Obituaries, April 26, 2006

Norma Ruth Richison

Norma Ruth Richison, 82, of Sprio, Okla. was born Sept. 3, 1923 in Braden Bottoms, Okla. to Robert I. and Thelma (Garretson) Person. She died Monday, April 24, 2006 in Houston.

Mrs. Richison was a member of the United Methodist Church of Spiro and a very dedicated worker in the Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxillary Post 3660. She retired from Dixie Cup after 29 years. She was a fabulous cook, and she loved helping the “Needy Children’s Fund.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe Ray Richison; one daughter, Delores Henson; one son, Ronald Ray Richison; one grandson, Kenneth Joe; one granddaughter, Carla Crossno; three brothers, Bobby, Jerry and Larry Person; and two sisters, Barbara Moon and Linda Claiborn.

She is survived by four daughters, JoAnn Dempsey and husband Bill of Van Buren, Ark., Cindy Bell and husband Howard of Spiro, Pam Underwood and husband Terry of Spiro, and Janet Richison of Athens; a son, Joe Ray Richison and wife Lorie of Spiro; a sister, Margie Suddeth of Pocola, Okla.; 19 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2006 at the Mallory-Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Spiro with the Rev. Barry Hayes officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Mike Lea, Terry Lea, Billy Bob Dempsey, Joe Richison III, David Richison, Wesley Cloud, and Richard Germany.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Richison, Ronnie Richison, Corbett Means, Colby Means, Chris Crossno, Spencer Richison, David Lee Thompson, and R.J. Higbee.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Needy Children’s Fund, P.O. Box 267, Sprio, OK 74959.



Fred M. Pugh

ATHENS — Funeral services for Fred M. Pugh, 82, of Athens have been scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Dean officiating.

Burial will follow in Owen Cemetery.

Mr. Pugh passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at his residence in Athens.

He was born Sept. 24, 1923 in Jacksonville, Fla. to the late Fred M. Pugh, Sr. and Dorothy V. Gray Pugh and had been a resident of Athens for 76 years. Fred was a World War II veteran of the United States Air Force, serving with the First Air Command. During his tour of duty, he was a Japanese prisoner of war for 14 months in Rangoon, Burma. Upon discharge and returning to his homeland, he met and married the love of his life, Martha Nell Pace, on June 4, 1946.

After 37 years of service, Fred retired from Ensearch Exploration, Inc. as senior production supervisor. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and sitting in his swing while visiting with family, neighbors and friends.

His love for nature and wildlife was exemplified in his talent for creating some of the most unique and attractive wood carvings. Fred was a very ingenious man who was always designing and inventing things. If you gave him a piece of wood or metal, he could make anything.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Jewel Pugh.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Martha Nell Pugh; sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry and Carol Pugh and Jon and Pam Pugh; daughter, Joy Pugh; grandchildren, Jennifer Rummel and her husband Alan, Jerry Lynn Pugh, Jon Pugh, Jr. and his wife Jennifer, Justin Pugh and his wife Nicole, and Kyle Pugh and his wife Layla; great-grandchildren, Mallary and Madelyn Rummel, Tatum Pugh, Alexis Pugh, Emily Pugh, and Allen Thornton; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Betty Pugh; sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Howard Wegmet and Alice and Liston Barber; sisters-in-law, Stella “Sis” Pace and Marjorie Owens; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Alfred and “Pete” Pace; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Tony Owens, Alan Rummel, Jerry Lynn Pugh II, Jon Pugh, Jr., Justin Pugh, and Kyle Pugh.

Honorary pallbearers are Alfred Pace, Dr. Buster Geddie, Jr., Tom Browning, Bobby Meazell, Jerry Decker, Max Smith, and Delmar Ray Hood.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m.



Brandon Wayne Whitfield

Services for Brandon Wayne Whitfield, 19, are pending with Chandler Memorial Funeral Home.

Mr. Whitfield died Sunday, April 23, 2006.



John Bernays Lowery

Graveside memorial service for John Bernays Lowrey, 59, Skiatook, Okla., will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 29 at Athens Cemetary in Athens.

Mr. Lowrey died Friday, April 14, 2006. Arrangements were under the direction of Sien-Shelton Funeral Home, in Skiatook, Okla.

He was born August 31, 1946 in Athens. He was the grandson of John Ira Robbins. He retired from the military after 24 years of service.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Jean Francis-Lowrey; his children and their spouses, Caryn and Matthew Pack of Owasso, Okla., John (Jay) Jr. and Kecia Lowrey of Lawton, Okla., and Michael Kurt of Illinois; his stepchildren and their spouses, Harmony and Michael Dunning of Skiatook, Billy Francis of Skiatook; six grandchildren; and cousins, Randy and Elizabeth Combs.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Jane Robbins Young.

Sympathy cards may be sent to PO Box 7064, Lawton, Ok 73501



Justine Marie Svoboda Pokladnik

Justine Marie Svoboda Pokladnik was born on December 8, 1913 in Floresville, TX to Marie (Makovy) and Joseph Svoboda, now deceased. She left this earth April 21, 2006 to be with the Lord she loved and worshiped and to rejoin her husband of 65 years, Cyrill “Sid” Pokladnik, and son, John. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, Henry and Adolph; sister, Pauline; foster sister, Lillian Vrana Hamusek; and foster parents, Norbert and Barbara Kalich, who finished raising her after she was orphaned at age 7.

Justine was the past president of the Shore Acres Garden Club; a 50-year member of the Catholic Daughters of America; SPJST (Slovanik Benevolent Order of the State of Texas); KJZT, Circle of Czech Women; Sons of Herman; and Germainia Lodge; and with her husband charitably contributed to Czech Chairs at U.T. Austin and U.N.T. Justine and Sid owned and operated Rudolph’s Meat Market and Sausage Factory for 55 of the 111 years it’s been on Elm Street. The family still owns and operates the market.

Justine is survived by a daughter, Justine Marie Yeager and husband, Doug; grandsons, Richard Andreason and wife, Jennifer; their children, Ashley, Alexandria, Emily, and Will; Brandon Andreason; Neal Andreason and wife, Chele; granddaughters, Tara Andreason Cloutman and her children, Cayla, Lauren and Brady, and Keri Andreason Jones and husband, Scott; great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A Rosary was held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home Chapel in Dallas. The Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Thomas W. Weinzapfel as Celebrant. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers were grandsons, David, Richard and Milton Pokladnik, and David Poole.

Memorials may be made to SPJST Lodge 84, Dallas Memorial Fund, 2625 Floyd St., Dallas, TX 75204, or the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas (CEFT). Dignity Memorial Sparkman-Crane, 10501 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX (214) 327-8291.

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