Obituaries

Juanita Lois Wood came into this world on a very chilly day in January, 1929. The year the stock market crashed. She was premature because her mother had the flu. They had to use her dad's hankies for diapers.
Juanita was the third born of five girls to the Reverend Walker Wood and Jessie Wood. Their lives were not...

Rosanne A. Nunley, July 23, 1935 - June 8, 2026 of Creve Coeur, MO, was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by daughters Sandra Reynolds, Starkville, MS and Kimberly Summers, Ballwin, MO; along with a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family that will all...

Vergil McKeldon Fleming Jr.
Vergil was born April 4, 1946, in Savannah, Georgia, and died in Muskogee on May 17 after an extended period of declining health. He spent most of his life in southern California before coming to Muskogee in the early 90's.
Working as a salesman in the field of electronics, he won many...

Ella Joan Chapman, passed away May 25, 2026 in Fort Smith, AR. She was born February 4, 1934, in Sugar Grove, AR to Bruce Taylor and Ella (Moore) Taylor.

Joan was an avid bridge player for most of her life, delighting in the strategy and friendly competition the game brought her. In her younger years she enjoyed...

On May 10, 2026, Fred Hogle's earthly journey ended and eternity began. Surrounded by the love of his life, Sharon, his children, grandchildren, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, Fred peacefully entered his heavenly home with the hands of those he loved holding tightly to his own.

Although Parkinson's disease may...

James Homer "Jim" Seals, 91, of Georgetown, Texas passed away on April 14, 2026 due to a short illness from pneumonia following failure to recover from a fall in October, 2025.
He was born to Denver and Louise Roberts Seals in Miami, Oklahoma. His grandfather, Homer Seals, was an owner of several lead and zinc mines...

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Katherine Lucille "Kay" Jarrard born on September 9, 1936 to Margaret R. Ross Ward and William Claude "Bill" Ward in Stilwell, Oklahoma.
To her family she was known as "Nana" and she became Nana to many who didn't have one of their own. To know her was to...

Robert Alan Kelly, owner of Ruth Kelly Studio, passed away February 22, 2026 in Muskogee at the age 75. He was born on September 29,1950, in Santa Cruz, California, to Ruth Carter (Kelly) and Charles Buck Kelly.
Robert attended Central High School in Muskogee, graduating in 1969 where he also met the love of his...

Janis Roechelle Balsters
July 15, 1946 - January 16, 2026

Janis Roechelle Balsters was born on July 15, 1946, in Rocky, Oklahoma. She was raised with three siblings—Peggy Dent, Linda Rowe, and David Smith. She graduated from El Reno High School and lived in several states throughout her life, including Ohio,...

Billie Lynn Venus Miller was called to her heavenly home on January 5, 2026, at the age of 88. Born on September 6, 1937, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Billie was known for her generosity, love, and kindness—qualities that extended her influence beyond her immediate family.

Billie was born to H.J. "Bill" Venus and Irene...

Forrest Eugene Ganther, 91, of Eldon, Missouri, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Hermitage Nursing & Rehab. He was born on June 16, 1934, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, the son of Fred and Ona Mae (Pruett) Ganther.

He attended school in Muskogee, Oklahoma, until February 4, 1952, when he joined the...

Margaret Frances Peterson, 72, was born January 5, 1953 in Rochester, New York to Edward P. Cutter Jr and Bernice Huber and departed this life January 1, 2026 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Early in her life she knew she wanted to be a nurse and started towards that goal by attending SUNY Brockport in New York. From...