Minerva Inez Hill
Graveside services for Minerva Inez Hill, 87, were held Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Bob Moody officiating.
Interment was at Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Cowley-Krien Funeral Home.
She was born December 19, 1915 in Wilburton to A.P. Mitchell and Gertrude Lawson.
She died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003 in Sulphur.
She attended high school in Cromwell and attended East Central University for one year.
She moved to Sulphur in 1949 where she lived and worked the reminder of her life.
She attended Sulphur United Methodist Church.
She is survived by one daughter, Iwana Crowe, Sulphur; four grandchildren, Danna Bernardi, Sonny Lance Jr., Sondra Moses, Kevin Lance; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, George Mitchell, Baton Rouge, La.; one sister-in-law, June Mitchell, Ada; and an aunt, Snook Dunnigan, Oklahoma City.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Nicky Lance; brother, Spike Mitchell; and a sister, Fava Bolan; and her parents.
Gene Dan Calame
Gene Dan Calame left us February 1, 2003, surrounded by the love of family and friends.
Born to Guy and Lillian Calame, on April 4, 1933, Gene grew up in Sulphur, Oklahoma, a hometown he loved and which loved him.
Active in a number of sports at an early age, Gene was an outstanding football player for the Sulphur Bulldogs and was named All-State Quarterback in 1950.
Upon graduation from Sulphur High School in 1951, Gene was recruited to the University of Oklahoma by "Bud" Wilkinson to play football and was a member of the Sooner squad from 1951-1954.
During his tenure at OU, Gene was the Sooner's Quarterback and was a member of the Sooner team that started the 47 straight game winning streak, the longest running successful record in NCAA history.
He graduated from the University in 1954 and became a Graduate Assistant football coach for the OU Sooners where he worked his way through law school.
Sooner football, and in reality, any Sooner sport, remained one of his fervent passions all his life.
It was during law school and his coaching days at OU that he met and married Virginia Davis, the love of his life and best friend.
Upon graduation from the OU law school in 1960, Gene worked briefly for the Oklahoma Insurance Department and in 1962 joined the employ of Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company in Oklahoma City, as an attorney.
For thirty-seven years, Gene loved his work in the corporate world of Globe Life and Accident where he rose to the position of Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel.
The quintessential corporate insurance lawyer, Gene served Globe Life until his formal retirement in April of 1999, but continued to assist them occasionally in a legal capacity between his active retirement of tennis, golf and his favorite pastime of teaching his grandsons his tennis and golf swing.
Gene is survived by his wife, Virginia, his son, James Calame and daughter-in-law Colette of Oklahoma City, his daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Bart Boatright, two grandsons, Davis and Bryant Boatright, all of Springfield, Missouri, his mother, Lillian Calame of Norman, Oklahoma, two brothers, Alvin Calame of Oklahoma City, Glen Dale Calame of Allen, Texas, three sisters, Johnelle Longoria, of Brownsville, Texas, Lorraine Calame of Vancouver, British Columbia and Guyanne Brannon of Choctaw, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his father, Guy Calame and two sisters, Fontaine Calame and Yolanda Calame Hartzog.
He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, countless friends, teammates, and colleagues who feel blessed to have shared Gene's laughter, his love of life and the joy he brought to everyone he met.
Visitation was from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 4, 2003, at Smith & Kernke, 14624 N. May Ave.
A Celebration of Gene's life took place at the Quail Springs United Methodist Church, 14617 N. Pennsylvania, in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, February 5, 2003, at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials may be sent to the Quail Springs United Methodist Church Memorial Prayer Garden, 14617 N. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134 or to the charity of your choice.
Vera Elsie Walker Akers
Services for Vera Elsie Walker Akers, 89, were held Monday, Feb. 3 at 12:00 p.m. at the Clagg Funeral Chapel with Rev. Eddie Malphrus officiating.
Interment was at the Oaklawn Cemetery under the direction of Clagg Funeral Home.
She was born on Wednesday, March 5, 1913 in Teller, Okla. to John Otis Townsend and Carrean Eva Benge Townsend.
She died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003 in Dallas, Texas.
She grew up in Mill Creek, where she attended school.
She was a seamstress and sold Life Insurance and attended the First Baptist Church in Mill Creek.
She was active in the community before moving to Dallas in 1968.
She was married to Roy Walker who preceded her in death.
She later married Timothy Akers who also preceded her in death.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sonja and Jerry Fenske, Dallas, Texas, a daughter-in-law, Karla Walker, Dallas; a brother, Garland Townsend; three sisters, Lucille Lagomarsino, Minia Bates, and Jean Arrlvett; four grandchildren, Rusty Fenske, Katrena Blackerby, Darlene Willford, Bob Walker; seven grandchildren, Sarah, Stephen and Jerry Fenske, Amber Willson, Brittany Blackerby, Carl and Jamie Williford; and one great-great grandchild, Kara Fenske.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Bobby Lee Walker, a granddaughter, Carmela Kay Walker, a sister, Juanita Brodehl, and three brothers, Richard, James E. and Roy O. Townsend.
Richard Phillip Murphy
Services for Richard Phillip Murphy, 58 were held Thursday, Jan. 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Faith Center Church, Sulphur with Pastor Jerry Lemely officiating.
A memorial service was held Friday, Jan. 31 at 1:00 p.m. at the Saint Catholic Church in Saint Paul, Kan.
Interment was Green Hill Cemetery, Davis under the direction of Krien Funeral Home.
He was born January 17, 1945 in Wichita, Kan. to Clyde and Mary Elizabeth Merrill Murphy.
He died January 27, 2003 in Moore.
On June 2, 1989 he married Virginia "Kathy" Woodruff Murphy in Eureka Springs, Ark.
He was raised around Saint Paul, Kansas area and lived there until 1994 when he moved to Davis.
He was self employed as a railroad demolitionist in Davis. He was a Christian and atteneded the Faith Center Church.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy, of the home; four sons, Phillip Anthony Murphy, of the home, Christopher Lynn Murphy, Ada, Christopher Alan Murphy, Liberty, N.C. and Richard Phillip Murphy, Jr., Stark, Kan; four daughters, Sarah Mae Murphy, of the home, Cynthia Jeanne Marnell, Mayfield, Ky., Cheryl Lynn Smith, Saint Paul, Kan., and Tammy Lynn Marnell, Mesquite, Texas; one brother, Mike Murphy, Old Bridge, N.J.; three sisters, Patty Ast, Wichita, Kan., Marilyn Wooster, Topeka, Kan., and Susan Wetta, Wichita, Kan.; and 12 grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Charlie Wooster, Clem Ast, Paul Wetta, Ed Copeland, George Woodruff, Randy Mitchell.
Honorary pallbearers were Ray Wools and Steve Clubertson.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Landmark Bank and the First National Bank of Davis for an Education Fund for the children of the home.
