Obituaries

Feb 19, 2026

Charles Mitchell Merrell passed away on February 19, 2026, in Yukon, OK. He was born on February 21, 1947, in Modesto, CA to William Robert Merrell and Lillie Belle Carter. He married the love of his life, Carol Sue Decker, on August 26, 1967, in Oklahoma City, OK.

Charles retired from self-employment after over 35 years. He...

Feb 19, 2026

Zoma Ouida Canterberry Banther was born on October 31, 1930, on the Canterberry family home farm in the Lake Valley Community near Gotebo, Oklahoma, to Dick and Jessie Bottom Canterberry. She graduated as Salutatorian of her class from Hammon High School in 1949. Following graduation, Zoma began her career as a telephone operator in Hammon. She went on to...

Feb 18, 2026

Feb 17, 2026

Nancy Louise (Pogue) Merkey was born on April 16, 1948 in Jacksonville, Texas and passed away peacefully on February 17, 2026 after a 4-month hospitalization.

She was the first of 9 children born to WJ and Dora Dean (Turnipseed) Pogue. Her early childhood was spent bouncing around from Bethany, Oklahoma to Yellville, Arkansas to Yukon, Oklahoma. In...

Feb 17, 2026

Phyllis McArthur was one of a kind. Whether you knew her as Mom, Sister, Aunt Phyllis, Miss Phyllis or (her favorite moniker) Grandma Mac, you knew one thing: In her presence you knew you were loved and cared for.

Throughout her life she was well-known for her devoted service to others, her love for her family, her...

Feb 16, 2026

En Memoria Amorosa de Martin Rivera Balderas

18 de febrero de 1963 – 16 de febrero de 2026

Con un profundo dolor en el corazón, anunciamos el fallecimiento de Martin Rivera Balderas, quien nació el 18 de febrero de 1963 en Mastranto del Refugio, San Felipe, Guanajuato, México. Fue el amado hijo de Jose Cruz...

Feb 14, 2026

Dr. Jack William Balenseifen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and respected orthodontist, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, at the age of 86.

Born on October 20, 1939, Dr. Balenseifen grew up with a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to education and service. He graduated from Watonga High School in 1958 and...

Feb 14, 2026

Helen Josephine Kastner was born in Danville, Illinois on January 5, 1929, to Rev. Joseph W. and Dortha (Goode) Peters. In fullness of faith, she rested in Jesus her Savior, after finishing life's race and fighting the good fight, on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

Jo came to Bethany, OK to attend Bethany Peniel College, now Southern Nazarene...

Feb 10, 2026

Michael Keith Roach passed away on February 10, 2026, in Piedmont, OK in the home where he had lived since childhood. He was born November 10, 1964, to Keith Roy Roach and Edith (Hendrickson) Roach in Elyria, OH. His partner was Lisa Jack, who also resides in Piedmont.

He graduated from Piedmont High School in 1982. He...

Feb 9, 2026

Lavernon Collins, 93, passed away February 9, 2026 in Oklahoma City, OK. He was born October 21, 1932 in Mounds, OK to Mack and Clara (Willerton) Collins. Lavernon married Marianne Montgomery and they were blessed with many years together until her death in January, 2024.

Lavernon was a geologist, working in the oilfields. He loved to camp...

Feb 7, 2026

Alvin Ivan Gramajo, 28, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away surrounded by the love of his family. Born on July 20, 1997, in Oklahoma City, he was the beloved son of Sonia Elizabeth Cifuentes and Carlos Benjamin Gramajo.

Alvin was a devoted father, son, brother, and friend. He leaves behind his two cherished sons, Alvin Estevan Gramajo...

Feb 7, 2026

Brenda Renea Smith, 70, passed away February 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, OK. She was born January 26, 1956 in Tulsa, OK to Leroy and Wilma (Malone) Mitchell. Brenda graduated from Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) with a degree in music education. It was there that she met the love of her life, Mark Smith, and they...

Feb 7, 2026

Dr. John H. Floyd was born in Thomaston, GA on Friday the 13th of July, 1928, and passed away in Springfield, MO on February 7, 2026, at the age of 97.

John's father had a PhD in History and was the beloved head of the History Department at Bethany Peniel College in Bethany, OK, where John grew...

Feb 4, 2026

Rev. David Heitner, born July 4, 1950, went Home to be with the Lord on February 4, 2026. After graduating from Valparaiso University in 1972, he worked in the visual arts until he was called to seminary in 1982. After graduating from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, David was called to minister at Faith Lutheran in Oklahoma in...

Feb 4, 2026

William "Bill" Haywood Jones returned home at the age of 99 on February 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, OK. He was born on January 20, 1927 to Paul Adair Jones and Demily Stanley Jones in Cooper, TX. Bill worked in the telecommunications and computer industry as an electrical engineer. He began his career with GE Research Labs in New...

Feb 4, 2026

Kenneth David Dennis, 77, passed away February 4, 2026 in Oklahoma City, OK. He was born January 22, 1949. He married Amy Lee Ackerman on February 8, 1975 in Edmond, OK.

Kenneth David retired from Mid-Del Schools after teaching at Highland Park Elementary for 37 years. He also taught at Bridge Creek and Friend School in Chickasha,...

Feb 3, 2026

Haskell "Leroy" Wilkerson Jr., age 80, passed away on February 3, 2026. He was born on February 10, 1945, in Paul's Valley, Oklahoma, and spent most of his life in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Leroy was married to the love of his life, Elsie Fern (Holt) Wilkerson, for 65 years. Together they built a large, lively family and a...

Feb 3, 2026

Gerald Dee Smith, 81, was born on April 1, 1944 in Oklahoma to his loving mother and father; Clarence Edward and Viola Smith. Gerald's birth was truly the best and probably most shocking April fools' trick ever. His parents didn't expect twins, but got gifted with both Gerald and Phyliss unexpectedly.

Gerald has had many hobbies throughout...

Feb 2, 2026

Jan 31, 2026

Many adjectives could be used to describe Stephen Todd Ely (better known as Steve or Pastor Steve). He was blessed to have a creative mind. One former co-worker said this about him, "Steve had 10,000 new ideas a day. The only problem was that every one of his ideas could cost ,000 each." He was very innovative, compassionate, committed,...