Published: October 14, 2009 12:10 pm      

Archived Obituaries 10-14-09

JAY KEEL

Lewellyn Jay Keel was born March 21, 1920 to Dink and Bess Keel in Stratford, Oklahoma and went on to be with the Lord Jesus on October 11, 2009.

He was married to Oleta Deatherage in Juarez, Mexico on February 2, 1948 and later renewed their vows in Roswell, NM.

Mr. Keel was a proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation whose father, L. D. Keel was a full blood Chickasaw and an original enrollee.

He served as a sergeant with the United States Army Air Corp, 9th Air Force, attached to the 3rd Army in World War II. He was wounded in combat at Nancy France in 1944 and received many medals and ribbons including the WWII Victory Medal, two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Citation. He loved sports and was an excellent football player and boxer.

Mr. Keel was a lifelong cattleman who loved horses and the land.

He cherished the multiple hay meadows where he spent much time producing various types of hay.

He was a general contractor concentrating on home construction for over forty years, building over 800 homes.

He was a great husband, father and grandfather.

A common man who set a high standard for hard work and was known as a person who would help anyone in any way. He possessed a toughness to be admired, always pushing ahead through adversity. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Ada. He was prepared to pass from this life because of his relationship with Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his wife Oleta, parents, L. D. and Bess Keel, a son, James Weatherford and a sister, Madeline Bemo.

Mr. Keel is survived by two daughters, Veta Wilson and her husband Max of Tulsa, Ann Bender and her husband Frank of Tulsa; two sons, Lyndon Keel of Holdenville, Jay Keel and his wife Donna of Ada. Grandchildren, Mitchell Wilson of Tulsa, Max Jay Wilson and his wife Amanda of Sapulpa, Wyatt Keel, Allison Keel and Natalie Keel of Ada. Great grandchildren, Maci Wilson, Malachi Wilson and Marissa Wilson of Sapulpa; four brothers, Earl Keel, Leland Keel, Kenneth Keel and Robert Keel; and four sisters, Ann Butler, Ruth Moss, Betty Lucas and Monzella Golden.

Pall bearers are Mitchell Wilson, Max Jay Wilson, Wyatt Keel, Tommy Thompson, Bob Bemo, Steve Lucas and Lou Keel.

The Reverend John Haynes will officiate the services at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 16th at the First Baptist Church of Ada. Interment at Swan Hill Cemetery.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada



BEN SMITH

ADA-Services for Benny Roscoe Smith, 75, Ada, are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, the Revs. Darrell Phillips and Kendall Martin will officiate. Burial will follow at Maxwell Cemetery

Mr. Smith died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 at a Shawnee hospital. He was born Oct. 26, 1933 at Tulsa, Okla. to Rev. O. Dee and Florence Josephine Smith. He attended school at Worstell, Allen and Ada. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Fresno, Calif. He attended Fresno Technical College for a year and a half. He served in the U. S. Air Force from October 1953 until October 1957.

He married Beverly Anne Gillum on Aug. 8, 1958. Mr. Smith worked for 20 years for United Grocers as a Truck Driver in Fresno, Calif. He and his family moved to Ada in 1976 and he was a licensed Real Estate Agent for Deb Gillum Realty until starting Arrow Applicators Pest Control in 1977. He and his wife owned and operated Homer Country Store from 1980 until 1987. Mr. Smith was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy for 49 years, a member of the Gideon’s International and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly Smith, of the home; his children, Bryan Smith and wife Kim, Ada, Brynna Nunnery and husband Jerry, Cleveland, Tenn., and Brent Smith and wife Shawnna, Ada; grandchildren, Bethanye Smith and Mitchell Smith, Matthew Smith and wife Micha and Magan Smith, all of Oklahoma, Juston Nunnery, Jordan Nunnery both of Tennessee and Jacqueline Hagy and husband Chad of Tennessee; great-grandchild, Landon Smith of Oklahoma; brother, James Smith; sisters, Laura Gillum and husband Bill, Faith Smith and Esther Smith, all of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, J. D. Smith.

Bearers will be Juston Nunnery, Jordan Nunnery, Matthew Smith and Mitchell Smith. Honorary bearers will be Bob Hooser, Lee Hensley, James Abbott and Charles Bazzell.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada



MATILDA SILAS

KONAWA - Services for Matilda Silas, 69, Konawa, are pending with Swearingen Funeral Home in Konawa.

Mrs. Silas died Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009.



JAY KEEL

ADA-Services for Lewellyn Jay Keel, 89, Ada, are 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Ada. The Rev. John Haynes will officiate. Burial will follow at Swan Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Keel died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Sulphur Veterans Center.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada



EVELYN JO COLLINS

PRAIRIE VIEW — Graveside services for Evelyn Jo Collins, 65, Prairie View, will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Oaklawn Cemetery in Sulphur.

Ms. Collins died Oct. 13, 2009 at Prairie View.

DeArman's Clagg Funeral Home, Sulphur



ROY SCHMIDT

SULPHUR — Graveside services for Roy Schmidt, 59, will be 3 p.m. Thursday at Oaklawn Cemetery in Sulphur.

Mr. Schmidt died Oct. 6, 2009 at Sulphur.

DeArman's Clagg Funeral Home, Sulphur