Obituaries

Dec 14, 2022

Barbara Ruth Harper 85-year-old lifetime resident of Nowata passed from this life into her Heavenly reward of the evening of December 14, 2022. Barbara took her first breath of life on February 9, 1937, the daughter of Edward and Mary Simpson right here in Nowata, Oklahoma. To say she was a woman with a huge heart and loved all...

Dec 10, 2022

Donald “Don” Leon Smalley, 77, passed away peacefully and went to be with Jesus on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Nowata, Oklahoma.

Don was born on December 19, 1944, the son of Robert W. and Lillie Marie (Blanke) Smalley in Nowata, Oklahoma. He grew up in the Nowata area and graduated from Nowata High School. He met...

Dec 10, 2022

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Todd Eldon Epperson, age 49, of Nowata, Oklahoma passed away December 10, 2022, after an extensive battle with cancer.

Todd was born on December 26, 1972, at the Nowata hospital to Dale (Duke) and Carol (Foster) Epperson.  Todd was the youngest of their...

Dec 4, 2022

Mary Ginger Wilson, 78, passed from this life into the arms of our Lord and Savior on the morning of December 4, 2022, in Nowata, Oklahoma.

Mary took her first breath of life on July 3, 1944, the daughter of Ed and Iza (Cooper) Bauman in Coodys Bluff, Oklahoma. She was raised in the Nowata area and...

Nov 24, 2022

Lillian Maxine Crisp passed from this life into the arms of our Lord and Savior on the morning of November 24, 2022. We know in good faith that to be absent from this body is to be present with our Lord. Our dear Lillian is walking hand in hand with our Lord and Savior, down the streets of gold...

Nov 19, 2022

Orien “Conley” Atwill was born on March 9, 1956, in SpringHill, Louisiana the son of Dwayne and Kathryn Atwill. Conley passed from this life into eternal glory walking, running, and dancing down the streets of glory on the morning of November 19, 2022.

Conley struggled with illness from a young age, but that never held him back....

Nov 14, 2022

Betty Lou Hazel Frye, 96, of Nowata, Oklahoma, passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022, peacefully. She was born on July 21, 1926, in Coodys Bluff, Oklahoma, to Preston Alonzo Lakey and Ella B. Mable (Futhey) Lakey.

Betty grew up in the Nowata area, receiving her education at Nowata Public Schools. She moved to Dewey for awhile...

Nov 5, 2022

Jean Estelle Talley (Samson) Sherrick left for home on November 5, 2022, at the age of 90, surrounded by her grandchildren. She was born to Ralph Vernon and Alpha Lucille (Case) Talley on November 18, 1931 in Newton, Kansas. She attended Labadie Heights School and College High School in Bartlesville, graduating in 1950.

Jean married Charles "Chuck"...

Nov 2, 2022

Stephanie Christine Manley, 53, of Collinsville, Oklahoma, passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2022, peacefully at her home. She was born on September 5, 1969, in Nowata, Oklahoma, to Ronald Gene and Carroll Sue (Hagebusch) Manley. Stephanie grew up in the Delaware and Nowata area and attended Delaware Public Schools, Nowata Public Schools and Alluwe School. She worked in retail...

Oct 28, 2022

William Paul (Bill) Hancock, 70, passed away on October 28, 2022, at Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, OK. Bill was born on December 6, 1951, in Nowata, Oklahoma to John Douglas and Maud (Bacon) Hancock.

Bill grew up in Nowata and graduated from Nowata High School in 1971. For several years, Bill worked as...

Oct 14, 2022

LaDeena (Link) Murphy “Deenie”, 73, of Nowata, OK passed away peacefully on October 14, 2022.  A celebration of her life will be held at the First Church of God on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 2:00pm.

Deenie was born on June 27, 1949 in Nowata, OK.  Deenie graduated from Nowata High School in 1967 and Oklahoma State University...

Oct 14, 2022

Julia Renee (LaRocco) Hash, 67, passed away on October 14, 2022, at her residence in Nowata, OK. Julia was born on August 1, 1955, to Paul Weston and Mary LaRocco in Oklahoma City, OK.

Julia worked as a licensed practical nurse at the Claremore Regional Hospital for several years. She was a very caring person and was...

Oct 12, 2022

Joanne Kathleen Higeons, 84, of Chelsea, OK passed away peacefully at her residence on October 12, 2022.

Joanne was born on October 12, 1938, in San Francisco, CA to Bernard Joseph and Josephine Matilda (Staub) Smith. In 1949, Joanne moved to Los Angeles, CA. In 1965, she moved to Temple City, CA, where she met Chester Higeons....

Oct 10, 2022

Debra “Debbie” L. Rodriguez, 67, passed away on October 10, 2022, at the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, OK. Debbie was born on July 24, 1955, in Binghamton, New York to Leon Wesley and June Marie (Clark) Sackett.

Debbie grew up as a United States Air Force “brat,” as her father served in the military. The family...

Oct 9, 2022

Jeanne Sue Rodriguez, 66, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2022.

Jeanne was born on June 26, 1956, to Paul Slater and Jeanne Floreine (Mattingly) Ketcherside in Nowata, Oklahoma. She was raised in Nowata and graduated from Nowata public schools as Salutatorian of her class. After dating since the 8th grade, Jeanne married Roger Rodriguez on June...

Oct 9, 2022

Jim Allen Hamil, 83, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2022. Jim was born on June 25, 1939, in Watova, OK to George Edward and Lucille Pauline (Vanbeber) Hamil. He grew up and has remained a long-time resident of the Nowata area.

As a young man, Jim married Bonnie Sue Harrington and from that union, they had...

Oct 2, 2022

Karen Dee Freeman, 67, passed away on October 2, 2022, at her residence.

Karen was born on November 7, 1954, to L.D. and Alice Irene (Gawley) Pope in Nowata, Oklahoma.

Karen met Kenneth D. Freeman and the couple married in Winganon, OK on May 6, 1972. The couple made their home in Nowata. Karen worked...

Sep 26, 2022

After 86 years, our beloved wife and mother Ruth—fondly known as Ruthie or Sissy—passed from this life on September 26, 2022, in Tulsa, OK.  She was surrounded by her loving family, including her husband of 66 years, Wayne.  The sweetest, most loving and giving wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, and friend, Ruthie always put others before herself.  She was a...

Sep 13, 2022

Frank Herrell Hicks Sr, 71, passed away on September 13, 2022, at his residence in Delaware, OK. Frank was born on January 15, 1951, to Howard Herrell and Mata May (Beu) Hicks.

Frank lived in the Delaware area for most of his life and was a graduate from Delaware High School. In August of 1975, he married...

Sep 11, 2022

Michael Lee Bowman was called home to hunt and fish in paradise on September 11th, 2022. Mike was a beloved husband, dad, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on Lockbourne Air Force Base to Kay Thorpe (Inman-Bowman). He spent his youth in Delaware and Adair having many, many friends. Mike graduated from Delaware High...