All Obituaries

Calvin (Cal) Ward, a veteran of the United States Navy and resident of Durant, OK left this life on June 12, 2021, at the age of 66. He was the son of Charles Willis Ward and Lila Gay (Bishop) Ward. A funeral in honor of his life will be held at 10:00 AM Monday June 21, 2021, at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, OK. His final earthly resting place will be the Highland Cemetery in Durant. Cal proudly served his country in the Navy. He earned his living as a forklift...

Billy Dale Haile left this life at his home in Durant, Oklahoma on June 9, 2021 at the age of 67. He was the son of Daniel Lynn Haile, Jr., and Rhoda Mae (Reynolds) Haile born in Calera, Oklahoma on October 16, 1953. Family hour will be from 3-4:00 PM on Sunday June 13, 2021, at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM Monday June 14, 2021, at the Kemp Cemetery in Kemp, Oklahoma with his grandsons as his pallbearers. Billy...

HENRY FRANCISCO ELLIS December 20, 1939 – June 7, 2021 IT WAS A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 1939 WHEN HENRY FRANCISCO ELLIS WAS BORN TO H. C. (SKINNY) ELLIS AND DELCIA (RUSH) ELLIS AT THE ELLIS FAMILY HOME IN CADDO, OK. HENRY DEPARTED JUNE 7, 2021, IN SHERMAN, TX, AFTER AN EXTENDED ILLNESS, AT THE AGE OF 81 YEARS. HENRY’S EARLY YEARS IN CADDO NURTURED HIS LOVE FOR HUNTING AND FISHING AND ANCHORED BONDS AND LIFE LONG...

Rachel Kathleen Buchanan (Folsom), born April 20th, 1991 departed from this world on June 3rd, 2021 at the young age of 30. She was the daughter of Nathan Paul Folsom and Sheila Kathleen Folsom and born in Durant, Oklahoma. Rachel married the love of her life, Justin Buchanan on March 16th, 2018. Rachel and Justin appreciated and cherished each other for exactly who they were and together they created the perfect family and home. Family hour will be 6-8:00 PM on Saturday June 5th, 2021,...

Phillip McClure, a veteran of the United States Army and resident of Durant, Oklahoma left this life suddenly in Denison, Texas on May 25, 2021 at the age of 50. He was born in Houston, Texas to Louis Albert McClure and Janella Britain (Wilson) on August 16, 1970. Phillip married his beloved April White in Mead, Oklahoma on April 11, 2008. Phillip was considered a “computer guy” he had extensive experience and always looked for ways to increase his knowledge. He served his country...

James (Jim) Dean Samuel, 71, passed away on May 25, 2021 in Plano, TX. He was born on November 8, 1949 in Edmond, OK to Dean and Ouita Samuel. Jim was the oldest of three children. Jim graduated from Durant High School in 1968. He loved track and was on the track team running the 400 Meter dash and the mile relay. In 1966 Jim and his team won the state track meet. After high school he attended college at SOSU. He was inducted into the Durant Athletic Hall of Fame on September 30, 2011. Jim...

After 68 years of living a most honorable life, Dr. Mary Evelyn Hitchcock was called home by her Lord and Savior the morning of May 23rd, 2021. Mary was born September 16, 1952 in Durant, Oklahoma to Ray and Milburn Hitchcock of Wapanucka. She was a Wapanucka native and a 1970 graduate of Wapanucka High School. She attended Murray State College, then transferred to Southeastern to earn her B.S. in Elementary Education in 1974. She received her Master’s in Special Education from...

Ronnie Malone Sr. was born March 20th 1950 in Albany, OK and Ronnie gained his angel wings on May 22nd 2021 in Branson, MO after spending a great day surrounded by family. Ronnie has been a lifelong resident of Utica, OK other than the years in the service. Ronnie will be missed by so many people that he made a huge impact on during his life. Ronnie never met a person that didn’t love him or that he wouldn’t help. Ronnie’s favorite things to do were to work with his cows and play...

Reverend Charley Marvin Henson entered his Heavenly Home on May 21, 2021 at the age of 83 years. He was born on April 12, 1938 in Bennington, OK to Robert and Mary Henson. Charley served in the United States Army, but his greatest service was serving God for 61 years and preaching The Gospel for 56 of those years. During that time, he built two churches, and pastored several in different states, with his current passion being the First Pentecostal Church of Bokchito, Oklahoma where he...

Shirley Leoma (Richardson) Luton passed away peacefully in McKinney, Texas on May 20, 2021 at the age of 72. She was born on December 2, 1948 in Durant, Oklahoma to L.R. “Shorty” and Vera Mae (Smithey) Richardson. Shirley was Missionette Leader at the Assembly of God Desoto, and a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was also employed by H&R Block as a tax preparer. Shirley loved her family and was always cooking and making sure that they were well taken care of. She...