Person Page - 4570

     Joan Cecelia Bennett was buried at Hillside Cemetery, Purcell, McClain Co., Oklahoma.⁵ Her Social Security Number was 447-34-4192.² She Mrs. Yates, 69, of Purcell died at Presbyterian Hospital. Services: Johnson Road Baptist Church, Purcell, with the Rev. Wayne Brown officiating. (Wilson-Little Funeral Home) Born to Lester Duel Bennett and Robena Joan Cecelia McNally Bennett, she was the 2nd of 6 children and grew up in Wetumka and Purcell. She attended the Catholic school in Purcell and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in Norman in 1954. On her birthday In 1955, she and Willie Dean Yates were married by the Rev. Carlos Berry, minister of the Purcell First Baptist Church. Her activities and accomplishments included: Ken's Red and White Grocery Store Manager, Purcell; Griffin Memorial State Hospital Administrative Secretary and Norman Mental Health Center; LARC prison guard; E-squad member; 1st female yard and towers guard; highest award for marksmanship; Hawthorne Elementary School PTA president; homeroom mother; Brownie and Cub Scout leader; McClain Co. Red Cross swimming instructor; Rose Violet Garden Club; Purcell Cemetery Board; NRA member; English as a 2nd Language instructor; Friend of the Purcell Library; unofficial Red Hat Ladies Society member; Johnson Road Baptist Church Sunday school teacher; National Honors bowling; and baby sitting her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mrs. Yates was preceded in death by her parents Lester Bennett and Robena McNally Campbell; step-father Oran Campbell; sister Paula Campbell Wall; brother Richard Bennett; and grandchildren, Dwight and Dewayne Gilleland. Survivors include: her husband, Willie; 4 children Stephen Leslie Yates, Diana Yates-Gray, Karen Sue Gilleland and Joan Gail Cheatwood; 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren; sisters Geraldine Embree, Glenda Contrares and Bertha Sue Skeryanc; brother Gene Campbell; sister-in-law Jean Bennett; brothers-in-law Virgil Yates and Evert Wall. Bearers: Douglas Gilleland Jr., Terry Gray Jr. and Bruce Gray, Justin and Travis Cheatwood, Adam Gibson, Donnie Coker and Zulfiqar Ali. Honorary bearers: Jeffrey and Jason Yates, Cheri Coker, Rebecca Gibson, Jessica Domingue, Tiffany Ali and the employees of Health Back Home Health in Purcell.⁴ She was born on January 1, 1937 at Wewoka, Seminole Co., Oklahoma.^2,5 As of January 1, 1955,her married name was Yates.⁴ She married Willie Dean Yates on January 1, 1955 at Purcell, McClain Co., Oklahoma.^4,5,3 Joan Cecelia Bennett died on July 7, 2006 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., Oklahoma, at age 69.^2,4,5

     Willie Dean Yates Willie Yates, age 86 of Purcell, passed away Monday, April 11, 2016, at the Lexington Nursing Home. Willie Dean Yates was born April 12, 1929 in Purcell, OK. His parents were Lester Virgil Yates and Hattie Mae (Matthews) Yates. He grew up in Purcell and attended Purcell Schools, graduating in 1950. Willie was voted most popular and best dancer his senior year. Willie then attended OBU on a sports scholarship for a year, before joining the United States Army. He served a brief time, but returned home to care for his parents. On January 1, 1955, Willie married his best friend and true love, Joan Cecelia Bennett. They made their home in Purcell where together they raised 4 children, son, Steve and daughters, Diana, Karen and Gail. Willie began working for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, a career that spanned more than 39 years. He retired in 1992 as a Highway Inspector. When not working, Willie enjoyed playing tennis and even taught tennis at the Purcell Community Center. He enjoyed walking and garage sales, and never missed an opportunity to go fishing. Willie was a long time and faithful member of the Johnson Road Baptist Church. He will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, brother, uncle and a good friend. He will be dearly missed! He was preceded in death by: His wife, Joan Cecilia Yates; Grandchildren; Dwight and Dewayne Gilleland; Parents, Lester and Hattie Mae Yates and Brothers; Virgil Yates, Bert Lane and James Lane; Sisters, Dorothy Burton, Louise Snow, Norma Purser and Beatrice Meade. Willie leaves behind: 4 children; Steve Yates of Kent, WA, Diana Yates-Gray of Purcell Karen Gilleland and husband Douglas Sr. of Purcell Gail Cheatwood and husband Larry of Lexington 11 grandchildren; Cheri Gray-Coker and husband Donnie, Douglas Gilleland Jr. and wife Anissa, Terry Gray Jr., Jeffrey Yates and wife Kristen, Rebecca Gibson and husband Adam, Bruce Gray and wife Jamie, Tiffany Cheatwood, Justin Cheatwood and wife Angela, Jason Yates and wife Crystal, Jessica Hunter and husband Jeremy and Travis Cheatwood and wife Courtney; 30 great grandchildren; also many cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Friday, April 15, 2016, at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at the Hillside Cemetery.⁴ He was buried at Hillside Cemetery, Purcell, McClain Co., Oklahoma.⁴ He was born on April 12, 1929 at Purcell, McClain Co., Oklahoma.^3,4 He married Joan Cecelia Bennett, daughter of Lester Duel Bennett and Robena Cecelia McNally, on January 1, 1955 at Purcell, McClain Co., Oklahoma.^2,3,4 Willie Dean Yates died on April 11, 2016 at Lexington, Cleveland Co., Oklahoma, at age 86.⁴

     Richard Joseph Bennett was buried at Hillside Cemetery, Purcell, McClain Co., Oklahoma.^3,4 His Social Security Number was 446-36-3075.² He was born on July 31, 1940 at Wetumka, Hughes Co., Oklahoma.^2,3,6,4 He married Jean Unknown on April 26, 1983.^1,3 Richard Joseph Bennett died on March 25, 2006 at Purcell, McClain Co., Oklahoma, at age 65.^2,3,6,4 He Richard Bennett, 65, of Purcell died Saturday, March 25, at a health care facility in Purcell. A Rosary service will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Mass services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady Of Victory Catholic Church in Purcell. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell. Wilson-Little Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Mr. Bennett was born July 31, 1940, in Wetumka to Lester Duel Bennett and Robena Cecilia (McNally) Bennett. He grew up in Purcell. While in high school, he enlisted into the Air National Guard. After graduating in 1958, he began full- time service and served 36 years before retirement. While in the Air National Guard he served in two wars, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. For 17 years, he worked for the Oklahoma City Times and the Times Journal. From 1979 to 1983, he worked for Western Oil field Co. Then in 1984, he went to work at ANG as a Federal Civil Service Technician and retired in 1998, after 14 years. Richard's hobbies included collecting and polishing rocks, working with and staining glass, gardening and genealogy research. He was a member of Purcell Kiwanis Club for the past year, VFW Post 15037 in Oklahoma City and was a volunteer for CASA. The family wishes to express their special thanks to Mission Hospice, Laura Wilson, Tonya Schimon and dear friend Trish Rader. Mr. Bennett was preceded in death by his parents Lester and Robena Bennett; granddaughter Arianna Elizabeth Bennett; and half-sister Paula Jean Wall. He is survived by his wife Jean Bennett of the home; son Shawn Bennett and wife Lori of Oklahoma City; daughters Sharri Cope and husband Michael of Blanchard and Jennifer Utsler and husband Dennis of Norman; step-children Tony Bridwell and wife Dee of Flower Mound, Texas and Tracy Lam and husband Gary of Havre, Mont; step-son from a previous marriage Tracy Weiss of Moore; sisters Geraldine Embree of Pauls Valley, Joan Yates and husband Willie, Glenda Contreras of Claypool, Ariz., and Bertha Skeryanc and husband Troy of The Woodlands, Texas; step-brother Gene Campbell of Purcell; eight grandchildren; and many other loving relatives and friends. Bearers will be provided by the Air National Guard. Honorary bearers are Gary Lam, Dennis Utsler, Mike Cope, Willie Yates, Tony Skeryanc, Larry Boatman and Harold Rains. on March 26, 2006.⁴

     His Social Security Number was 444-94-6453.⁴ Jeromy Lawrence Paine was buried at Paoli Cemetery, Paoli, Garvin Co., Oklahoma.² He was born on May 16, 1975 at Pauls Valley, Garvin Co., Oklahoma.^2,4,3 He died on October 15, 1998 at Seminole Co., Oklahoma, at age 23.^2,4