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Tulsa, OK–RENA WHORTON GRIFFITH, passed away September 24, 2003. Retired Executive Secretary, Pepsi-Cola Company, Tulsa. Born November 5, 1922, in Madison County, AR. Reared and attended public schools in Mayes County, OK. Attended Hughes Beauty Academy and The University of Tulsa. During World War II, she worked as a Beautician in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. She also worked at Douglas Aircraft as a Department Clerk. In 1968 she went to work for Pepsi-Cola, Dr Pepper Company as the Sales Secretary, retiring from there in 1985. A lifetime member and past Tulsa District President of United Methodist Women. A charter member of Business and Professional Women in Liberal, KS and also in Pryor, OK. A former member of Tulsa Chapter Professional Secretaries International, a member of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Charles, were married November 8, 1941. Besides her husband, she is survived by: 1 brother, D. H. Whorton, Springfield, MO; sisters, Cleo Sliepcevich, Norman, OK, Dorothy Packard, Pryor, OK, Nita Eklund, LaQuinta, CA, Laverne Watkins, Pryor, OK; 17 nieces and nephews; brothers-in-law; and a sister-in-law. Also a niece-in-law and 3 nephews-in-law. Preceded in death by: her father and mother, Dorsey and Ona Whorton; a brother, J.D. Whorton; and a sister, Larue Doss. Her abiding love for God, her family, her many friends and her love for life was a great inspiration to all who knew her. Funeral will be at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 2 p.m., Monday, September 29, 2003. Moore's Southlawn Chapel.  --Tulsa World (OK) - September 27, 2003

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Oklahoma City, OK--GILBERT B. LAWSON, 88, passed away February 28, 1996, after a lengthy illness. He was born November 10, 1907, in Madison County, AR to Ely & Susie Lawson. He grew up in the Eureka Springs area and moved to OKC in 1919. He worked for various trucking companies and Superior Feed Mills until his retirement in 1968. He was a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church since 1948. Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Gerald Don Lawson; 2 brothers, Homer & Eugene; nephew, Terry Glen Lawson. Survivors include wife, Blanche, of the home; grandson, Gerald Don Lawson II, and daughter-in-law, Dawn Lawson, of San Antonio, TX; brother & sister-in-law, Elmo & Mary Lawson; 'special' niece, Sevalla VanPool & her husband Don & their children, Donnie, Denny & Deanna; 3 nephews, Kenny & Rex Hames, Gerald Dean Hanes; niece, Yolanda Ballesteros. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 4, at Capitol Hill Funeral Home, with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery. 
--Daily Oklahoman, The (Oklahoma City, OK) - March 3, 1996

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Tulsa, OK--HAROLD O. THOMAS  was born May 10, 1926 in Madison County, AR, died December 22, 2003 in Tulsa, OK. He retired in 1986 after working for Southwestern Bell for 38 years. Served in U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Lester Thomas and a sister, Wilma. Harold is survived by wife of 55 years, Betty Lou Thomas. Survivors also include: Larry and Barbara Thomas, their children, Lauren, Ryan and Allison; David and Sally Thomas and his son, Josh Collins and wife, Kirsten; Rick and Perry Thomas and their daughter, Thalia. Other survivors include: 3 sisters, Nadine Cothrun, Edna Tyree and Kathleen Gritts; and 2 uncles, Warren and Jay; as well as numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and many loved ones. Harold was an active member of the 29th and Yale Church of Christ and Pioneer Club. He loved to camp, fish, work in his garden and attend his grandchildren's activities. Harold was a devoted husband caring for his wife for many years. He was a compassionate, patient and generous man who leaves a great absence in many lives. Service 2 p.m., Monday, December 29, 2003, 29th Street Church of Christ. Interment, Floral Haven Cemetery. Moore's Southlawn Chapel.  --Tulsa World (OK) - December 26, 2003

LESLEY H. VICKERS, 67, of Oklahoma City, OK, died Tuesday at South Community Hospital. Services 2 pm, Friday, in the Chapel of the Chimes at Capitol Hill Funeral Home with interment in IOOF Cemetery, Norman.
Mr. Vickers was born in Madison County Ar. and came to OKC in 1940 from Norman. He was raised near Little Axe community, was a truck driver for the Bill Jackson Trucking Co., a Mason and member of Myrtle Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Esther of the home; 1 daughter, Charlene Clark of OKC; brother, Delleren Cox of Eufaula; step-brother, Gerald Cox of Great Bend KS; sister, Rosa Lee Dunagan of Norman; 2 step-sisters Vivian Elliott of Tecumseh, and Alfreeda Brummer of Houston; 3 grandchildren.  Source:  Daily Oklahoman, The (Oklahoma City, OK) - March 17, 1983.