Alva Review-Courier

Shirley Lancaster Reed, 85, passed away on April 21, 2022, in Tyler, Texas. Her funeral services will be held at the Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, Texas on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 2pm. Visitation will be held the night before on Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 5-7pm at the Stewart Family Funeral Home. Shirley will be laid to rest at the Alva Municipal Cemetery in Alva, Oklahoma on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. A brief graveside ceremony will be held at 12 noon. Her epitaph will read, "Home at Last!" Shirley was born in Alva, Oklahoma, on September 3, 1936. She was the first of four children born to Chester "Chet" Lancaster and Goldie Schmitt...

Karl Reinke, long-term Lake Geneva resident and educational leader, passed away on February 6, 2022, at Lakeland Hospital. Karl is survived by his wife of 72 years, Virginia "Ginny",sons Clark (De De) of Plymouth, WI, Val (Retha) of Riverton, WY, daughter Patricia "Trish" (Tom) Litterski of Cincinnati, OH, five grandchildren: Rachel, Emily, Samuel, Frances, Cole, five great grandchildren: Caroline, Elliott, Leo, Weston and John Clark, and brother Donald (Donna) of Fredericksburg, TX. , and many nieces and nephews.He was proceeded in death by his parents, sister Mary Zicarelli (Bob), brothers Robert (Rosemary), and David (Ruth). Karl was born in Gillett, WI in 1926 to Lydia (Hildebrandt)...

Johnnie R. Sharp (John), 84, passed away at his home in Amarillo, Texas. Funeral services were Thursday, January 7, 2020 at First Baptist Church Chapel, with Dr. Howard Batson officiating. Graveside services were at the Boys Ranch Alumni Cemetery with Rev. Corky Holland, Minister of Pastoral Care and Adult Care FBC-Amarillo and the Reverend John Love officiating. John was born to Iva and Arlie Sharp in Freedom, Oklahoma on April 1, 1936. The family later moved to Alva, Oklahoma. He graduated high school from Alva High School in 1954. In August of 1954 he was inducted to into the United States Navy in San Diego, CA. He served four years aboard the USS 898, traveling all thru the Pacific...

John Allen Rider II was born March 11, 1928 to George and Lorene Rider on the family farm near Arnett OK. After service in the US Navy 1946-1948, John had a 42 year career in education, teaching in several high schools in Kansas, and at a number of colleges and universities from North Dakota to the Panama Canal Zone, receiving many awards over the years for his distinguished service. Throughout his life, John actively served others in church and community activities, working particularly in support of adult literacy, as a hospice volunteer, and as a member of Kiwanis, Lions Clubs, and the American Legion. He also did a great deal of work in genealogy for his own and other families....

Faye Parsons was called home on June 30, 2020. This feisty and independent woman was born March 10, 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri to Arthur and Nellie Faulkner. Her devotion to family and firm belief in God supported her throughout her beautiful life. Faye married Henry Parsons on December 18, 1949, remaining happily married for over 57 years until his passing in 2006. Together, they lived in Tulsa, OK later moving to Knoxville, TN in 1998. She worked at American Airlines for many years. As a devout Lutheran, Faye loved her church and its community. Faye always loved spending time with her extended family and took pride in being a great grandmother. She was especially close to her...

Michael Dean Michaelis, age 58, passed away on July 9, 2019. Mr. Michaelis was born July 24, 1960 to Gilbert and Roberta Michaelis. He was a 1978 graduate of Alva High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University. Mr. Michaelis met the love of his life in college and married his wife Dana in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1986. Captain Michaelis spent 27 years as a pilot with American Airlines, and served three years as the National Safety Committee Chairman for the Allied Pilots Association beginning in 2007, and reassumed his chairmanship with the APA in 2016. He earned his certification in Aviation Safety and Security from the University of...