News-Capital & Democrat

Joseph Melon Stovall was born in McAlester, OK in 1930 and lived a long, full life of 92 years. He was the only child of Claud and Alice Stovall. He graduated from McAlester High School as a clarinet player in the band and president of his senior class. He met his future wife Dody Hall when she threw a snowball at him on the MHS campus. They were married 57 years. After high school graduation, he joined the Naval Reserve and then the Air Force during the Korean War. He was a freemason in McAlester and earned a marketing degree from Oklahoma State University where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. For the majority of his career he was a banker, beginning at Mercantile National...

Archie Thurmond Walker, of Comanche, Oklahoma, was born April 22, 1944 in McAlester to Archie L. Walker and Nolan McManes. He passed away peacefully with his kids by his side on December 15, 2021. The family will greet visitors on Sunday, December 19, between 2:00-3:30 P.M. at Whitt Funeral Home, Duncan. Services are scheduled for Monday, December 20, 2021, at 10:00 A.M. at Whitt Funeral Home with Rev. Randy Southerland officiating. Interment will be at 3:00 P.M. at Memory Gardens in McAlester under the direction of Whitt Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be Bryan Walker, Gage Walker, Ryley Shipman, Dustin Walker, Jordan Marczewski, Bryce Walker, and David Hill. Honorary...

The family of Gerald Duke Patton will celebrate his life of 87 years at 1:30 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at the Southcrest Baptist Church. His family will host a time of fellowship and remembrance from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, September 01, 2021, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. If unable to attend, we invite you to visit www.memorialdesigners.net to view the live-streamed service, sign his virtual guestbook, watch his life tribute and download his memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing. On January 6, 1934, Gerald Duke Patton was born to Hairm Jacob and Lillie (Duke) Patton in Harpers Valley, OK, and he went to be with Jesus on Thursday, August 26,...

A funeral mass will be held for Carolyn Holly at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Chapels of Saints Peter & Paul, 1435 ESE Loop 323, Tyler, Texas 75701. Carolyn Sadler Holly was born May 10, 1942 in Denver, Colorado. She had been a resident of Tyler for 54 years, formerly living in McAlester, Oklahoma. She attended Saints Peter and Paul Chapel in Tyler. She graduated from McAlester High School, and attended Eastern Oklahoma A&M College and Tyler Junior College. Carolyn was a state certified sign language interpreter for TISD for many years, and also worked as a secretary for Holly's Rainmaker Sprinklers. She belonged to many organizations: East Texas Interpreters Guild; East...

Shirley J. Hotubbee "Jan" (Whitten) was born on November 18, 1934 in Henryetta, Oklahoma to Roy Lafayette Byrnes and Mae Louise Byrnes. She went to be with her Lord on April 8, 2021 at her home in Antlers with her beloved family at her side. Jan graduated from Hartshorne High School in 1953. She then continued her education in OKC at Draughns Business School. While attending Draughns she lived at the YWCA. She worked as a nanny while she finished her education. She married Donald Roe in 1954. Mike, David, and Jana Kay were soon added to the family. Jan married Lewis Whitten in 1963. The new family raised the children in Dustin and then Antlers. After the children were raised Jan and Lewis...

Larry "John" Welch, 74, of Hackett, Arkansas passed away March 2nd, 2020 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was born June 6, 1945 in McAlester, Oklahoma. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jenny Lind, AR, an exterminator and a US Air Force Veteran. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl Henry and Delphia Alene (Kelly) Welch, brothers Lloyd and Lenard Welch, and Sisters Freda Glidden and Rita Weaver. He is survived by his wife of 16 years Carolyn Welch, son tommy Welch and wife Dawn of Fort Smith, daughter Kim Kitchens and husband Erik of Crowder, OK, stepsons Steven and Gary Clark both of Hackett, grandchildren; Grady Kitchens, Brenlyn Welch, Brylar Welch, Brianna Welch, Nicole...

As "Jesus Love Me" softly played, Janet Lee Wright took her last breath, sweetly and peacefully, on Saturday, December 14, 2019. Janet Lee Wright, 73, was born on December 4, 1946, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Curtis Carroll Hackney and Rose Yvonne Hackney. Janet was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 49 1/2 years, Rodger Allen Wright. She is survived by her daughter Carrie Bond and her husband Brian with their children: Taylor, Madison, and Braxton, of Weatherford, Texas; her son Chad and his wife Kim, of Ennis, Texas; her brother Robert Hackney and his wife Judy, of Choctaw, OK; her brother Jerry Hackney and his wife Lynn, of Ardmore, OK; her brother David Hackney and his...