Sharon Jene Dodson Hall passed away June 1, 2022 after a brief battle with lung cancer. Sharon was born to Floyd “Gene” and Mary Ella “Pat” Dodson January 29, 1943 in Lamar, Oklahoma.

Patricia Ruth Tate, formerly Patricia Ruth Malone, of Tulsa, Oklahoma went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at the age of 78. We are sure of her presence with the Lord because of her faith in Jesus as her Savior.

Bill J. Shipley was born April 1, 1930 to Audie and Opal (Pogue) Shipley, Bill passed from this life June 18, 2022 in Seminole, Oklahoma at the age of 92. Bill was born and raised in Holdenville, Oklahoma. After graduating from High School, he worked in construction with his uncle J.D. House, learning skills that would serve him his whole life. Bill was deeply patriotic and proudly served in the U.S. Navy for four years, stationed at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and San Juan Puerto Rico, After being discharged from service, he returned to Oklahoma and the construction field. As a Construction Manager, Bill worked across the United States, Bill supervised the construction of numerous apartment complexes, student housing projects and residential homes. He also shared his knowledge of the trade, teaching vocational carpentry at Holdenville High School. He enjoyed a long career, retiring from the field in 2008 at the age of 78. For many years, Bill enjoyed fishing and spending time at Oklahoma Lakes. He was also an avid sports fan. He loved to watch baseball, football, and basketball. He rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on any of the OU Sooners, and took pride in his status as a lifelong fan. He is survived by his wife Ann (Jones) Shipley of the home, his sons, Lee Shipley (Edmond, OK), and Larry Shipley (Edmond, OK), and Mike Jones and wife April (Seminole, OK), Bill’s younger sister Shirley and her husband Eddie Nance, reside in Asheville, NC. Bill will be deeply missed by his grandchildren: Taylor Shipley (Dallas, TX), Kyle Kay, (New Braunfels, TX), Tanya Kay (Hartford, CN), Tyler Jones and wife Brittany (Venus, TX), Dustin Jones and wife Krista, Valerie Kiker and husband Derek, Lane Jones and Larsen Jones (all of Seminole, OK), Dustin Hatfield, and Amy Hatfield Hadley. Bill was also blessed with great-grandchildren, Zac Kay (San Antonio, TX), Shelby Kay (Euless, TX), and Brooks Jones (Seminole, OK). Bill leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and relatives including, JannaBeth Tipton (Tulsa, OK), Kathryn Cooper and husband Kelly (Skiatook, OK), Jay Moore and wife Angie (Chesapeake, VA), John Nance (Palm Springs, CA), Clark Nance (Asheville, NC), Leslie Lee and husband Steven (Horntown, OK), Rex Nance and wife Heather (Asheville, NC), Stephanie Wilburn and husband Zack (Edmond, OK), Ryan Nance (Dallas, TX), and Julia Nance, (Asheville, NC). Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Audie and Opal (Pogue) Shipley. Wife, Jo Hatfield Shipley, her son Ronnie Hatfield, and her daughter Donna Cluck. Viewing will be 9:00am- 7:00pm Tuesday, June 21st and 9:00am-7:00pm Wednesday, June 22nd and Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home, Holdenville. Graveside services officiated by Rev. Doyle Long, will be at 10:00am, Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Holdenville Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Lee Shipley, Larry Shipley, Mike Jones, Dustin Jones, Tyler Jones, and Lane Jones. Services under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

Holdenville Cheerleaders Win Awards The 2022-23 school year is rapidly approaching and one of this year’s athletic squads has already established it’s self as an elite award winning team. The 2022-23 Holdenville High School Cheer Squad has been to summer camp and has won several awards! Coach Leslie Phillips’ group won awards for National Cheerleading Top Team Band Chant, won the Spirt Stick Award two days in a row, and secured two Awards for Excellence, and one Award for Superior! Coach Phiilips expressed her excitement when she expressed her thoughts on her team’s performance: “We attended OU cheer camp where they learned new stunts, cheers, and chants for upcoming seasons.

State Representative David Smith, who is Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, recently hosted a campout for Veterans. United States Senator James Lankford stopped by the campout to visit with Representative Smith and Smith’s fellow veterans about issues Oklahoma veterans are currently facing. Veterans from Hughes, Pittsburgh, Okfuskee, and Coal Counties were all in attendance.

The Holdenville Pentecostal Holiness Church is pleased to announce their new pastors, Reverend Rick and Susan Madron. The Madrons are returning as pastors of Holdenville PHC where they were pastors for 8 years.

There were multiple injuries reported in a two-vehicle injury on Hwy. 270 approximately 3 miles east of Seminole Monday evening, June 13. All eight people involved, including the two drivers and six passengers, were hospitalized.

The 18th Congressional District and Republican Representative David Smith met Friday May 27th in Atwood with approximately thirty Hughes County Farmers and Ranchers to discuss the opportunities for Hughes County and specifically Holdenville.

An important primary election will take place June 28 and concerned citizens should arm themselves with information about the candidates. In Hughes County, almost all of the races are Republican primaries.

I do not propose to be an expert on very many things but finding jobs after retirement would probably be an area in which I have some experience, but not necessarily a great deal of knowledge. In other words, if I had any sense, I would take these jobs and shove them and become a couch potato.