace in Yukon, Oklahoma. To this union was born two children: a son, Gus David, was born November 2nd, 1944 and a daughter, Dorothy Sue, was born January 22nd, 1947, both born at Capitol Hill Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Criss and Lillie celebrated sixty years of marriage in January of 2004. Criss and Lillie set up housekeeping after their wedding in Oklahoma City for about a year, moved to Moore for about five years, then to Midwest City for thirty-two years. Criss was a sheet metal worker and a member of the sheet metal union. He retired after thirty-five years in the business. Criss was known as a perfectionist in all the work that he did. He and Lillie then built their home in the country south of McLoud, Oklahoma where they resided for twenty-two years. Criss enjoyed the outdoor sports of fishing and hunting. As long as his health allowed he worked in the garden, planted hay grazer and took care of the cattle. He was a member of the Oklahoma Farming Heritage Association and the Sheet Metal Retirees Club. Criss passed from this life on April 3, 2004 in the OU Presbyterian Hospital at the age of 90 years and 17 days. Preceding Criss in death were his parents, George and Nancy Deaton, a son Gus David Deaton, five brothers and three sisters. Surviving Criss are his wife Lillie, daughter Dorothy Bolton of Choctaw, seven grandchildren (Janice, Chrissie, David, Michelle, Dana, Jeremiah and Gene), eight great grandchildren (Amanda, Robert, Kory, Alexis, Nicole, Taylor, Brandon and Mollie) and many other family members and friends.