MISCELLANEOUS SCOTT COUNTY OBITUARIES
SURNAME "O"
The following obituaries were contributed for the use of Scott County researchers.
If you have an obituary with a Scott County connection and would like to have it posted
here, please send it to Carolyn Hanna
Last Updated 18 June 2011
Contributed by
William Highfill
Ft. Smith Times Record (online edition)
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
JAMES NUELL (JIM) OAKES
Our beloved dad and granddaddy, James Nuell (Jim) Oakes, was born in Cauthron, Ark., on
May 21, 1926, as the third son of Clifton and Esther Oakes. He died Monday, Sept. 26, 2005,
at the age of 79 years. He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 56 years, Betty Oakes
of Eufaula, Okla., and their three children: Jim Oakes Jr. and his wife, Cheryl of Guymon,
Susan Lauderdale and her husband, Mark of Cushing, and Steve Oakes and his wife, Jacine of
Hooker. Jim also leaves five grandchildren: Jamie Oakes and his wife, Cortney of Guymon,
Jason Oakes and his wife, Amanda of Norman, Ryan Lauderdale of Austin, Texas, Mindi Lauderdale
of Oklahoma City, and Aaron Oakes of Hooker. His precious great-grandchildren include Samuel,
Tempe, and Paul Oakes of Guymon and Damaris Oakes of Norman. Other survivors include three
brothers and their wives: Gerald and Gwen Oakes of Cauthron, Harold and Sue Oakes of Ozark,
and Cliff and Velma Oakes of Etna, Calif. His parents and two sisters, Charlene Baker and
Kathleen Swiney, preceded him in death. Jim graduated from Waldron High School in Arkansas and
then joined the Navy as a yeoman first class. After serving World War II aboard the USS Neville,
he was honorably discharged in 1945 after a bout with tuberculosis, which he contracted in the
South Pacific. He married Betty Sanders on Nov. 5, 1949, in Booneville, and then began his college
education through the GI Bill. Jim graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of
science in accounting in 1954 and was elected to the honorary accounting fraternity Beta Alpha Psi.
He then went on to pass the CPA exam twice, first in Missouri and 1954 and then in Oklahoma in 1957,
where he was awarded the Gold Medal for the highest score. After working for both Price Waterhouse
and Continental Oil Company, he moved his family to Guymon, Okla., in January 1962, becoming the first
CPA in Oklahoma to practice west of Enid. There he built his own public accounting firm, which is still
in operation today under the leadership of second and third generation CPAs, Jim Oakes Jr. and Jamie
Oakes. The Oklahoma Society of CPAs honored him in 2004 as an active 50 year certificate holder. In
Guymon, Jim obtained his private instrument flight pilot's license and flew many years for business
and personal reasons. Though he was blessed with much success in his accounting practice as well as
the oil and gas business, Jim's first passion in life was always his family. Known for his remarkable
story telling, his memories of his Arkansas childhood will continue to be told by his children and
grandchildren. Jim's legendary Bob Wills fiddling heard either on his front porch or at an occasional
dance played by his band, the Arkansas Soaks, will always be one of his family's most treasured memories.
He also loved genealogy, and spent many hours at his computer, researching his family's history. A
celebration of Jim's life will be held in Eufaula at the First Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Thursday,
Sept. 29, 2005, under the direction of Hunn, Black & Merritt Funeral Home. Graveside services for
family and friends will be held in Guymon on Sept. 30, 2005, at 2 p.m. Viewing will be held that day
at the Henson Novak Funeral Home in Guymon from 10 a.m. to noon, and the family will receive guests
at the personal residence after the service. Memorial contributions may be made in Jim's memory to
the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in the care of either funeral home.
Contributed by
William Highfill
Heavener (OK) Ledger
Thursday, 05 September 1968
CARL OGLESBY RITES SAT.
Funeral services for Carl Oglesby, 63, Heavener resident, was Saturday morning at the
Big Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Herman Highfill officiating. Burial was at Blackfork
under direction of Dowden Funeral Home. Born March 24, 1905, at Blackfork, Ark., Mr.
Oglesby died August 29 in the Poteau hospital. He was a retired farmer,lifetime resident
of the area, veteran of World War II, and a member of Blackfork Baptist Church. Survivors
include three brothers, J. W. of Blackfork, Anderson of Heavener, Bert of Clayton; and one
sister, Anna Janaway of Mena. Pall bearers were W. F. Austin, Luke Strickland, Buster
Tamplin, Pete Sommerfield, Frank Stites, Athey Beatty.
Contributed by Pauline Davis
EDNA M. OGLESBY
CROWN POINT, IN
Edna M. Oglesby, age 90, of Crown Point, formerly of Merrillville, passed away on Sunday, January
31, 2010. Edna is survived by her daughter, Linda (Alex "Buzz") Christoff of Crown Point; son, Velton
(Mary Jane) Oglesby of Augusta, KS; three grandchildren: Pete Christoff of Pomaia, Italy, Lisa Daniels
of Augusta, KS and Toni (Paul) Porter of Wichita, KS; four great grandchildren: Adam (Kelsey), Chase
and Claire Daniels, and Nicholas Cannady. Preceded in death by her husband, Travis L. Oglesby in 2000.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Geisen Funeral Home, 7905
Broadway, Merrillville, IN with Chaplain Vince Gray officiating. Interment at Calumet Park Cemetery,
Merrillville. Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 from 2:00 to 8:00 PM
at Geisen Funeral Home, Merrillville, IN. Edna was a former member of Merrillville United Methodist
Church and retired from Montgomery Ward.
Contributed by Debbie Johnson
Heavener Ledger, page 5
13 February 1969
BEN OLIVER
Services for Ben Oliver, 72, were to be held at 2:00 this (Thursday) afternoon in the Dowden Funeral Home
Chapel, with Rev. Leonard Sullivan officiating. Burial will be in the Springhill Cemetery. Born January 14,
1897, Mr. Oliver had been a lifetime resident of this area. He died Tuesday at the Poteau Hospital. Mr.
Oliver was a member of the First Baptist Church. Survivors include two daughters, Sue and Jean, both of
San Diego; three brothers, Claude of Poteau, Bertie of Heavener, Clifton of Santa Clara, Calif.; two half
brothers, Tom of Howe and Jim of Heavener; two sisters, Bertha Smith of Vallejo, Calif. and Eula Lee of
San Diego; three grandchildren.
Contributed by Debbie Johnson
Heavener Ledger, page 2
27 February 1969
JIM OLIVER
Funeral service for James Monroe Oliver, 88, Heavener, was held Sunday at Howe Assembly of God Church. Burial
was at Howe Cemetery by Dowden Funeral Home. Mr. Oliver died Friday at a Heavener nursing home. He was born
July 17, 1880 in Scott Co., Ark. and was a lifetime resident of the area. Survivors include four sons, Cleve,
Oklahoma City, Virgil, Howe, Dean and Gene, both of Heavener; three daughters, Effie Rogers, Wister, Georgia
Drury, Howe and Velma Baker, Ft. Smith; a brother Tom, Howe; three half brothers, Claude, Poteau, Clifton,
Santa Clara, Calif., and Bertie, Heavener; two half sisters, Bertha Smith and Eula Lee, both of California;
23 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.
Contributed by
William Highfill
Ada (OK) Weekly News
Thursday, -3 December 1964 p. 2
WILLIAM T. OLIVER
William Thomas Oliver, 401 East Fifteenth, died at 5:30 a.m. Thursday in a local hospital. He was 64
and a native of Waldron, Ark. Born June 20, 1880, son of Jess Oliver and Josephine Popjoy Oliver, he
was a retired railroadman. He with his parents left Arkansas in 1885 and came to Canadian where he lived
until 1901. In 1901 he came to Centrahoma and resided there until coming to Ada in 1917. He and Miss Maude
Elizabeth Sumpter were married in Canadian January 1, 1899. Mrs. Oliver was a member of the College Heights
Baptist Church. Surviving are the wife, Maude; a sister, Mrs. Tina Hunt, Waldron, Ark.; three brothers,
John Oliver, Waldron, Ark.; Sherman Oliver, Waldron, Ark.; and Harrison Oliver, Redding, Calif.; and
several nieces and nephews.
Contributed by
William Highfill
Heavener Ledger
Tuesday, May 11, 2006
LAHOMA OLLAR
Lahoma Jean Ollar, of Howe, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2006. She was a life time resident of the area.
Graveside services were held Saturday, May 6, 2006 in Hodgen Cemetery. She is survived by one daughter,
Lanore Page and husband JI of Nevada, Texas; five sons, William Ollar of Hatfield, Ark., Marshall Ollar
of Howe, Andy Ollar of Howe, Randy Ollar of Howe, Robert Ollar of Waldron, Ark.; two sisters, Peggy Midcalf
of Oregon, Mary Pruitt of Oregon; one brother, Orval Dalton of Bakersfield, Cali.; 20 grandchildren, 21
great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren. Arrangements were under the direction of Dowden
Funeral Home of Heavener.
RAY OSWALT
February 23, 1925 - August 22, 2009
Ray Oswalt, 84, of Barling, Arkansas went to be with the lord on Saturday, August 22, 2009. He was a member
of the First Baptist Church in Mansfield. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Betty L. Oswalt.
Ray is survived by his two daughters Sandra Dianne Oswalt of Wichita, Kansas, Patricia Lynn Biggs and husband
Robert of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Grandchildren Amy Elizabeth Zluticky and husband Chris of Mansfield,
Arkansas, David Ray Kelsey and wife Gail of Lawrence, Kansas, Richard William Kelsey of Wichita, Kansas,
Holly Joy Jones and husband Jason of Goddard, Kansas, Matthew Robert Biggs of Brampton, Ontario, Canada;
Jonathan �Jon-Boy� Biggs of Miamisburg, Ohio; Great Grandchildren Sarah Zluticky, Jonathan Zluticky and Jacob
Zluticky, all of Mansfield, Arkansas, Jack Kelsey, and Charlton Kelsey of Lawrence, Kansas, Forrestt Jones,
Tiffany Jones, Dylan Jones, Wyatt Jones, all of Cheney, Kansas, and Olivia Biggs Victoria Biggs, Brampton,
Ontario, Canada; and loved friends and care givers Dick and Doris Kelsey. Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Mansfield with Dr. Bob Biggs of Toronto, Canada and
Chris Zluticky of Mansfield Officiating. Interment will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2009 in the
Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Goddard, Kansas under the direction of Martin Funeral Home of Mansfield, Arkansas.
Visitation will be Monday, August 24, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.
Contributed by
William Highfill
Greenwood Democrat (online edition)
Saturday October 29, 2005
JAY OWENS
Jay Owens, 72, of Greenwood went to be with the Lord on Oct. 17, 2005, in Fort Smith. He was a Master
Mason with Lodge No. 503 of Jenny Lind, attended Greenwood Freewill Baptist Church and retired from
Riggs Tractor. Graveside services were Oct. 19, 2005, at Egypt Cemetery in Blue Ball, Ark., under the
direction of Martin Funeral Home of Waldron. He is survived by his wife, Mary; a daughter, Marsha Cossey
and husband, Charlie of Jenny Lind; a son, Mike Owens of Jenny Lind; one grandson, Shawn Cossey of Jenny
Lind; a sister, Tyke Wilkins and Husband Roy of Blue Ball. Pallbearers were nephews.
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