Obituaries

Betty Jean Miller, 92, of Madill, Okla., passed away Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, at the Family Care Center, Kingston, Okla. She was born on June 17, 1926, in Grantham, Marshall County to the late L.L. (Bill) Sparlin and Kathryn Nichols Sparlin. Betty married J.B. Birdsall on Sept. 20, 1943. He preceded her in death as did their two children, Michael D. and Karen Kay Birdsall. On Feb. 9, 1981, Betty married R.B. (Ben) Miller, a retired Army veteran. The two formed their own vending business and worked for 12 years, retiring permanently in 2006. Ben passed away Aug. 25, 2011. They were married for 30 years. Betty lived most of her life in Marshall County working as a secretary. She enjoyed working with people, quilting, cooking, and teaching her S.S. classes. She is survived by her son: Bennett D. Miller, Madill, Okla.; stepdaughter: Caroline Miller Monroe, Ark.; grandchild: Steven Wilkes Birdsall; six great-grandchildren; and half brother: Joe Sparlin, Ardmore, Okla.

Donald Benard Fortenberry, 79, of Wylie, Texas, passed away Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, at the Vitas Hospice Care Center in Carrollton, Texas. He was born on March 28, 1939, in Durant, Okla., to the late Troy Alvin Fortenberry and Johnnie Pauline Cornell Fortenberry. Donald was raised in Durant where he graduated high school and later received a business degree at Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas. He married Jackie Miller on May 28, 1960, in Madill, Okla. Donald worked for 49 years in the grocery retail business, 37 of those years being with Albertson’s where he retired as store director at the age of 62. In his younger years he liked to go bowling and played on a bowling league. After he retired he enjoyed playing at the casino, collecting coins, traveling to South Texas, and loved working jigsaw puzzles.

Jessie Albert Vansill, 88, of Madill, Okla., passed away Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. Services were 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at the Assembly of God Church of Wilson, Okla. (Alexander Funeral Home of Wilson, Okla.)

Jerry Don Howard, 67, of Madill, Okla., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Services were 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, at Watts Memorial Chapel, Madill. (Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Madill)

Ralph Henry Stevens, 71, of Kingston, Okla., passed away Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Services were 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, at Watts Memorial Chapel, Madill. (Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Madill)

Albert Skaggs, 88, of Milburn, Okla., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. Services are pending at this time. (Tishomingo Funeral Home)

Chief Robert Vard Wilder, Sr., fondly known as “Bob” by his family and friends, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at the age of 79. The son of Houston Vard and Bonnie Edna (Beeler) Wilder, Bob was born on Feb. 15, 1939, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He graduated from Southeast High School in 1957, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Criminal Justice Administration, all from Oklahoma City University. Bob Wilder continued a family tradition of service by joining the Oklahoma City Police Department in 1960. Bob quickly rose up through the ranks and was named Chief of Police in February 1985. He held that position until his retirement in June of 1990. In October of 1997, Chief Wilder was appointed Sheriff of Marshall County, Okla. Bob Wilder received many awards throughout his career.

William Mack Stafford, 69, of Oakland, Okla., passed away Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, at his home in Oakland. He was born on April 6, 1949, in Madill to the late Carol Duane Stafford and Doris Ouilda Grayson Stafford. Mack was raised in Madill where he graduated from Madill High School in 1967. He attended Murray State Collage where he received his associate degree in business. He later received a bachelor’s degree in business from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Mack worked in banking for 40-plus years and retired from Landmark Bank as Vice President in 2013. It was an honor for Mack to have worked under such great businessmen as Robert Watts, Gene Rainbolt, Bill Brewster, and Mark Landrum. Mack was on the Murray State College Board of Regents for five years. He loved sports of all kinds, and kept the stats for the Madill High Football Team for 25 years. Mack was a member of the Madill Rotary Club, where he was past president.

Lenord Leon Lambert, 77, of Madill, Okla., passed away Monday, Aug., 20, 2018, at the Madill Hospital. He was born on May 11, 1941, in Sterling, Okla., to the late Jim Lambert and Ruth Magee Lambert. Leon was raised in Sterling where he graduated high school in 1960. He served three years in the United States Marines before attending Cameron University and Arkansas State. Leon worked for the Oklahoma Game and Fishing Department as a Lake Ranger for five years. He married Carol Martinez on June 5, 1971, in Waynoka, Okla. In 1972, they moved to Colorado where he worked for the STC Storage Technology Corp for 13 years. He moved to Pueblo, Colo., where he worked for 20 years for Trane Air Conditioning and retired in 2007. In 2012, Leon moved to Madill where he lived the rest of his life. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Madill, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, anything outdoors.

Loyd Reese was born Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1929, in Kingston, Okla., to Commie Lee Reese and Jewel (Waterson) Reese. He passed from this life on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Denison, Texas, at the age of 88. Loyd lived in Kingston throughout his childhood and graduated from Kingston High School in 1947. He married the love of his life, Elizabeth Barwick, Aug. 5, 1949, in Kingston. They moved to Denison, Texas, after the birth of their daughter in 1950, where they lived, had a son, and raised their family. They returned to Kingston in 1982. Loyd was last employed with Cole Construction in Denison where he was an operating engineer until his retirement in 1992. Loyd enjoyed camping with the family, calf roping, hunting, and was an avid fisherman. He spent many hours on Lake Texoma catching catfish, which he also cooked to help provide the fish for the Kingston Alumni Association’s annual fish fry. Mr.