In Memoriam:

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Beatrice Carr Deere

Funeral services for Beatrice Carr Deere were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 28th at the Rose Hill Chapel, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Officating were Rev. Richmond Carr and Walter McGirt.

 

Beatrice Deere passed away on April 24, 2010 after a brave battle with cancer. Beatrice was born in Hanna, Oklahoma to Robert and Minnie Carr. She was a fullblood member of the Creek Nation and was fluent in the Muscogee Creek language. Mrs. Deere worked 38 years at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa as a nurse, before her retirement. She was also a lifelong member of the Indian Methodist church.

 

Mrs. Deere was a loving mother and grandmother to 16 grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter Brenda Howell of the home in Glenpool, sons Ben Conrad of Tulsa, Marty Conrad of Lander, Wyoming, Daniel Wind of Henryetta and grandson Richard Barnett, Jr. of Tulsa.

 

She was preceded in death by son Richard Howard Barnett, husband Rev. Jackson Deere and parents Robert and Minnie (Harjo) Carr.

 

Rev. David Ray Adair

Rev. David Ray Adair, age 77, passed away in his sleep Tuesday, May 11, 2010 with his loving family members by his side.

 

David was born January 10, 1933 in Drumright, Oklahoma where he attended school and later enlisted in the army and served during the Korean conflict. David earned variouis medals for bravery. He met and married Hazel Johansen while stationed in Califormia.

 

David attended Sterling College in Wichita, Kansas where he earned degrees in Psychology and Divinity. Upon graduation, he moved to Tulsa and began working for his father in the family business, Tulsa Sign Company. In 1965 he finally gave into God’s calling and began his career as a minister for the Oklahoma Indian Methodist Conference where his first assignment was a small two room church in Salina. David was an advocate for providing quality health care for the Native American people. Early in his career he worked to make changes to Claremore Indian Hospital and to help bring medical personnel for the people in Salina.

 

David continued to accept various appointments to start new congregations. He served as Chaplain at the Chilocco Indian School and served in the administration of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church. He retired in the summer of 2002 but continued to fill in for various pastors when asked.

 

David was preceded in death by his parents: Toyah Adair and Violet Coine. He is survived by Hazel, his wife of 58 years, his daughters: Sonja Adair, Sharon Carrow and Tolyah Adair, his beloved grandchildren: Stephen St. Clair, Toyah Adair, Naomi Adair, Jackson Adair and Kristen Carrow and two great grandchildren; his brother Bruce Adair and his wife, Charlotte; his sister Cheryl Herndon and her husband, John; along with other family members, friends and acquaintances.

 

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 14, 2010 at the Jenks United Methodist Church, with Rev. David Karges officiating. Interment was at the City of Stilwell Cemetery, Stilwell, Oklahoma. Memorial donations can be made to the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church in memory of Rev. David Adair.

 

Rev. JoAnn Black Williams

Wake services for Rev. JoAnn Black Williams were held Sunday June 6th at 7 p.m. Funeral services were held Monday, June 7 at 10 a.m. with Rev. Alvin Deer and Lay Missioner Donna Pewo officiating. Both services were held at the Benson Memorial Chapel in El Reno, Oklahoma. Interment followed at the Concho Cemetery.

 

JoAnn was born March 12, 1933 at Concho and passed from this life Thursday, June 3, 2010 at Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon, Oklahoma.

 

JoAnn was a lifetime resident of Canadian County and retired as a director for Social Services Head Start Program at Concho. She was also an ordained Methodist minister and a member of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, The Oklahoma Indian Nation and Eagles. She received her master degree in

psychology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

 

JoAnn married Edward Black. He preceded her in death in 1989. She was also preceded in death by her parents Frank and Nellie (Wicks); sisters, Viola Orange, Elsie Bushy, and Emma Jesse Francis; brothers Alonzo Bushy, Franklin Bushy and Carlos Bushy.

 

Surviving are husband Wallace Williams; two sons Edward Black Jr. of El Reno; Phillip Black and wife Norma of Concho; three daughters Joyce Black and Mildred K. Black both of El Reno; Rebecca Ponkilla and husband Martin of Concho; sister, Laveta Abad of Denver, Colorado; 20 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

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God saw she was getting tired, and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around her, and whispered “Here, come with me.” With tearful eyes we watched her suffer, and saw her fade away. Although we loved her dearly, we could not have her stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.