OLIVER - Vinita June, 79, wife of Clarence G. Oliver, Jr., long-time Broken Arrow Superintendent of Schools and Dean Emeritus at Oral Roberts University, died late Monday, October 19, 2009, at her home in Broken Arrow after an extended illness. The daughter of Arthur Lee and Alva (Sally) Shirley, Vinita was born in Pauls Valley, OK, on March 10, 1930, and moved with her family to Ada, OK, in 1942, when she was 12 years old. She attended Ada Public Schools, graduated from Ada High School in 1948, and continued her education at East Central College (now East Central University) in Ada, studying elementary education and home economics. She studied classical piano from childhood to college years and was encouraged by instructors to complete study at Julliard School of Music in New York and then pursue a career as a concert pianist. She chose marriage and family instead. Vinita was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur Lee and Alva (Sally) Shirley; two brothers, Jerry Lee Shirley, Mustang, and Charles Ray Shirley, Deming, NM. She is survived by: her husband, Clarence of the home in Broken Arrow; two sons, Paul A. Oliver and his wife, Kathy, of rural Catoosa; Mark G. Oliver and his wife, Shelly, of Tulsa; a daughter, Shirley June Parsons and her husband, Philip, of rural Broken Arrow; and two sisters-in-law, Alice M. Shirley, Deming, NM, and Jane A. Arnold and her husband, Jack, of Austin, TX. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, James Patrik Oliver and his wife, Amanda, Broken Arrow; Shane G. Oliver and Amy, Broken Arrow; Cody M. Oliver, Broken Arrow, a student at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; Shannon Leigh Martinez and her husband, Stephen Martinez, Catoosa; Ryan Lee Parsons, rural Broken Arrow; John Oliver Parsons, rural Broken Arrow, and Elizabeth June Parsons, rural Broken Arrow and a student at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Three great-grandchildren, Grady Mitchell Oliver and Ashtyn Rose Oliver, Broken Arrow, and Haven Leigh Martinez, Catoosa and several nieces, nephews and cousins, also are among her survivors. Vinita enjoyed several hobbies, especially music, reading, handcrafting cross-stitch samplers, traveling the beautiful drives throughout Oklahoma, viewing and collecting antiques. She enjoyed meeting people and her ever-present smile always seemed to prompt total strangers to strike up conversations with her and become new acquaintances. Vinita was a gracious lady, wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother-and a friend to many. The family suggests that friends donate in her memory to one of Vinita's favorite charities, either Broken Arrow Neighbors, Inc., 322 West Broadway, Broken Arrow, OK 74012-3817, or the Margaret Hudson Program, Broken Arrow. 751 West Knoxville Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012-3703. You may sign the online guestbook or leave a memory for the family by going to hayhurstfh.com and clicking online tributes. Hayhurst, 258-9623 Vinita June Oliver (Source: Ada Evening News, Oct. 22, 2009. Submitted by Linda Craig) Rolla Clark Alder Rolla served during the Spanish American war, in Co. K, 2nd MO Inf, and was the first fire chief of the Tulsa, Oklahoma Fire Although the Tulsa Fire Department was established late in the 1899, they were not organized until June 6, 1900, when R.C. Alder was appointed Fire Chief. Obituary.... Rolla Clark Alder, Tulsa's first Fire Chief, made his last "Run" on November 22, 1967, at age 90. Engine 4, draped in black and its sirens muted, bore his flag draped casket from the First Baptist Church at Fourth Street and Cincinnati Avenue to Rose Hill Burial Park. Four Firefighters marched in front of the Engine, and a like number followed. The Engine was escorted by five Firefighters on either side with two in the cab and two riding the tailboard. Forty-eight Firefighters marched as a unit behind that Engine, and Chief Hawkins led the cortege at a slow marching pace. Public Relations Officer G.B. Carver quoted Chief Alder in the eulogy -- "FIRE DEPARTMENT ACHIEVEMENTS ARE NEVER HERALDED ---- IN THE LINE OF DUTY EXPLAINS EVERYTHING". His counsel and sage advice will be sorely missed, but he will always hold a special place in the hearts of every Tulsa Firefighter. Submitted by: Kyle M. Condon James Ross Cameron James Ross Camerson, 76, Tulsa, died Monday, May 29. Services were Friday at Tulsa Baptist Temple. Burial rites were in Moore’s Eastlawn Chapel, Memorial Park, Tulsa. He was born in 1876 in Cassoday, the son of the late Rev. and Mrs. E. Cameron, early Cassoday settlers. He married Beulah Yarberry, who died in 1955. He was retired from Sun-Ray Oil company, and at the time of his death, was a part-time bookkeeper. He was active in the Tulsa Baptist Temple and taught a Sunday School class. Survivors include: two sons, G. Neal, Inola, Okla., and James O., Tulsa, two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Tuner, Tulsa and Mrs. Joanne Brubaker, Zion, Ill., and 12 grandchildren. (El Dorado Times, June 5, 1972 - Submitted by Peggy Thompson) Pearl Gardner Tulsa - Died. Mrs. Pearl Gardner, 38, "biggest woman in the world"; at Tulsa. She weighed 700 pounds, measured 38½ inches from shoulder to shoulder. A special coffin, two feet longer than it was wide, was constructed. [Time Magazine, Monday, May 5, 1924] JERNIGAN -- Norma Jean, 71, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 14, 2004 at Tulsa, OK. Norma was born on December 26, 1932 at Oklahoma City, OK the daughter of Herbert L. and Myrtle (Woods) Jones, Sr. Norma was a 1951 graduate of Capital Hill High School. She went on to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University and the University of Oklahoma. The former Miss Norma Jones was married to Duie Jernigan on January 26, 1957 at Oklahoma City, OK. They moved to Tulsa from Springfield, VA in 1979. Norma was a Real Estate Broker and Office Manager for Gordona Duca Realtors. She was a member of Woodlake Assembly of God. Norma enjoyed traveling, family activities, reading and cooking. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Duie Jernigan; daughter, Diana and husband, Dr. Randy Feller, Tulsa, OK; son, Dr. Dan and wife, Dr. Stephanie Jernigan, Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Laura, Nathan, Christopher and Timothy; sister, Mabel McInnes, Oklahoma City; brother, Herbert L. Jones, Jr., Moore, OK. Service 10 a.m., Wednesday, Woodlake Assembly of God, Tulsa, OK. Family visitation, Tuesday, 6- 8 p.m, Hayhurst Funeral Home, 258-9623. (Source: The Tulsa World on February 17, 2004 Submitted by Linda Craig) John A. Oliphant Howard Courant, January 22, 1931 DEATH OF A PIONEER OF OLD BOSTON DAYS John A. Oliphant, Early Citizen of This County, Later Prominent in Oklahoma, Died Last Saturday Dispatches tell of the death of John A. Oliphant, prominent citizen and ex-Police Judge of Tulsa, Oklahoma, died the 19th inst., at the age of 83 years. He passed away at a hospital in Los Angeles, after quite a long illness. His home for more than 25 years had been at Tulsa, Oklahoma, but since the death of his wife two or three years ago, he had lived with a daughter most of the time. He is survived by three married daughters. His wife died some time ago and a baby daughter died in the early years of their married life. Mr. Oliphant was born in Missouri in 1848, served in the Union Army in the Civil War while yet a young boy, came to Kansas in 1870 and was with the Osage Mission party that founded the town of Boston in Old Howard county times in 1871. He studied law and engaged in practice, and at the division of Howard county he located here at Howard City, where in 1880, he married Miss Martha Greer who was a primary teacher in the Howard schools. He took a short law course at Ann Arbor, and continued to practice in Howard till about 1885 when he removed to Pratt, Kansas, later going to Texas. At the first opening of Oklahoma "he made the run" and settled at Guthrie. Later when the strip opened he settled at Perry and was elected to the Territorial legislature and afterward was appointed receiver of the U. S. Land Office at Mangum. In 1904 he moved to Tulsa and made it his permanent home. Mr. Oliphant prospered and engaged in many activities. He was an independent oil producer, real estate operator, newspaper owner and dabbled in several other lines and accumulated some valuable city properties. Mr. Oliphant is remembered by many of the pioneers of Howard and Elk county, though it has been at least 45 years since he removed from this city. The burial was announced to be at Tulsa. [Submitted by L. Morgan] NEW -- Five Perish in Accidents By United Press International A McClain County man was killed in a car-truck collision today and four died in two accidents on Oklahoma highways Monday. The state's 1964 traffic toll rose to 668, compared with 644 a year ago. The dead: Daniel Mecley, 24, Ryars. Ocie C. Holliman, 34, Tulsa Neva Hulliman, 32, his wife Debra Hulliman, 2 their daughter Carl A. Jackson, 54, Muskogee Mecley was a passenger in a car driven by Joe P. Davis, 28, of Albaquerque, N.M., when it collided with a loaded semi-trailer truck driven by William Story, 40, of Pauls Valley. Davis was critically injured. Story escaped injury. The accident occurred on U.S. 77 just south of Purcell. The three members of the Holliman family died in a two-car head on collision on S. H. 51 east of Broken Arrow. Their auto collided with a car driven by Verra Boatright, 71, of Tulsa. Mrs. Boatright and Holliman's 4-year-old son, Gregory were critically injured. Holliman was manager of operations for the du Pont Co. in Tulsa. Jackson was killed when a car in which he was riding stalled on the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks in Fort Gibson and was struck by a train. The driver, Jess Lavour Body, 58, of Muskogee, suffered minor injuries. The train's engineer was Claud Samuel Wofford, 62, of Van Buren, Ark. He was not injured. [Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma) October 10, 1964, Submitted by Nancy Piper] The bodies of John Glen McCause, 32; James Dalton McCause, 5; and Jacob Dylan McCause, 3, were found in their residence in the Midway Mobile Home Park, 24103 S. Highway 66, said Ed Chappell, a spokesman for the state Fire Marshal's Office. McCause's wife, Lesa McCause, and her son, Nathaniel McDonald, 6, left the trailer about 8 a.m. She dropped Nathaniel off at a bus stop at the entrance of the park, proceeded to a meeting and passed the mobile home park on her way to work, John Wylie said. Charles Scace, another neighbor, said John McCause once came to his aid when Scace was struggling to move a heavy bookcase up his stairs. (Source: Tulsa World, Nov. 17, 2005. Submitted by Linda Craig) Dr. Wade T. Jernigan of Claremore died May 15, 2006, in Tulsa. He was 78. Jernigan was born Sept. 25, 1927, in Balden County, N. C., to the Rev. Walter and Nora Jernigan. He attended Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tenn. His education included an English Bible diploma, a bachelor of science of arts, a master's degree and doctorate in Theology. Five colleges and universities have conferred honorary degrees upon him. He was 17 when he announced his call to preach on March 25, 1945, at his home church, Oak Grove Church in Bladenboro, N. C. He was licensed to preach the following Sunday and preached his first sermon April 8, 1945, at Oak Grove Church. He has conducted more than 800 revivals, pastored 14 churches including the First Free Will Baptist Church in Miami, and served four churches as interim pastor. He was involved in church pioneering and was instrumental in starting 25 churches. He was refered to across the United States as "Mr. Free Will Baptist." He helped start Oklahoma Bible College (now Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College), and was a member of the Christian Education Board. He authored five books and wrote 27 songs. Most recently, he served as a Professor of Homilietics and in Public Relations with the office of Institutional Advancement at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College. He was married to Nettie Lou Blair. She preceded him in death on March 2, 2005. He married Marguerite Hinesley on March 14, 2006, She survives at home. Additional survivors include five daughters, Nora Mae Hampton of Kemp Texas, Rhonda and Bob Thomas of Noble, Debe and Dave Taylor of Hot Springs, Ark., Verla and Dennis Fletcher of Locust Grove and Vicki Hall and her husband Mike of Midwest City; three step-daughters, Charlyne Shotsky and her husband Steve, Sue Ann Hinesley and Katheryn Hinesley, all of Claremore; one sister, Huldah Kinlaw and her husband Clifton of Blandenboro, N. C.; one brother, Wilkie Jernigan and his wife Marie of Norfolk, Va., 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Services will be Friday at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore with Rev. Jack Ritchey, the Rev. Jack Williams, the Rev. Dale Smith and the Rev. Bob Thompson officiating. Burial will be in Willow View Cemetery in Slaughtertown. Arrangements are under the direction of Mark Griffith Memorial Funeral Home-Westwood Chapel in Tulsa. (Miami News Record Date: May 18, 2006 Submitters Name: Robert King) Obit: David Joel Rockney, 66-year-old Tulsa resident, passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at his home in Tulsa. Graveside funeral services for David were held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 28, 2008 at the Ball Cemetery in Childers, Oklahoma. David Joel Rockney was born October 1, 1941 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin to Edward Rockney and Margaret Moody-Rockney. David graduated from Balack River Falls High School and went on to serve his country in the United States Air Force. After returning from his deployment in Korea, David worked in construction. He did a lot of concrete work that enabled him to travel across the country and work on such projects as the 70m and 90m ski jumps that were used in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. David married Linda Alspach Casavan on November 18, 2000, she survives of the home. David enjoyed fishing and was a huge football fan. He was a kind and courteous man who greatly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. David is survived by his wife Linda; three children, Erin Magee of Hollis, New Hampshire, Shannon Viola of Gilbert, Arizona, and Kelli Barnard of Gilbert, Arizona; by one sister, Sara Case of Black River Falls, Wisconsin; by eight grandchildren, Lindsey Magee, Audrey Magee, Taylre Chowning, Riley Chowning, Cooper Chowning, Bryson Viola, Jessica Barnard, and Jillian Barnard. He was preceded in death by his parents; and by two sisters, Shirley McNulty and Mary Ann Waken. (Submitters Name: Kristy Fox) Montgomery, Lorma Mattie Vernell (Morris) (Zachary) Born: 26 Jul,1905 in Fox Carter, Oklahoma; died: 5 Aug, 2003, Buried in Unknown Cemetery in Tulsa Oklahoma Compiled and Submitted by Lillie Bomesberger   Strahm, Joshua Maxwell, 32, died on Friday, February 15, 2008. Born October 14, 1975 in Tulsa, OK the son of Allen David Strahm, Jr. and the late Evelyn June (Pollard) Strahm. Survivors: Wife, Jessica; his daughters: Cheyenne June Strahm, Hailey, Hillary and Heather Tannehill; Brothers: David Strahm, Tulsa, Raymond Strahm,Gans, OK, Brad Strahm, Foyil, OK and Vince Strahm of Tulsa; sister: Theresa Scott of Catoosa. Service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, Ninde Brookside Chapel with interment in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Josh Strahm Memorial Fund, Bank of Oklahoma, 3915 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74105 (Submitters Name: Kristy Fox) Boy Kicked to Death Ison Simmons of Broken Arrow Meets Death From Hoofs of Mule  Broken Arrow, I. T. – Ison Simmons, 22 years old, son of John Simmons, living four miles southwest of this place, was instantly killed by the kick of a mule. Young Simmons was hitching up a span of mules and was in the act of stooping over to hook the traces when one of the animals kicked. Both hoofs struck the young man in the stomach – killing him instantly.             Young Simmons was well known in this community, his father being one of the oldest and most highly respected farmers of Indian Territory. The young man enlisted with the first Indian Territory regiment for service in the Spanish-American war and was sent to the Phillippines. He served out his term of enlistment and was a splendid soldier. Returning from the war he again took up farming with his father. The sympathies of this entire community are extended to the bereaved family.  The Pioneer Muskogee, I. T. Saturday, November 4, 1905 (transcribed as written by D. Donlon)