Kenneth Earl “Bud” Keesee was born June 14, 1943 in Holdenville, Oklahoma to Kenneth and Willie Mae Keesee. He passed on August 10, 2021.

Denver Clayton ‘Denny’ Wilbanks passed away in McAlester, Oklahoma on Wednesday morning, August 11, 2021, at the age of 81 years. Denny was the son of Burl & Charlotte (South) Wilbanks, born on November 13, 1939, in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

Rosella Tuttle Vallandingham, age 95, long time Wewoka resident, peacefully left this earth surrounded by her family on July 22, 2021. She was born January 18, 1926 in Mounds, OK and lived in the Mounds and Duck Creek area with her parents Pearl (Simons) and P.J.

Jack Bible Sr. passed away in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at the age of 93 years.

Ricky Dover age 67 went home to be with the Lord Thursday, July 22, 2021 at his home in Calvin, Oklahoma. He was born on July 5, 1954 to Leroy and Flossie (Allen) Dover in Dinuba, California.

Queston Dwight Yarbrough passed away Saturday, August 14th, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Ada, Oklahoma at the age of 70. Queston was born December 30th, 1950 in Gerty, Oklahoma to Jesse Jackson Yarbrough and Ninnie Mae Woodall Elliott.

Funeral service for Carolyn Lavern Branscum was held Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 2:30 PM at the Harrah Church of Christ, Harrah, Oklahoma. Interment followed at the Highland Cemetery in Okemah, Oklahoma. Carolyn Lavern Branscum was born February 19, 1949 in Hanna, Wyoming to Fred Nathaniel Carson and Oletta Merle (Gee) Carson. She passed away Sunday, August 8, 2021 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 72. Carolyn was a resident of Harrah, Oklahoma and was retired educator and homemaker. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from East Central University and later a master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in reading from ECU. Carolyn taught at numerous schools throughout her career including, Calvin, Holdenville, Buffalo Valley, Wilburton, Bethel and McLoud Public Schools before retiring in 1997. On December 19, 1970, in Okemah, Oklahoma, she married James Branscum. Carolyn enjoyed gardening, painting, studying her bible and cooking. Most of all she loved spending time with her grandchildren and family. Carolyn will be dearly missed by so many. She is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Fred Carson and Delano Carson; two sisters, Vivian Wiley and Sandra Dancosse and one half-sister, Violet Dunaway. Survivors include her husband, James of the home in Harrah; her son, Adam Rhett Branscum and wife Brittany of Houston, Texas; her daughter, Aaron Racheyl Walker and husband Lee of Newalla, Oklahoma; one sister, Virginia Hossfeld of Niagara Falls, New York and five grandchildren, Rylee Drew Walker and Duke Crossley, Carson Keziah Walker, Laine Idella Walker, Rhett James Branscum and Adeline Mae Branscum. Serving as active pallbearers will be Perry Wynn, Darrin Carson, Duke Crosley, Kakio Richardson, Tim Carson and David Mahoney. Services were under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home of Okemah, Oklahoma and officiated by Dr. Sidney Carter and Bro. David Mahoney.

Bonnie Lounell Wheeler of Shawnee, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at the age of 69. Bonnie, the daughter of Raymond and Bonnie (Russell) Lanham, was born September 18, 1951 in Stuart.

Dale Dean Jennings passed away at his home in Norman, Oklahoma on Saturday evening, August 7, 2021, at the age of 86 years. Dale was the son of Floyd Jennings Sr.

FROM START TO FINISH HOLDENVILLE STUDENTS BEGIN A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. AT THE STARTING LINE OF 1ST GRADE ABOVE IS MRS. LEDO’S CLASS: Back Row (L-R) Augie Robinson, Marty Gaskins, Sam Leftwich, Eli Gomez, Zayden Foster, Bailey Jones, Dru SMith and Mrs. Kelly Ledo. Middle Row (L-R): Brennan Maxwell, Piper Robinson, Blake Wardlow, Emmalyn Ellis, Bristol Langdon, and Brecklynn Crawford. Front Row (L-R): Raden Tillery, Channing Tucker, Daxton Robinson, Kade Johnson, Dash Merriman, and Emma Jett. PICTURED BELOW ABOUT TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE OF SENIOR YEAR IS MRS. JO’S ENGLISH CLASS Left Row: Emma Factor and Kelei Cook. Middle Row: Kacie Briones. Right Row: Albert Fixico, Howard Harjo, and Brooklyn Sullivan.