Oklahoma Genealogy and History - presented by Genealogy Trails

Oklahoma Obits

James "Jim" Edward Burris
Newspaper: Miami News-Record
Submitters Name: Jody Eggensperger

James "Jim" Edward Burris of Welch died Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at his home. He was 68.
Mr. Burris was born Nov. 25, 1939, in Deventor, Mo., to Martin Childress Burris and Dorothy E. (Hamilton) Burris. As a young child, he moved to Belen, N.M., with his family, where he grew up attended school. He attended vocational school in Ozark, Ark., obtaining a certificate in auto body. He moved to Welch in 1961.
He was a veteran of the National Guard, serving from March 23, 1958, until Jan. 20, 1966.
He owned and operated Jim's Body Shop for several years. He was also a truck driver.
He married Marilyn Joyce Culp on Oct. 5, 1958, in Carlsbad, N.M. She survives.
Additional survivors include five daughters, Nancy Smith of Vinita, Karen McKibben of Cardin, Janet Moss of Miami, Utuana Graham of Claremore, and Dorothy Estes of Miami; one son, James Burris of Welch; one brother, Martin Lewis Burris of Socorro, N.M.; two sisters, Flora Murphy of Brackettville, Texas, and Jane Hinton of Sweet Home, Ore., 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Emmanuel Temple in Vinita. The Rev. Roger Wright will officiate. Burial will be in Welch City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Darrell and Robert McKibben, Billie Estes, David and Kelby Moss and James Burris.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Thomas Funeral Home in Welch.

Edward Coats
Edward Coats, son of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Coats, was born at Bado, Mo., August 21, 1894, and passed away at his home in Miami, Oklahoma, January 24, 1945; making his age at time of death 50 years, 5 months and 3 days. On December 23, 1913, He was united in marriage to Essie Ray Stanislaus at Lundy, Mo. They soon moved to Oklahoma, where they have made their home for the last 30 years. To this union seven children were born, two of whom have preceded him in death, Edward Estel and Peggy Sue. The children who survive him are: Mrs. Mildred Moulton, Neosho, Kansas; Mrs. Mabel Ross, Wichita, Kansas; Mrs. Virginia Lee Coats, of the home; Pvt. Gail Coats and Sgt. Leon C. Coats, who are in the service. He is also survived by his aged mother, Mrs. Monroe coats, of Houston, Mo.; and two sisters, Mrs. Homer Crawford of Houston, Mo., and Mrs Alta Spince, of Joplin, Mo.; three brothers: Oscar Coats, of Houston, Mo.; Clem Coats, of Miami, Oklahoma and Clyde Coats, who is in the service. Funeral services were held at the Union Church Friday, January 25th and were conducted by the Rev. J. J. Carty. The song service was furnished by Mr. and Mrs. Mansel Coats, Edwin and Lynn Francis, with very beautiful and appropriate songs. The pallbearers were: Oscar Coats, Clem Coats, Homer Crawford, Emmett Stepp, Oval Stanislaus and Alva Hood. Burial in the Upton (Union) cemetery under the direction of the Elliott funeral Home, of Houston, Mo. [Submitted by Chris Walters]

Judy S. (Ryan) Johnson
Newspaper: Miami News-Record
Submitted By: Jody Eggensperger

Heavens gates were open wide when Judy S. Johnson entered in on Sunday, March 23, 2008, at her home in Miami, Okla. Judy was born Aug. 11, 1942, in Miami, Okla., to her birth parents, Albert Ryan and Nellie (Walker) Ryan. Ben and Navene Andrews took young Judy and raised her as their very own daughter.

Judy has been the caretaker for the Dobson Museum for many years. She was a long time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Judy was very involved in her community. She loved being a member of the Red Hat Society, BPW, Garden Club and the Historical Society. Judy enjoyed being involved with the Friends of the Coleman as well. She was also a member of the Modern Homemakers Club and the Bunco Club.

Although she is no longer with us, her memory and legacy will be kept alive through the family and friends she leaves behind which include: her four daughters: Beth Sharp and husband Stacy of Langley, Okla., Ruthie and husband Alan Eads of Miami, Okla., Julie and husband Gene Miller of Sapulpa, Okla., Sherry and husband Marty Scriber of Diamond, Mo.; one sister: Carolyn Sue and husband Roy Ashley of Collinsville, Okla.; and one brother: James Daniel and wife Ann Ryan of Owasso, Okla., 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Judy is preceded in death by her birth parents; husband, Garry Johnson; her parents that raised her, Ben and Navene Andrews, and three brothers, John Wylie Ryan, Thomas Wayne Ryan and Jimmy Gene Andrews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 27, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Gregg Elliott officiating. Rosary will be held Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. at Cooper-Althouse Funeral Home. Interment will follow the funeral service on Thursday at Ottawa Indian Cemetery. Services are under the care and direction of Cooper-Althouse Funeral Home of Miami, Okla.

COMMUNITY MOURNS LOSS OF MUSEUM DIRECTOR
Judy Johnson, executive director of the Dobson Museum and caretaker and resident of the Dobson House, died Easter Sunday morning. "Mom loved life," her daughter, Ruth Eads said. "She fought to stay here. She was the strongest woman I know."

Johnson and her husband Garry, who preceded her in death, retired 11 years ago from their positions at Integris Baptist Regional Health Center, to take on the responsibility of maintaining the Dobson House.

"My parents thought it would be awesome to live in the old Dobson House," Eads said.

Eads said her mother had an intense interest in history and genealogy which came in handy in her involvement with the Dobson.

"I'm going to miss Judy's outlook on life," said Ramon Hale, president of the Ottawa County Historical Society and Johnson's co-worker at the museum. " She saw it as her mission to promote the Dobson Memorial Center and to develop awareness of what the center has to offer the community."

Johnson leaves behind three additional daughters, Sherry Scribner, Beth Sharp and Julie Miller, as well as 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miami.
Johnson was the organizer of one of Miami's chapters of the "Red Hat Society." She invited five friends, none of whom knew each other at the time, to a tea party. Each had helped her in some way and she thought they would benefit from knowing each other.

Johnson was also a member of the Modern Homemakers H.C.E. and the Miami Garden Society, the Business and Professional Women, Friends of the Coleman and the Integris Baptist Regional Health Center Auxiliary..

"After Dad died seven years ago, Mom joined a lot of clubs to keep herself busy"" Eads said. "She turned around and blossomed."

A native Miamian, Johnson's knowledge of the area was considered by many to be priceless to the Dobson Museum. "She had a wealth of information vital to the museum," Hale said. "Her roots in the area go back to the â€˜allotment days." Eads, her husband Alan and four of their five children, will assume Johnson's position as caretaker and residents of the Dobson House. "Alan's been taking care of the grounds the past seven years, ever since Dad died" Eads said. "Judy was a real treasure," Hale said. "She will be sadly missed."

Florence James Williams
Newspaper: Joplin Globe Friday June 30, 1961
Submitters Name: Ladonna Williams Travis

Obit: Picher, Okla. Services for Florence James Williams, 83 years old, 322 South Alta Street, who died Wednesday night in Miami Baptist hospital, will be at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon in Picher Baptist Church. The Rev. Ward Allen and the Rev. Sterling Jackson will officiate. Burial will be
in Greenlawn cemetery, northwest of Treece, Kan.