From The Pages Of The Ponca City News, Monday, December
29, 1997
LOCAL
Ponca City Muslims Celebrate Ramadan With Fasting, Prayers
Police Seeking Former Resident In Shooting Spree
Hand Game Set
DEATHS
Ella Sophia Anna Keen
Edna Mary Bradshaw
Percy R. Love
Marjorie Ann Cordell
Obituaries
Lawrence W. Lambert
Services Pending
Maldred Williamson
Diana Batt
NEWS BRIEFS
Ponca City Muslims will join Muslims all over the world to celebrate the month of Ramadan by fasting during the day from food and drinks. Ramadan begins, by the Muslims' lunar calendar Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the sighting of the new moon and it lasts for 29 or 30 days. Because the beginning of the month is based on a lunar calendar, it moves relative to the Western Calendar by 10 days.
According to Dr. Mamdouh Salama, a spokesman for the Ponca City Muslims Community, during Ramadan, Muslims abstain from all sensual pleasures and try especially hard "to be more virtuous and more generous." After sunset, Muslims go to the Mosque and break their fast with the traditional snack of dates. Then they will participate in the regular sunset prayers held everyday. These will be followed by a community meal. Special Ramadan prayers begin at 7:30 p.m. after the fifth obligatory prayer. Because Ponca City does not have a Mosque, Ponca City Muslims try as often as they can to join Muslims in Stillwater and other larger communities for these prayers. Each of these communities invite a "hafez", some one who has memorized the entire Quran, to recite one-thirtieth of the scripture each night during these prayers.
The Muslims' Holy Scripture, the Quran, provides the basis for the fasting of this Month. The Quran states in Chapter 2: "The month of Ramadan is when the Quran was sent down as guidance for mankind and with explanations for guidance and as criterion. Let anyone of you who is at home during the month, fast it; while anyone who is ill or on a journey set an equal number of other days. God wants things to be easy for you and does not want any hardship, and wants you to complete the period and to magnify God because He has guided you, so that you may act grateful". (2:185)
For Muslims who are terminally ill and thus can not delay fast to other days, they are required to feed a needy person every day during that month. In Islam, fasting is "an act of obedience to God, atones for human sins and trains a person in self restraint." Muslims believe that during this month, Satan and all evil spirits are chained by the will of God and thus have no influence on anyone. Therefore, it is time for people to purify their soul and practice self-control and devotion to God without external influences and temptations.
Observance of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The other four pillars are testifying that their no God but one God and Mohammad is His Messenger, praying five times a day, paying the Zakat (annual alms to the poor), and performing pilgrimage to Mecca at least one in the person life time. Most Muslims use the Month of Ramadan as the time to fulfill the other pillar of Islam by paying the Zakat and thus by purify his/her wealth as the term Zakat implies. Zakat is a percent of the person asset that he/she maintained for one year and is paid annually to the poor. The percent varies according to the type of asset, but it is generally 2.5 percent. Muslims believe that during Ramadan, God multiplies the rewards for all virtuous acts, therefore, it is an opportunity to do as much good as possible.
Dr. Mamdouh Salama, a spokesman for the Ponca City Muslims Community, offers "reassurance to non-Muslims not to be embarrassed if their friendly offer of snacks or coffee to a fasting colleague at work or at school is declined." He said "we can appreciate the opportunity to resist temptation."
Police are searching for a former Ponca City resident wanted in connection for the shooting of two people Thursday night. According to Capt. Carl Porter a warrant has been issued for Todd Coburn for three counts of shooting with intent to kill after a former felony conviction. Bond has been set at $100,000.
Two Ponca City residents were taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center after sustaining gunshot wounds in the shooting which occurred at 11:13 p.m. in the 600 block of South Fifth Street.
A 16-year-old girl, 7 months pregnant, was admitted to the hospital and an emergency Caesarean Section was performed on her. The baby was transferred to Oklahoma City. Also injured in the shooting was 20-year-old Brian Davis who was treated and released.
One person was arrested in connection to the shooting. Police located a vehicle, described by witnesses as the suspect's vehicle, at Elm Street and South Avenue. However the driver had abandoned the vehicle and had left on foot. The 22-year-old man was found on Marland Drive and arrested for driving under suspension and attempting to elude.
The case is still under investigation.
WHITE EAGLE - The American Legion Buffalo Post 38 will be sponsoring a hand game at the Ponca Tribal Cultural Center at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The event is in conjunction with the Ponca Tribes tradition of dancing between Christmas and New Year's Day.
Refreshments will be served after the hand game.
DEATHS
NEWKIRK - Ella Sophia Anna Keen, longtime Newkirk resident, died Saturday evening, Dec. 27, 1997, at the Halstead (Kan.) Hospital. She was 90.
A graveside funeral has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, in the Newkirk Cemetery. The Rev. Ernest Quillen, minister of St. John's Lutheran Church, Newkirk, will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service. The casket will remain closed at all times.
Ella Sophia Anna (Backhaus) Keen was born April 6, 1907 near Lanham in Jefferson County, Neb. She was one of 12 children born to Wilhelm and Augusta (Tegtmeier) Backhaus. The family moved to the Newkirk area in 1909, where she attended OK and Pioneer rural schools.
Mrs. Keen was a homemaker on a farm in the Kildare area for several years before beginning employment at the Rodeo meat packing plant in Arkansas City, Kan., in 1951. She retired in 1969 and returned to Newkirk from Arkansas City in 1970. She later lived at Ponca City for a short time before returning to Newkirk in 1977. Mrs. Keen had been a member of St. John's Lutheran Church since childhood. She enjoyed spending time with her family and growing flowers in her yard.
Survivors included two sons, Donald D. and Thomas J., both of Newkirk; two daughters, Marjory Robinson of Newkirk and Kathleen Martin of Ponca City; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, her eldest son Virgil Lee Keen and an infant; her parents; five brothers, William, Louis, Henry, and Fred Backhaus and an infant; five sisters, Anna, Lena, Lizzie, Freda and Minnie; a half-sister, Mary; and three grandsons.
A memorial fund has been established in Mrs. Keen's name with Hospice of Ponca City. Contributions may be made directly to Hospice of Ponca City at 1904 North Union, Ponca City, OK 74601 or at Eastman National Bank, P.O. Box 468, Newkirk, OK 74647.
BLACKWELL - Edna Mary Bradshaw, longtime Blackwell resident, died at her home Saturday morning, Dec. 27, 1997. She was 74.
A Christian wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Roberts Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joseph Burger officiating. The Funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church and burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, then the casket will be closed.
Edna Mary (Koerner) Bradshaw was born June 11, 1923, in Sharon, Kan., to John and Elizabeth (Weaver) Koerner. She grew up there, attending Sharon Valley schools. In 1944, she moved to Blackwell to live with a sister.
On Aug. 25, 1946, she was married to Glenn Harrison Bradshaw in Wellington, Kan., and the couple established their home in Blackwell. Mrs. Bradshaw operated the Little Castle Cafe for several years and in 1964, she and her husband opened the Southside Package Store. They retired in 1985. Mrs. Bradshaw was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and the VFW Auxiliary. He had served as campaign manager for the Kay County Democratic Party during the Kennedy election. She enjoyed writing poetry and had won the Oklahoma Senior Citizens' poem contest in 1997.
Survivors include three sisters, Leona Minor of Blackwell, Helen Groff of Ellis, Kan., and Monica Ditgen of Sharon, Kan.; and one niece. She was preceded in death by her husband on July 2, 1989; two sisters, Betty Clevenger and Elenore VanVrankan; and three brothers, Bill, Clifford and Albert Koerner.
Casket bearers will be Richard Clevenger, David Miner, Gary Miner, Lloyd Magers, Doug Mercer, and Kevin Miner.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Bradshaw's name to the VFW Cemetery Flag Pole Fund, c/o Roberts Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, OK 74631.
Percy R. Love, resident of Ponca City, died Saturday evening, Dec. 27, 1997, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 84.
A graveside funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Doug Scott, presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Honorary casket bearers will be grandsons. Friends and family may visit at the funeral home until 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Percy R. Love was born Dec. 4, 1913, in Winfield, Kan., the son of Burton Underwood Love and Minnie M. (Lawson) Love. He graduated from Tonkawa High School in 1930.
On May 2, 1934, he was married to Wilma Lee Bushman in Deer Creek and the couple established their first home In Blackwell. They had recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. The couple moved to Ponca City in 1955. Love was employed in the motor division of Conoco for several years before his retirement in 1975. He was also a carpenter, and along with Bud Ormand constructed several homes in the Ponca City area. Love was a member of St. Luke's Church of the Nazarene. He enjoyed fishing, camping, carpentry work and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma, of the home; three daughters, Carmeleta Carpenter of Trinity, Texas, and LaDonna Cowden and Joyce Jones, both of Ponca City; one son, Alvin of Ponca City; two sisters, Sylvia Eastin and Garnett McGaha, both of Tonkawa; 12 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Carmel McGaha and Goldie Duroy; and one great-grandson.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Love's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 6465 South Yale Street, Tulsa, OK 74136.
Marjorie Ann (DeWitt) Cordell, former Ponca City resident died Monday evening, Dec. 22, 1997, at St. Mary's Corwin Hospital in Pueblo, Colo. She was 53.
No public service is planned by the family. A private family service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City.
Marjorie Ann (DeWitt) Cordell was born March 17, 1944, at Temple, Texas, the daughter of Royce J. and Elizabeth O. (White) DeWitt. She graduated from Ponca City High School in 1962 and attended Bethany Nazarene College and the Blackwell School of Nursing.
She was married to Mitch Cordell and the couple made their home in Pueblo, Colo. Mrs. Cordell had worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was a member of the New Hope Compassionate Ministries in Pueblo, and had also taught Sunday School Classes for children for several years. Mrs. Cordell enjoyed ceramics and spending time with children.
Survivors include her husband, Mitch, of the home; her mother, Elizabeth DeWitt, Ponca City; three sisters, Edie Frankenfield of Houston, Texas, Connie McGugan and Jackie Baca, both of Ponca City; one brother, Bernie DeWitt of Oklahoma City; and 13 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father.
Lawrence W. "Larry" Lambert, 1024 Riviera Drive, died Dec. 27, 1997 at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 21.
The funeral will be Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997, 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Trout Funeral Home with the Rev. Clyde F. McCaulley, Fairfax, officiating. Burial will follow in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Ponca City.
Born Dec. 17, 1976, in Ponca City, he was the son of Alvin R. and M. Janie Eaton Lambert. Larry was a special child from birth and could not work. He attended the Opportunity Center, Ponca City High School and was an honorary graduate on May 19, 1995. He loved his family and enjoyed listening to country and western music.
He is survived by his parents, Al and Janie Lambert, of the home; brothers, Blake and Matthew and sister, Nicole, also of the home; grandmother, Dorothy T. Lambert, Enid; grandmother, Grace M. Lambert, Ponca City; and by uncle and aunt Gary and Jackie (Eaton) Taylor, Tonkawa. Larry is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and the many friends his warm laugh and gentle spirit won him over the years.
Casket bearers will be Gary Taylor, Gary Taylor Jr., Raymond Osborn, John Osborn, Robin McCaulley, and Stephen McCaulley. Honorary casket bearers will be Don Eden, Josh Huisman, Johnny Lambert, and Anthony Lambert.
Memorials may be made to the Opportunity Center, 2225 N. Union, Ponca City, OK 74601.
The family will be at the home, 1024 Riviera Drive.
paid obituary
Maldred Williamson, longtime Ponca City resident, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 1997 at the Shawn Manor Nursing Home. She was 81. Local survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth (Nancy) Bright. Arrangements are pending with Trout Funeral Home.
Diana Batt, Ponca City resident, died early this morning, Dec. 29, 1997,
at St. Joseph Regional Center. She was 39. Arrangements are pending with
Grace Memorial Chapel.
NEWS BRIEFS
Luncheon Meeting - The former employees of Cities Service and Sequoia will meet at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday at Furr's Cafeteria.
Vehicle Fire - A rollover car was reported at L.A. Cann and Hubbard Road at 7:48 a.m. Saturday. It was a stolen car that had been burned.
Theft - A business in the 700 block of East Hartford Avenue reported a CD player missing at 11:34 a.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Vandalism - At 12:17 p.m. Saturday a resident in the 2600 block of Mockingbird Drive reported to police that someone had driven through his yard causing damage. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - A 34-year-old woman was arrested at 12:13 p.m. Saturday from McFadden Drive and West South Avenue for driving under suspension and expired inspection.
Threat - A woman at North Second Street and East Highland Avenue reported to police that she had been threatened. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Fire - At 1:54 p.m. Saturday a fire was reported at North Fifth Street and Windsor Road. Fire units responded and extinguished the fire.
Window Broken - At 4:45 p.m. Saturday a man in the 1200 block of South Fifth Street reported that the window of his garage had been broken out.
Theft - An employee of Sav-A-Trip, 501 West Highland Avenue, reported to police at 7:06 p.m. Saturday that a 30-case of beer had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Vandalism - A destruction of private property report was taken at 9:03 p.m. Saturday from the 2100 block of North Union Street after police were called to that location.
Fire Run - At 9:16 p.m. Saturday a fire unit responded to a call in the 1600 block of Cedar Lane after a resident reported their wall was hot.
Arrest - Police arrested a 40-year-old woman for domestic assault and battery in the 1400 block of South Fifth Street at 12:10 a.m. Sunday.
Stolen Car - At 12:18 a.m. Sunday a car stolen from Blackwell was stopped by police at Kygar Road. The suspects were taken into custody.
Disturbance - Police responded to the 1400 block of West Highland Avenue at 12:39 a.m. Sunday after a fight was reported. A destruction of private property report was taken.
Stolen Vehicle - At 8:40 a.m. Sunday a man at Wentz reported his vehicle stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Burned Vehicle - A partially burned vehicle at Hazel Avenue and Pine Street was reported to police at 12:21 a.m. Sunday. The owner was contacted.
Vandalism - Vandalism to a vehicle in the 500 block of South Perry Street was reported to police at 1:40 p.m. Sunday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Arrest - At 2:21 p.m. Sunday a 31-year-old man was arrested from the 500 block of West Highland Avenue on a city warrant and for public intoxication.
Arrest - Police arrested a 20-year-old man from North Fourteenth Street and Park View at 3:47 p.m. Sunday for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Vandalism - At 4:43 p.m. Sunday a resident in the 100 block of West Grand Avenue reported to police that her apartment had been vandalized. An officer was assigned and report was taken.
Minor Accident - A two vehicle minor accident was reported to police at 5:53 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of East Broadway Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Shoplifters Arrested - Police arrested two men, age 46 and 48, at 6:01 p.m. Sunday from the Drug Warehouse, 2211 Fourteenth Street, for shoplifting.
Attempted Break-In - At 6:34 p.m. Sunday a woman in the 400 block of West Cleveland Avenue reported an attempted break-in at her home. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Stolen Cart - At 7 p.m. Sunday a woman in the 700 block of South Seventh Street reported a stolen golf cart. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.
Fire - A fire in a dumpster in the 2100 block of North Union Street was reported to police at 7:24 p.m. Sunday. One fire unit responded and extinguished the fire.
Accident - An officer was assigned and a report was taken at the scene of a two vehicle accident at 8:12 p.m. Sunday in the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue.
Gas Drive-Off - A clerk at Triple T, 425 South Fourteenth Street,
reported a $8.45 gas drive-off at 3:49 a.m. Monday.