Lawton Constitution House Account

Mona Belle Wilson, 91 years of age, passed away after a short illness on Wednesday afternoon, April 10, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m., Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, with the Rev. Eddie Coast, officiating. Mountain Valley Funeral Home of Joshua, Texas is managing the arrangements. Mona was the daughter of Albert and Iva Liles, and was born on Nov. 30, 1932, in Sterling. She was raised in the Fletcher area, was a 1950 graduate of Fletcher High School, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1954. Mona was a civil service employee at Fort Sill for over 30 years, working...

Ernest Eugene Shoemaker, 55, passed away due to multi-organ failure on April 2, 2024 in Tulsa. Ernie, as he liked to be called, was born March 13, 1969 in Naples, FL to Phyllis Jones and Ralph Shoemaker. Ernie was the second eldest boy of nine children; five sisters and three brothers. Ernie had a passion for food and cooking and worked as a restaurant chef for over 25 years. His love for life and people is what will be missed most about him. Ernie was married once to the love of his life, Katherine S. Herman. They enjoyed two children together: a daughter, Ashley Schoenfeld, and a son, Paul Shoemaker, and four grandchildren. He is also survived by sister, Alice Jones and numerous nieces and...

Vickie, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, wife, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2024, Vickie touched countless lives with her compassion, generosity, and passion for teaching. She was born Jan. 9, 1954 along with her twin brother, Ricky Glenn Haywood. She is preceded in death by her father, Cecil Haywood; brothers: Lyndell, Larry, and David Haywood. She is survived by her mother and dad, Patsy and Terry Casey of Perryville, TX; brothers: Ricky Haywood and wife, Kathey of Lake Worth, TX and Gary Casey and wife, Janice of Perryville, TX; husband, Tolbert J. Thomas of Flint, TX and sons: Brian Thomas of Marshall, TX, Nicholas and wife, Christal of Roanoke,TX, and Jeffrey...

Brigadier General Francis Thomas "Frank" Mataranglo, US Army retired, was born on Christmas day 1940 and passed away on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, at his home in Edmond. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 20, 2024, at noon at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery Chapel, Oklahoma City. Inurnment with full military honors will follow. For full obituary, please visit www.smithandkernke.com.

Held in love and gratefulness by his family, Donald H. Garrett, M.D. died on 30 March 2024 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital. He was born in Oklahoma City on Jan. 2, 1941, to his parents Phyllis and Tom Garrett. As the youngest of six children, he enjoyed all the privileges and perks that went with being the baby. In 1959 he graduated from Harding High School where he was permanently banned from the library for signing a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence! He attended the University of Oklahoma where he ultimately completed his training in cardiothoracic surgery. He then joined his lifelong friend Richard Allgood in Lawton where they practiced together for many rewarding years. A...

Graveside services for Evan David Anthony were held at the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin April 4, 2024. Evan David Anthony (Tony) peacefully passed away at the Lawton Fort Sill Veterans Center in Lawton, March 30, 2024. He was 95. He was born in Dyffrn (Rhondda Valley), Wales Aug. 19, 1928, to Thomas Edward Anthony and Elsie (Davies) Anthony. He came to the United States Oct. 4, 1929, as an immigrant through Ellis Island with his mother to meet with his father who went ahead to find employment after the coal mines were failing in Wales. He lived at 857 Dolly Avenue Albuquerque in the house his father built. He was drafted into the United States Military Dec. 7,1950. He became a...

Benjamin Aaron Randle, 36, sadly passed away on March 30, 2024, in Grapevine, Texas. He was born on Oct. 1, 1987, in Waco, Texas to Cynthia Hayhurst Randle and Ervin Randle. A man who lived life with an infectious personality and a smile that would light up any room he walked into. Benjamin grew up in Allen and Plano, Texas and graduated from Plano West High School in 2006. He went on to attend Baylor University on a football scholarship and graduated from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK in 2010. After graduating Benjamin joined his father to work in the automobile industry. In 2017, Benjamin married the love of his life, Cynthia Martinez. Together they had one son, Miles...

Kenneth Gunkel, DVM, of Camp Verde, AZ passed away on March 27, 2024. He was born on Feb. 12, 1947, in Quanah, Texas, to Ewing Sr. and Ruby (Samples) Gunkel. Kenneth grew up in Eldorado where he graduated in 1965. He went on to pursue a doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine from Oklahoma State University and practiced for 38 years in Lawton. Upon retiring he later moved to Camp Verde, AZ. Kenneth was a faithful member of the Cowboy Church of Elgin and Apache where a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Kenneth enjoyed hunting, fishing, classic cars, cooking and was a creative craftsman as well as an avid OSU fan and supporter. He was preceded in death by both his parents,...

Memorial service to celebrate the life of Frances Ann Gatliff will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Freedom Biker Church of Oklahoma, 803 W Walnut Ave, Duncan. Frances Ann (Whorton) Gatliff, 82, Marlow, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones. Frances was born Oct. 27, 1941, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, to Luther J. (Pete) Whorton and Jewell Frances (Garner) Whorton. On June 28, 1958, Frances married Ollie Boyd Gatliff in Lawton. She resided in Lawton most of her life and was a long-time member of Olivet Baptist Church where she was actively involved with the Baptist Women Ministry. She worked at Haggar Apparel Company in Lawton, prior to...

Gloria Annette Day, aged 70, passed away due to cancer on March 24, 2024, in Madison, AL. She was born on May 4, 1953, in Ohio. For six years, she was a resident of Lawton, and worked as a counselor to find jobs for veterans. Gloria was very well-known for her snappy comebacks and witty humor that was sure to make anyone laugh. She loved to travel and was very fond of the white sandy beaches of the Gulf Coast and loved her dog Luna very much. Gloria was also very passionate about gardening. She is survived by her daughter Sara Sanders, and her sons: Nathanial and Drew Pooler, her many grandchildren, and cousins. She will always remain in our hearts and will be greatly missed.

Ronald Eugene Heath was born Jan. 31, 1946, in Chickasha, and departed this life on March 18, 2024 in Norman, with his beloved brother at his side. Born to Arnold Leroy and Vera Virginia Heath and big sister Darlene, the family soon moved from Chickasha to Los Alamos, NM before returning to Oklahoma and settling in Lawton. Brother Rick would join the family at that time. Ron attended Lawton Public Schools: Lincoln and Cleveland Elementary Schools , Tomlinson Junior High School, and Lawton High School where he graduated in 1964. Ron attended Cameron University in Lawton for two years, and Seattle University for one year. Like many individuals during that time frame, Ron's education was...

Command Sgt. Major retired Robert Lee (Bob) Cantrell passed away at the age of 92 on March 16, 2024, in Athens, Alabama. He was born on July 28, 1931, to Joseph P. and Pauline (Johnson) Cantrell, and attended school and worked in the Athens area until he joined the U.S. Army in 1947. He spent 29 years in distinguished service to his nation and was promoted early throughout his career--ultimately rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major (E-9). He spent a majority of his career in Field Artillery units at Fort Sill, but also served in other diverse roles?including five tours to Korea, and two tours to Vietnam. He earned numerous career awards including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious...

Donna Faye Sawin Whatley (Sissie) passed away peacefully on March 13, 2024, in Spring, Texas. Sissie was 93 years old. Sissie was born in Sterling, on Dec. 7, 1930, and lived there throughout her youth. She graduated from Sterling High School, and in June of 1949, she married Don Whatley, also from the Sterling/Fletcher/Elgin area. They lived there until moving to Oklahoma City in 1957, and over the following years, they also lived in Irving, Texas, and the Houston, Texas, area. She was a member of Oakridge Baptist Church, in Spring, Texas. Sissie spent most of her adult years managing the home and raising three children while Don traveled for his work. She supported Don by working...

A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held for Dana from 1 - 4 p.m., 23 March, 2024, at Central High Community Center, 166141 Seven Mile Rd., Marlow, OK 73055.

Donald Haury passed away on Friday, March 8, 2024, at Hospice Facility in Oklahoma City. During his last days he was comforted by his family. Donald was born Sept. 25, 1955. He was born in Carnegie. He was raised and attended school in Carnegie and Binger. Donald is a Kiowa tribal member, he is also a descendant of the Arapaho tribe. Donald comes from the Haury and Tofpi families out of Carnegie. His parents John Haury and Ethelene Tofpi had nine children. John Haury had two brothers Theodore aka Teddy Haury Hubert Tsotigh. Ethelene Tofpi had one sister Rita Creepingbear. Donald was generous, he enjoyed being with his family, laughing and listening to music. Donald looked forward to...

Funeral for Monte Dee Potts, 65, Elgin, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Comanche Nation Funeral Home. Prayer service will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery. Monte Dee Potts, an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, was born Dec. 12, 1958, in Forth Worth, Texas, and departed this life on Monday, March 4, 2024, in Elgin, OK at the age of 65 years. Monte was the middle child of Elva (Permansu) and Fred Potts. Monte lived in Fort Worth, Texas, until moving to Walters, Oklahoma, where he grew up. Monte attended Walters High School, was a quarterback for their football team and graduated in 1977. After graduating high school, Monte worked for the...

Funeral service for Marieta Frances Raasch, 80, of Cement, will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha. Nathan Talbert will officiate. Marieta Frances (Rogers) Raasch was born to D M "Red" and Velma Rogers on July 6, 1943. She passed peacefully from this world on March 4, 2024, in Oklahoma City. She married her grade school sweetheart, Gary Raasch, on Nov. 14, 1960. They were blessed with 63 1/2 years of marriage and built a legacy of love on their farm in Cement, Oklahoma. Marieta was a homemaker for many years while her children were young, and they ran a Dairy Farm. She worked in banking at The Bank of Cement and Chickasha Bank &...

Charlene Faye Webb Siebert, age 83, of Russellville, Arkansas died Friday, March 1, 2024. She was born Jan. 14, 1941, in Bristow, to Charles Elton Wheeler and Nina Pearl Boyett Wheeler Hopton. She lived in California with her parents. When she was 16, she moved to live with her Grandmother Boyett, in Hollis, where she worked at the Daisy Queen and played high school basketball. After she and her then husband, Ronald Webb, moved to Lawton, she had her only child, Patti. She was PTA president several years and room mother at Wilson Elementary. She worked at Hager Slacks for several years before she started working for Dr. E. A. Schlapbach, O.D., where she worked for more than 20 years. ...

Rebecca Louise Pazoureck (Becky), age 78, died on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, after a short illness. She was born Oct. 3, 1945, in Arlington, VA, to William L. and Marguerite (Bodmer) Kieffer. Becky earned a B.S. in Home Economics from James Madison University in 1967 where she was a member of the Phi Mu Fraternity. While serving as a second lieutenant in the Air Force, she met Joseph B. Pazoureck Jr., a first lieutenant in the Army. The couple wed in December 1968 and settled in Lawton, to begin raising their family. Becky then gained her M.S. and Ph.D. from Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University, respectively, and served as a professor in Family and Consumer Sciences with Cameron...

It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of David Moon, aged 58, who succumbed to a prolonged illness on Feb. 21, 2024. Born in Lawton, and a 1983 graduate of Eisenhower High School, David dedicated his life to the service of others through his medical profession. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Oklahoma State University and served the Las Vegas area until 2013 and the Tulsa community until 2015. Known for his compassionate care and genuine concern for his patients, David touched the lives of countless individuals over the years. David's commitment to his community extended beyond the walls of the clinic. He was actively involved in various...

James Mitchell Wyatt (aka Jimmer, Jim, Jimmy), age 58, of Lawton, passed away on Feb. 20, 2024. He was born on Dec. 18, 1965, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to James and Ramona Mitchell (Blomberg), and later adopted by Harley Wyatt. James spent his childhood on a good ol' Iowa farm, where he developed his love for farming and ranching. He graduated from Barnum High School and was active in athletics particularly football and wrestling. After serving in the Army, he married Stephanie Hoyer on Feb. 16, 1985, and together they welcomed their son, Justin Wyatt. James had a diverse work history, including jobs in painting, construction, farming, ranching, and truck driving. He took pride in his role as...