Roosevelt News

-- East Coast Edition –

 

-- Printed in Loving Memory of Wanda J. Jackson 1934 - 2011 –

 

News Center

Read old/current issues and send news or comments online at:

http://www.234enterprises.com/RooseveltNews/newscenter.htm

 

Editors:

E-mail: mmay@234enterprises.com

 Carolyn Niebruegge May                      Michael L. May

Vol. 1, Is. 14                                                                                      Oct. 21, 2011

 

 

From the Editor

 

Well, it’s definitely fall in Virginia--although I hate blowing leaves, it’s still one of my favorite seasons.  When you get the volume of leaves that we do here you must be prepared to handle them--two large backpack blowers, a small hand held, and a “rolling piece of turbulence” that we affectionately refer to as “Big Bertha.”  These various pieces of equipment certainly make things better for two old folks.  Unfortunately, I don’t think that the colors are going to be as good as usual, but we’re still on the early end.  Hopefully, the colors will improve as time moves along.  Leaves and acorns are coming down like rain.  In fact, today rain is also coming down. I probably shouldn’t mention to those in southwest Oklahoma and Northern Texas that at this time, we are 11 inches ahead of our normal rainfall.  Please don’t think that we don’t feel blessed or that we don’t still have rain in our prayers for those of you that are so lacking.

 

With the onset of October, those so inclined think of fall decorations and oh yes, Halloween.  I think that fall and Halloween decorations get more “in vogue” out here each year.  Many decorate for Halloween just like they do for Christmas.  We do get a lot of exposure to the Halloween excitement as our son-in-law Mark’s favorite holiday is Halloween.  I so wish that some year he will get the opportunity to share in the annual tradition of Roosevelt’s famed “Haunted House.”  It is such a morale booster for the community and the funds collected always benefit some local charity or need.  It’s hard to comprehend that some of those working with the activity this year had grandparents working with it 30 years ago.  Remember that all the fun starts on Friday night the 21st south of Roosevelt on Old Cemetery Rd. just to the east of US 183.  The “Haunted House” will also be open the 22nd, 28th, 29th, and 30th.  Hours of operation are from 8:00 pm until Midnight each night and the cost is $5.00 per person.  We invite everyone to come and enjoy the fun.

 

mlm

 

 

1924 Graduate of Roosevelt High School Passes

 

We are saddened to announce that Lela Branch Bristow Wilburn, 103, (Class of 1924), passed away October 15, 2011.  Our records indicate that at the time of her death she was the oldest living graduate of Roosevelt High School.  Given this distinction, we believe that Mrs. Wilburn deserves special recognition.  So as a tribute, rather than only appearing in the obituary section, we will print her full obituary at the beginning of the paper for all to view.  RIP Lela…

 

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Facts

Born: January 16, 1908
Place of Birth: Roosevelt, Oklahoma
Death: October 15, 2011
Place of Death: Lawton, Oklahoma

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Biography

Graveside service for Lela B. Wilburn, 103, Lawton will be at 2:30 pm Wednesday, October 19, 2011 in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Snyder with Rev. Patrick McPherson, Pastor of the Snyder First United Methodist Church officiating.
Mrs. Wilburn died Saturday in Lawton.
Burial will be under the direction of Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Snyder.
Lela Blanch Bristow Wilburn was born January 16, 1908 in Roosevelt, Oklahoma to Gilbert B. and Lela (Dirickson) Bristow. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and three sisters. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.
A graduate of Roosevelt High School, Lela also studied two years at Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater. Her most enjoyable hobby was pistol target shooting, and she was an excellent shot. On March 8, 1930, Lela married Edward D. Wilburn. They lived in Roosevelt and Mountain Park before moving to Snyder in 1935. The couple owned together and managed grocery stores in Roosevelt, Mountain Park and Snyder, and owned the Ford Tractor Dealership in Snyder. In addition, the Wilburn’s were ranchers near Snyder. Lela and Ed had no children of their own, so they helped raise the children of her sisters-in-law: Harry Morgensen, Virginia Huckabay Meadows and Gary Huckabay. Lela never said a cross word, and regularly said that she was right were she was meant to be. She also said if she ever got restless, she just took a walk. A lifelong member of the Snyder United Methodist Church, Lela was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary. In addition, she was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. In 2001 Lela moved to the Brookridge Retirement Center in Lawton. Her care and life were lovingly attended to by Harry and Kathleen Morgensen and Todd and Deatra Huckabay.
In Lela’s memory, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Snyder United Methodist Church or the Fairlawn Cemetery Association, PO Box 365, Snyder, OK 73566.

 

 

 

Content Contributors for the Week

 

Jerry Hayslip

Glenda Hynemann

Jennifer Moore

Albert Perkins

Kate (Roberts) Stafford

Wayne Stafford

All those who sent messages to the Email “Bag”

 

Thank you all!

 

 

More Remembering Olen Reid
 
The following comments appeared in Roosevelt Way Back When on Facebook.  We know that many of you are members of that group on Facebook.  However, there are lots who are not and felt that this additional “remembering” of Olen Reid was worthy of including in the Roosevelt News – East Coast Edition so that all could enjoy.  cnm
 
Reid Davis' article on his Grandpa, Olen Reid, was terrific.  I worked for Olen and many others, too, before I graduated, but Olen had work for me year round.  He owned an army surplus jeep that I would use to cross the creek and go a ways up the mountainside to feed the cattle during the winter.  The 1st day I worked for Olen, I saw him driving across the field at lunchtime.  Instead of bringing lunch to the field he told me to go up to the house.  Mrs. Reid was waiting at the door and told me to come on in.  Entering the house, I was awestruck.  This had to be the fanciest house I had ever seen, and it had refrigerated air and the booth in the kitchen.  The time I spent with them was good memories.  And Reid, your Grandpa, Walt Davis, was no slouch either.  Thanks for sharing that article in the Roosevelt News.  Albert Perkins

 

Albert, so enjoyed your post. You give me credibility.  I told my wife yesterday about Olen's jeep and was kicking myself that I didn't mention it in my addendum to Reid's article.  I'm sure that was the first jeep that I had ever seen.  Anyway, I can see him wheeling in front of the domino hall and "bailing out" (with pants neatly tucked in the boots) for a quick game of dominos and a little (lot) of BS.  I have to wonder, based on Reid's discussion of his "deal making" skills if maybe he told the army that he’d take the fire truck off their hands if they'd throw in a jeep... lol

 

Forgot to mention that I called Walt "Uncle Walt" loved him, Addie, and the girls. They lived up north of us when the girls were in High School.  I was so pleased to see Nancy and Darrell at the reunion--had been years and years since I'd seen either.  I never could tell the girls apart (remember, I was pretty little) so to be safe, I just addressed each of them as "  Pantsy Ancy and Ancy Pantsy." It appeared to work.  Mike May

 

Got to mention this.  Most of the time I saw Olen was at Elues Clark's playing pitch with these 3 gentlemen who were Glen and Floyd May and Hugh Stoops.  If Hugh wasn’t there to play, Elija Smith, the post master played.  Glen and Floyd were always partners and Olen played with whoever came.  Here they had the best time playing and laughing most of the time. Olen would always cock his cowboy hat to the right side.  Don’t know if he was sending signals to his partner or not.  I think it was a habit he did it.  As for me, I loved sitting there and watching them play pitch.  Jerry Hayslip

 

You can bet Collie Moore was there. He and Olen played dominos and pitch all the time.  Jennifer Moore

 

They used to play for a quarter a hickey....ya’ll remember that?  Glenda Hynemann

 

 

Thoughts from the Squirrel Lair

"A person needs new experiences to grow, without them something sleeps inside us, and never awakens." – Unknown

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"The most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." - Pierre de Courbertin

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"Expecting a positive outcome from negative input is like expecting to be paid for work we didn't do." - Jonathan A Baker

 

 

Alumni Website

 

We have renewed the account that Wanda Jackson had set up at the photo sharing website, picturetrail.com for the Roosevelt Alumni:  http://www.picturetrail.com/rooseveltalumni.  She had posted many pictures from past reunions, class panels, and old schools buildings along with write ups about them.  We thought you might find these interesting if you haven’t visited this site in the past.

 

 

What have you done?  Where have you been?  Kate (Roberts) Stafford and Wayne Stafford

 

I was born the seventh child (5 girls and 2 boys) to J. N. and Ollie Roberts in Hobart, OK, and our home was on a farm northwest of Roosevelt.  I attended 1st grade at Pleasant Valley (Frog Pond) School.  Bobbe Tate, Loneta Terry, and I skipped the 3rd grade as there weren’t enough books that year for that grade. 

 

When our school had only 13 students for the eight grades, we started school at Roosevelt and I met Wayne in the 6th grade.  In fact, I told our teacher, Mr. Etheridge, that I was going to marry Wayne.  However, he didn’t ask me for a date until we were Sophomores.

 

While “going steady” I asked Wayne if he had any plans to be a farmer.  He said he didn’t and I was very glad as I wanted to live in a town away from cotton patches!  We were engaged after graduation in 1955 on my 17th birthday.  As soon as Wayne put a ring on my finger he was off to California with his family for a vacation.  We agreed that when one of us got a job the other would move to wherever that job was.

 

I was surprised to receive a letter in August from the State of Oklahoma stating I had a secretarial job in Oklahoma City starting in two weeks working for a psychologist in the Public Welfare Dept.  I had taken a typing and shorthand test in my senior year and evidently the scores were sent out.  Wayne returned and got a job in sales there and rented an apartment down the street from my rented room in a private home.  We married September 24th, 1955, so have been married 56 years now.

 

After a few months of living in Oklahoma City, we were transferred to Fort Worth where we lived for 10 years.  I got a job at a bank and then worked in the adult probation office.  Our son, Steve, was born in Fort Worth and has always been glad he’s a Texan.

 

However, Steve liked Tulsa when Wayne’s job took us there in January of 1966.  We moved in during the worst snow storm in a decade and I had never driven on ice, but learned quickly.   I worked part time as a church secretary so I could take him to and from school as he didn’t have bus service.  Leaving Tulsa was difficult as I had two sisters there (Frances Herod and Mildred Denison) and I truly loved Tulsa and our church, but we were off to Houston.  These cities just got bigger and bigger!

 

We’ve been in Houston since 1972 and it is home to us.  I worked for Atlantic Richfield Oil Company, first in Public Affairs and then Onshore Engineering, for about 20 years and retired in 1993.  We live about 7 miles from Katy, TX, so are not in our heavy traffic often.  I enjoy reading and making greeting cards for family and friends.

 

Kate Stafford, Class of 1955

 

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I was born in Kiowa County on my Grandmother’s farm near Roosevelt.  I started first grade in Cold Springs and moved to Hobart for two years after my Dad bought a business there.  Eventually we moved back to Roosevelt and I met Kate in the 6th grade.  Then you know the rest of that story.

 

After graduation from Roosevelt High School little did I know where I would eventually end up.  Soon after graduation my parents, Paul and Opal Stafford, decided to go to California.  I went with them and stayed there a few weeks.  My Mother’s family lived in and around Bakersfield, CA, several years and they were farmers.

 

I worked for one of my uncles for awhile and chopped cotton and irrigated cotton and fruit trees.  That is when I decided I didn’t ever want to be a farmer again.  I decided to work for a grocery chain in Bakersfield a few weeks, but Kate called me and said she had a job with the State of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.  I moved to the City and worked in the clothing industry for C. R. Anthony and National Shirt Shop.  I was transferred to Ft. Worth in 1956 with the Shirt Shop as Asst. Manager.  

 

It didn’t take me long to know I didn’t want to be in the clothing business so I applied for a job at Standard Oil & Gas Company which was part of Amoco Corp. in the Inventory and Mail Dept.  I was transferred to Tulsa in 1966 and worked in various departments.  In 1972 I was transferred to Houston, TX, in Natural Gas Marketing and Land Data Departments. 

 

I traveled extensively throughout the country including the states of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Michigan, helping various marketing arms of the company on state and federal regulations and development of data bases to comply with the Federal Energy Regulatory Dept., holding seminars in the various states on Federal Regulatory Commissions.

 

While living in Texas I became active in hunting and bass fishing in the Southeast part of the state where I built a cabin on Lake Sam Rayburn.  After several years I sold the place and now fish with friends. 

 

I eventually became a Manager in Natural Gas Marketing and retired after 38 years of service.  In 1995 I then decided what I wanted to do and that was to retire! 

 

I have served as a Deacon in two congregations of the Church of Christ – Memorial Drive in Tulsa and Northwest in Houston.

 

 

Wayne Stafford, Class of 1955

 

 

News

 

Estate Sale

 

There will be an estate sale for the late Helen L. Moore on Saturday, Nov. 5 at her home on Wichita St. in Roosevelt.  Furniture, dishes, glasses, silverware, nick nacks, blankets, sheets, towels, lamps, sewing machine/cabinet, buttons, some tools, and lots of other items will be for sale.  Elizabeth Boydston Miller and Marilynn Scott will be in charge.  Stop by beginning at 8:00 a.m. to be sure you are first in line to buy that “treasure” you just can’t be without. 

 

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

 

We have compiled all of the birthday and anniversary information we could from Wanda’s files.  We are sure we are missing some.  Please send us the birthdays and anniversaries for your family and friends so that we can have as complete as list as possible.  We are going to start with what we have from Wanda’s files so if we miss you, please send us the information so we have it for the news next year.  In addition, should any of the birthdays we list be wrong, also please let us know.

 

Happy Birthday To:

 

October 21 – Wanda Simmons
October 21 – Danny Lou Cole
October 21 – Jonathan Reeves
October 21 – Denise Mahoney
October 22 – Cathy Ragsdale Vidalles, Class of 1977
October 22 – Terry Davis
October 23 – Katrina Richardson
October 23 – Chris Hayes
October 23 – Thesha (Callen) Bellendir, Class of 1993

October 23 – Cathy (Baden) Berner
October 24 – Paul Krehbiel
October 24 – Joey Thurmond
October 24 – Peggy (Watson) Wallis, Class of 1950
October 25 – Gary Franks
October 25 – Debbie Cook Hopkins, Class of 1980
October 25 – Donnie Peterson, Class of 1981
October 26 – Doug Liles, Class of 1975
October 26 – Cleta Chain
October 26 – Dusty Funkhouser
October 26 – Marilyn Morgan Lester, Class of 1964

October 26 – Gretta Miller Abramson, Class of 1968

October 27 – Cody Jenkins
October 27 – Erika Buchanan
October 27 – Sherry Simmons
October 27 – Kaye Sheets Jackson

 

Happy Anniversary to:

 

October 21 – Andy & Linda Goodson, Class of 1966

 

 

Humor

 

Old Loving Couple

 

A guy was invited to some old friends’ home for dinner.  His buddy, an elderly gentleman, preceded every request to his wife by endearing terms, calling her Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc.

 

The visitor was impressed since the couple had been married almost 70 years.

 

While the wife was off in the kitchen he said to his buddy, “I think it’s wonderful that after all the years you’ve been married, you still call your wife those pet names.”

 

His buddy hung his head, “To tell you the truth, I forgot her name about ten years ago.”

 

 

From the Email “Bag”

 

October 14, 2011

 

Please add my OLDER sister, Cathy (Baden) Berner, Class of 1968, to the list.   

Her birthday is Oct. 23!

 

I enjoy the news.  Thanks to all who contribute, but especially to you for all the work!

Vicki Mannering, Class of 1972

 

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October 15, 2011

 

Dear Carolyn and Mike,

 

I have a yahoo email address and thus far have missed only one issue of the newsletter.

 

I meant to thank you at the reunion for your work in editing the newsletter but in the rush of things, I didn't get it done.  I know it is a lot of work and I appreciate your toils

 

Now days when I meet people and they find out I'm from Roosevelt, very often they say:  "Oh, I know the parts store there".  In years past when I was in college and medical school, they would say:  "Oh, I remember the band festival there".  I was in grade school when each spring, Roosevelt hosted a Band and Music festival to which schools from all over the state came and participated.  As I recall, it lasted two days.  Bands participated in marching and concert, rhythm bands performed (Mrs. Sears's bands usually won 1st as I recall) and there were choral competitions as well.  In addition to the group competitions, there were individual competitions in piano, vocal music and I think instrumental music. 

 

As far as I know, the school organized the event, but as always happens in Roosevelt, the community pitched in to make it a success.  The churches opened up to host some of the events and of course, the ladies of each church prepared food to help feed everyone as did other groups I'm sure.  It was always a busy and exciting time in Roosevelt!  And I think it also helped fuel a rubella (German measles) outbreak -- it seems to me that I came down with rubella shortly after the band festival.

 

When I practiced in Lawton, one of my patients was a woman who had directed the rhythm band which always poised the biggest threat to Mrs. Sears's band.

 

This is an event of which we should be proud because it clearly influenced many young people.  I don't know if there is an official account of the history of the band festival anywhere; if so, it would make a great subject for the newsletter.

 

Thanks again,

 

Linda (Goodin) Orr Hash, Class of 1961

 

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October 16, 2011

 

Mike, we would like to receive the Roosevelt Newsletter.  Andy and Linda Goodson.  My maiden name is Phillips.  We graduated in 1966.  Malynda Adams sent us the address.  We would like to keep up with the Roosevelt news and alumni news.  Since mama passed away, I don’t know what is going on anymore.  We live in Calera, OK. That is 4 miles south of Durant, OK.  We have 1 daughter, Shanna Hall, a son-in-law, Sherman Hall, and 2 grandsons, James Hall, 11 and Matthew Hall, 9.  Andy has been in education since 1973. He taught 5 years in Clinton, OK, was a principal in Marland, OK, 1 year, assistant principal in Woodward, OK, for 10 years, principal in Custer City, Ok, for 5 years, principal in Hollis, OK, for 6 years and has been principal in Colbert, OK, for 11 years, starting his 12th year.  He is planning to retire at the end of this school year 2012. I have had various jobs but at present I am an Administrative Assistant at Mental Health Services of Southern Oklahoma in Durant.  I plan to retire next year if Andy does.  Andy and his brother Craig came to Roosevelt our Senior year because Cooperton school consolidated with Roosevelt in 1965.  We were married on October 21, 1966. I would like to add someone to the obituary. Rachel Goodson, wife of Craig Goodson. She passed away June 22, 2011, from cancer.  She was not a Roosevelt graduate but Craig was in 1966.  It is scary to think about but we are the older generation now, because the older generation has since passed away. 

 

Linda (Phillips) Goodson, Class of 1966

 

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October 17, 2011

 

Mike and Carolyn,

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your efforts in providing us with such wonderful information.  I know you both spend a lot of time planning and producing each issue.  Know that your efforts are very much appreciated. 

I'm copying and saving all of the "Remembering. . ." stories.  The only problem:  With each issue there are more and more items that I want to save.  Guess I'll just have to start a folder with each COMPLETE issue.  (And in reference to Olen Reid's biography, I remember swimming in that gravel pit!  It was a community gathering place as families met there to swim.)  Mike, you have a wonderful memory.  Never apologize for adding your remembered details.  The persons that have been written about were such icons in our little community.  All the people and details we don't regularly think about; but, when they're written in the paper, every splendid detail is recalled as we quietly nod in our minds saying, "That's exactly how it was," or, "That's exactly how they acted."  I would love to read a story about Mrs. Edmundson.  When I think of her, the most vivid memory is of her sitting on the floor with us playing jacks.  It was SO SPECIAL when she would do that.  She was a great teacher.  And Mrs. Curtis!  When you think of the third grade, you automatically think--ART.  How exciting was it for Friday painting session?  Miss Sensabaugh:  the teacher with "eyes in the back of her head".  After taking her class, I never could figure why she was so feared by many.  I loved her.  She taught me so much, and of course, everyone remembers her reading a chapter out of a book everyday after lunch.  At the end of the chapter, we were SO ENGROSSED in the story, we'd BEG for her to read more.  But, she never did!

I think Wanda had my birthday; but, in case not, it is:  October 26, and as you know, I graduated in 1964.

Thanks again for your gigantic effort and contribution to us all.

Marilyn Lester, Class of 1964

 

 

Obituaries

 

Lela Blanche (Bristow) Wilburn, 103, Class of 1924, died October 15, 2011

http://www.beckerfuneral.com/sitemaker/sites/becker0/obit.cgi?user=492201Wilburn

 

 

Useful Links:

 

Becker Funeral Home of Snyder, OK

http://www.beckerfuneral.com/?page=snyder

 

Ray and Martha’s Funeral Home of Hobart, Mt. View, and Carnegie, OK

http://rayandmarthas.com/

 

Roosevelt Cemetery Layout

http://www.234enterprises.com/Roosevelt%20Cemetery%20Layout.htm

 

Roosevelt Cemetery Markers (Picture Trail)

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/listing/user/rooseveltcemetery

 

Roosevelt Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99397&CScn=roosevelt&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Hobart Rose Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99399&CScn=Hobart+Rose&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Hobart Resurrection (Catholic) Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2246374&CScn=Resurrection&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Mountain Park Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99042&CScn=Mountain+Park&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Snyder Fairlawn Cemetery on Find A Grave

 

 

News Center -- Always Available Online

 

Remember--past, current, and all future editions of “Roosevelt News -- East Coast Edition” can be viewed online from any computer at: http://www.234enterprises.com/RooseveltNews/newscenter.htm.  We highly recommend that you bookmark this link.

 

In addition to viewing all copies of the paper, you can use this website to send comments or news items to us for publication.  Simply enter your name, your class year (if a Roosevelt graduate), your email address, and the comments you want to make or the news item you want to send and click on “Submit Information” button at the bottom left of the page.  The information that you submitted will show on your screen under a title of “Form Confirmation”—confirming that what you entered was sent to our email. 

 

 

Email Addresses

 

This newsletter is an email edition.  The only way for you to receive it and keep up-to-date with your friends from Roosevelt is for you to keep us informed of changes to your email address.  So please be sure to notify us at mmay@234enterprises.com should your email address change.  We also encourage you to send us email addresses for friends and family who might also like to receive the newsletter so that we can include them on our list.

 

 

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