Obituaries

James Thurman Matchen 78, of Durant, Okla., passed away Sunday, July 23, 2017, at the Medical Center in Plano, Texas. He was born on March 28, 1939, in Madill, Okla., to the late Thomas Hugh Matchen and Maurine Susie Turner Matchen. He was raised in Kingston where he was active in baseball, basketball, and played in the band before he graduated in 1956. James worked for the Lake Texoma Lodge before moving to Oklahoma City in 1961. He also worked for Lone Star Brewery, Lee Way, and for Dolese Brothers Trucking. James married Kathryn Louise Gibson on Oct. 19, 1966, in Oklahoma City, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 14, 1996. He retired in 2001 and moved back to Kingston where he lived the rest of his life. He was a very considerate man with a big heart. When health permitted, he would mow six to eight lawns for his elderly neighbors. James was a member of the Kingston United Methodist Church, 33rd degree Mason, and a proud member of the Kingston Alumni Association.

Lloyd Randell Chadwick, of Wapanucka, Okla., passed away Friday, August 4, 2017. Memorial services are pending at this time. (Tishomingo Funeral Home)

Gertrude Valeria Henson Dunn, 98, of Madill, Okla., died Monday, July 17, 2017. She was born Sept. 22, 1918, in the Willis/Fobb area, Okla. She lived her whole life in Marshall County. She married William H. Bill Dunn on Oct. 14, 1936, and he preceded her in death on April 11, 1990. They had four children: Donald Lee, Billy Randol, Gerold Max and Ronda Darlene. She owned and operated the Country Store for 10 years and assisted her husband in the grocery business in Madill until 1985. Gertrude liked cooking, sewing, and traveling. She also enjoyed singing and playing many different musical instruments. She is survived by her children: Billy Randol; Ronda Darlene; 9 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; and two sons: Donald Lee and Gerold Max. Services were a private affair. Interment was at the Powell Cemetery, Powell, Okla., alongside her husband and two sons.

William Duke Sweet, of Ardmore, Okla., passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Services are pending at this time. (Tishomingo Funeral Home)

Maudine French, 89, died Monday, July 17, 2017, at Brookdale Hutchinson, in Hutchinson, Kan. She was born Sept. 2, 1927, in Kingston, Okla., to George W. and Cleo Dora (Justice) Norris. Maudine graduated from Kingston High School. Following high school, she worked in civil service for a colonel in the United States Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas. When the war was over and the air force base was closed, Maudine then went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Madill, Okla., eventually transferring to the Hutchinson, Kan., office when she moved there in the late 1940s. Maudine retired as COC Supervisor from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in July 1983, after 36 years of service. She married the love of her life, William G. French, Jr. on July 31, 1948, in Denison, Texas. He died Oct. 22, 2015. During their 67 years of marriage, they spent time traveling with their RV to many parts of Texas, and then later taking bus trips throughout the United States.

Mildred Anna Rhodes, 94, of Ardmore, Okla., passed away Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Whispering Oaks Nursing Center in Ardmore. She was born on Feb. 6, 1923, in McMillan, Okla., to the late Perry Eddie Elmore and Cora Ada Coffman Elmore. Mildred was raised in McMillan where she attended school. She later lived in Massachusetts and New York before moving back to McMillan. Mildred also lived in Oklahoma City, Lebanon, Okla., and the past seven years, in Ardmore. She married John Franklin Smith on Dec. 19, 1942, in Fort Drum, N.Y., and he preceded her in death on July 28, 1948. Mildred later married Billy John Rhodes, and he preceded her in death in 1995. She was a member of the Lebanon Church of Christ, and she enjoyed gardening, working crossword puzzles, cooking, canning, hunting, and fishing.

Mary Louise Baker, 84 of Kingston, Okla., passed away Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas. She was born on Nov. 26, 1932, in Dallas, Texas, to the late Clarence Christian and Gertrude Shea Christian. Mary was raised in Dallas, Texas, and Ada, Okla. She graduated from Byng High School and later attended a nursing program. Mary later worked at the hospital in Oklahoma City, Okla., and Madill, Okla., for several years. Mary was married to Tommy Lee Bratcher for 30 years, and he preceded her in death. She later married Benny A. Baker, and he preceded her in death in 1997. Mary was affiliated with the Holy Cross Catholic Church, and she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, playing cards, UNO, and Skip Bo. She enjoyed feeding and watching the birds, and loved her cats, and her grandchildren. She is survived by her children: Larry D.

Robbie Lee Watts 97, of Madill, Okla., affectionately known as “Mimi” to all who knew her, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the hospital in Madill. She was born on Feb. 15, 1920, in Whitewright, Texas, to the late Marvin Binkley Bryant and Eula Sears Bryant. Robbie attended Madill schools and lived in Madill her entire life. She married Paul Wendyl Watts on April 14, 1935, in Sulphur, Okla., and he preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 1987. Robbie and Wendyl owned and operated Madill National Bank and Madill Bank & Trust for several years. In her younger years she enjoyed traveling, and attending her grandchildren’s activities. Robbie was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Madill, where she was very active with the youth, singing in the choir, and teaching Sunday school. As she grew older she loved playing bridge and going to Landmark Bank to visit.

Ruby Jewell Boydston was born in Denison, Texas, on Oct. 3, 1922, and passed away on July 8, 2017, at home in Lindsay, Okla. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at First Baptist Church, Lindsay, Okla. Ruby was buried with her parents and brothers in Madill, Okla. Ruby grew up in Madill, Okla., with three brothers; Robert, Lloyd and Freeman. All have predeceased her. She lived on a farm in Madill where she churned and sold butter during her growing up years. She married W. H. Gary in Madill where her oldest son Bob was born in 1942. She moved to El Reno, Okla., where her son Darell was born in 1948. In 1955 Ruby moved to Anadarko, Okla., where Bob and Darell grew up. Ruby worked in a grocery store, and she became the office manager, keeping all the financial books. Ruby was an active square dancer and enjoyed bowling. In 1976, Ruby married Cecil “Buck” Boydston. In 1978, Ruby retired and she and Buck moved to Lindsay, Okla.

Patricia Marie Spence, 64, of Kingston, Okla., passed away July 2, 2017, surrounded by her family. Patricia was born to Jim and Mary Fogle on March 24, 1953, in Cheyenne, Wyo. She lived in Wyoming until she was six years old, then moved to the Tishomingo, Okla., area where she graduated from Tishomingo High School in 1971. She attended Murray State College and East Central University. On Sept. 16, 1978, she married William (Bill) Spence. They would have been married 39 years in September. Patricia was very involved in rodeos growing up, and always had a special love for her horse, Ginger. Later on she was interested in raising sheep and goats for the Marshall County 4-H and the Madill FFA, where she was a big supporter of youth of all ages. She supported livestock shows, speech contests, anything that involved young people. She enjoyed walking around with all the livestock, going to shows, and worrying about her son, Chris.