Obits

Ted Diaconoff, age 84 of Chickasha, was born the son of Andre Diaconoff and Evelyn Hotson Diaconoff on Oct. 7, 1928, in Akron, Ohio. He died on May 19, 2013 in Chickasha. After receiving his masters degree, Ted continued his education and received his Phd at UCLA. He also attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City where he studied piano and composition and was a faculty assistant. He later held teaching positions at universities in Michigan, Kentucky, then at USAO in Chickasha where he was a professor of music. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Betty.

Gwendolyn Sue (Rowe) Kragh, 72, of Norman, passed away Friday, May 24, 2013, at the Norman Regional Hospital in Norman. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Bethel Baptist Church in Norman. Interment will follow at Newcastle Memorial Gardens in Newcastle. Gwendolyn was born Oct. 16, 1940, in Pampa, Texas to the late N.W. and Juanita (Long) Rowe. She grew up in Center, graduating from Vaness High School in 1959. Gwendolyn married the love of her life Jim Kragh on Aug. 31, 1963, in Center, and to this union Jeff, Amber and Crystal were born.

Marie Brandt, 90, died May 19, 2013. She was born Dec. 24, 1922, in Guthrie, OK to Jewett S., Sr. and Gladys Grace (Wicker) Scott. A graduate of Mangum High School, she attended Oklahoma College for Women (OCW) in Chickasha, graduating in 1945. She married Ben Brandt, of Kramer, ND, in June of 1946. They established their home in Enid, OK, where she raised her family, taught school and was very involved in their church. In 1971, she moved to Bethany, where she worked in real estate. After her retirement, she volunteered in education, church and community.

Funeral services will be held for Arletta Blankenship, 74, of Chickasha, at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013, at Bible Baptist Church, with Reverend Kim Hayes officiating. Arletta Blankenship was born in Ada, Oklahoma, on October 9, 1938, the daughter of J.C. and Ruby Kirk. She passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Oklahoma City. Arletta grew up in the Ada, Oklahoma area. She graduated from Vanoss High School. She attended college in Ada at East Central University studying education. She married Denial A. Blankenship January of 1962, in Montana.

Virginia Frances Martin Purswell Virginia Frances Martin Purswell, 89, of Lawrenceville, GA, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2013. She died with the same courage and grace with which she lived, surrounded by family at her home. The funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Mt. Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Art Stansberry will be officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral from 1:00-3:00 PM at the church. Burial will follow at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta.

Kathleen Barry Parker was born in Tulsa on March 21, 1916 to Charles and Nellie (Ashby) Barry. She passed away peacefully on April 26, 2013.The Barry’s moved to Guthrie in 1919 when Kathleen was 3 years old. She graduated from Guthrie High School where she was an accomplished violinist and greatly enjoyed playing in a violin quartet. She continued her love of music and playing the violin while attending Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha. Kathleen met Paul A. Parker at the First Christian Church in Guthrie. They were married in Pauls Valley on March 24, 1934.

A time of visitation with the family of Mary Phillips will be from 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home. Mary was born to W.B. and Sarah Henry on Jan. 3, 1927, near Konawa, Okla., and passed away Monday, April 22, 2013, at The Commons in Enid. Mary was the youngest of 12 children. She grew up and graduated from Stratford High School in 1944, and then attended Oklahoma College for Women. Mary married Thomas O'Neal Phillips in 1946. They lived in Oklahoma City, Enid, Texas and Wyoming, returning to Enid in 1983, when T.O. retired from Champlin Petroleum.

Linda Dale Organ, 65, of Chickasha OK, passed away on April 22, 2013. She was born in St. Louis, MO on June 10, 1947 and spent her life moving between Missouri, Ohio and Oklahoma. Linda completed a BA in English with a minor in Art at USAO in 2009. She was married to James Howard Organ of East Prairie, MO in 1968. Linda was a very loving, intelligent, caring, beautiful woman. She was a friend to all who knew her.

Donne Nel Green, 86, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at her home in Muskogee. Born in Lee's Summit, Missouri, on October 5, 1926, she was the daughter of Fred and Jewel Baker. She attended school in Madill and Frederick, Oklahoma, and graduated from Oklahoma College for Women, (OCW) Chickasha, in 1947 with a B. A. in mathematics. Following graduation, she was employed at the Oklahoma State Department of Health in Oklahoma City. She and Dr. James Lanis Green, Jr. were married October 21, 1950, in Oklahoma City.

Mary “Frances” Jones, 70, of Amarillo died Sunday, April 7, 2013. Celebration of life services will be at 2 p.m Thursday in Craig Methodist Retirement Center Chapel in Amarillo. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St. Frances was born April 20, 1942, in Quanah to Hattie Isaacks Jones and Green Webster Jones. She was raised in Eldorado, Okla., where she graduated as valedictorian from Eldorado High School with numerous academic scholarships.