Obituaries

September 23, 1932 – May 25, 2023 Mary L. Howell - cherished mother, Mema, sister, aunt, teacher and No.

Teresa Regina Brinkman Kemmerer, joined the Lord God on May 18, 2023. Viewing will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Trout Funeral Home Chapel, with a Rosary Ceremony taking place at 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 AM, Friday, June 2, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. A Graveside Ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 2, 2023, at Calvary Cemetery in Coffeyville, KS. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK, 74601.

Don David Duren of Fort Collins, Colorado (formally of Ponca City, Oklahoma) passed away unexpectedly on May 13, 2023, with his family by his side. Don was born in Chaffee, Missouri and moved around to several locations with his family because his dad worked for the railroad. He graduated from high school in Springfield, Missouri. He attended the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, Don took a job in Ponca City working for Conoco Oil Company where he worked until his retirement.

Timothy Irvin McCrory, departed life on 20 May 2023 at his home. Tim was born 11 June 1948, in Billings, Noble Co., Oklahoma to Samuel Omar McCrory, Jr and Mildred Marie (White) McCrory. He was reared in Blackwell attending public schools of Riverside- Kindergarten, Huston, Lovett Jr High, Blackwell Jr High, and Blackwell High School, Graduating in 1966. After graduation Tim worked with his father as an equipment operator of backhoes and trenchers. In 1967 he joined the US Navy going to San Diego, Ca boot camp and Interior Communications School. In July 1968 he was assigned to the Destroyer, USS Waldron DD 699, at Norfolk, Va. During this time his ship was deployed to the Mediterranean 6th fleet from October 1968 to February 1969 and then again October 1969 to April 1970. Upon return to Norfolk, He was assigned to the Destroyer Tender, USS Yosemite AD 19 at Mayport, Florida with visits to Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas. Tim was honorably discharged from the US Navy on 1 September 1972. He resided in Jacksonville Beach, FL where he worked and attended business school. He returned to Oklahoma in February 1972 and attended Northern Oklahoma College until 1974 then transferring to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Ok, graduating in 1978 with a BS in accounting. Tim worked at Equity Insurance in Blackwell in 1975, Swan Hose in Stillwater 1978-80, and OSU in the administrative systems development data control center 19801990. Tim lived in Perkins, Ok from 1983-90, returning to Blackwell in 1991. Tim’s hobbies included scuba diving as a certified diver, flying his own plane as a private pilot, and riding his motorcycle, a Honda 750, new in the day, shooting, reloading his ammo, computersbuilding his own systems, astronomy- building his own 13 inch reflective telescope. Some of Tim’s fond memories were flying his plane to the Bahamas and scuba diving with friends. He enjoyed his many interactions with his nieces and nephews supporting them in the growth thru life. This included going with them to the parks and the Legion Swimming Pool. He enjoyed traveling to other parts of our world. He was an avid reader and student of world history.

Marion “David” Willis was born at Blackwell General Hospital, Blackwell Oklahoma on April 24, 1950 to James David (Jim) and Patricia Willis. Raised on East McKinley with Grandparents James “Harvey” and Sabina Willis next door and Great grandparents Joe Crawford and Eva Willis across the alley, David found lots of little boy things to do like take apart the natural gas meter with his new tool kit. In May of 1955, he rode out the F5 tornado that severely damaged their house and a great many others by huddling under his parent’s bed while mom, dad and younger sister Yvonne were under the nearby bunk beds. He spent his young years mechanicing with dad as his mechanical aptitude grew. David rode a red Cushman scooter during his early teen years which led to a lifelong passion of motorcycles. He worked for Uncle Max and Aunt Mary Ann Sullins on the farm for much of his teen summers making fond lifetime memories. In 1967, David followed in Dad’s vocational footsteps as a conventional machinist in the J.E Warren Machine Shop. Graduating Blackwell High School with the Class of 1968, he continued his employment at the machine shop till he enlisted and went into the US Navy. He served as a machinist on both the USS Hugh Purvis and the USS Spear. Honorably Discharged in 1973, David returned to Blackwell and worked again for J.E. Warren. One of his favorite projects was to machine new parts for the owner of a collection of gigantic Case Steam Engine tractors and help keep them running for the annual Pawnee OK. Steam and Gas Engine Show. He became a member of MENSA in the early 1980’s where he met the love of his life, Chifra Holt. Trained in modern dance and ballet, Chifra performed in New York City and started the School of Dance at Wichita State University, Wichita Kansas. Capturing his heart and exposing him to more cultural things than he had ever experienced, they moved to Fremont California and married on May 19, 1984. A few years later, they moved to Corona California where he was the shop manager of Riverside Machine Works in Riverside California.

Helen Diane Olsen Shafer passed away on May 14th, 2023. She was born on August 8, 1944 in Ponca City, OK, the second of three children born to John William (Bill) and Edna Mae Barton Olsen and grew up on her family’s cattle ranch near Hardy, Oklahoma. She went to Consolidated 106 for grades 1-8 and then graduated from Newkirk High School where she met and dated her husband Dick before going to Oklahoma State University. She majored in Home Economics Education and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She and Dick married in August 15, 1965 and she graduated early and started teaching in rural schools while Dick finished his degree in Veterinary Medicine. From Stillwater, Dick and Diane travelled the world together for 24 years while Dick was in the Air Force. At each new station, once she got everything unpacked and settled into the new home, Diane would find a new job. When they were stationed in Okinawa Japan (77-80), Diane enrolled in classes for her Masters in Secondary School Counseling. She graduated with that degree and that fueled her career as a High School Guidance Counselor until she retired in 2002. She was generous, kind and caring and she loved to help people. And through her career she helped countless numbers of high schoolers through the challenges of high school, home life, college recommendation letters and scholarship applications. And at the end of the day, she always made it home in time to watch Nanci and Beth in their countless school and sporting activities.

Sally Louise (Vaden) Johnston had the best day ever on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, when she met Jesus face to face and reunited with many beloved family and friends. Sally was born October 22, 1939, to Jesse and Lola Weaver Vaden in Slick, Oklahoma, but grew up in Webb City.

Gina Haynes Jones, 53, bleloved daughter, sister, mother, and friend, peacefully departed us on May 14, 2023, in Wichita, Kansas, from a brain injury. Gina was born on July 4, 1969, in Great Bend, Kansas, to David and Beverly Haynes.