May 22, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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2 May 22, 2021 News The joke was also made that Heckrodt has witnessed many More than 80% of the world’s top toys. Henry Burrn and Mari- the mayor had the ulterior mo- history-altering events, such as group are women, and 38% live on Harris sang popular songs on tive of being single himself. the Dust Bowl and drought in alone. Less than 20% are veter- the radio. That mayor, though, proved the 1930s, as well as transporta- ans. John Glenn and Nancy Rea- no match for a dashing naval of- tion changes from the horse and Heckrodt is among those who gan were also born that year. ficer named Clyde Stanly Heck- buggy to spaceships. live alone. In fact, the sharp-wit- And, among the top slang, was rodt, a store owner in Elk City. Heckrodt had lived with no ted lady still drives herself. “bearcat” for a feisty woman. The ambitious couple had four electricity to now, in 2021, In 1921, the year that Heck- rodt was born, Warren Harding As Heckrodt embarked to children — James and Pamela, hand-held computers. was president. Bacon cost $.10 Texas with her sons for more who have already passed, and Heckrodt’s favorite perils of Stanly and Gregory. wisdom are, “Put your life in per pound and car cost $2,000. birthday adventures, she proved The union was also blessed God’s hands and trust in Him. Shirley Temple dolls and Buck that she remains very much a with three grandchildren and Live your life and have fun along Rogers Ray Guns by Daisy were bearcat. Taylor three great-grandchildren. the way.” The pair were owners of a suc- Heckrodt was then officially that his calls were not returned. cessful dry cleaning store before inducted into the Oklahoma Additionally, the ODHS and she retired in approximately Centenarians Hall of Fame. Beckham County District Attor- 1968. Elrod also shared interesting Continued from page 1. ney’s office also did not receive Heckrodt has been an active tidbits about centenarians, such a response. member of Elk City’s First Bap- as the oldest person in the world until the investigation was The probable cause claims tist Church and the Cultus Club. is a Japanese woman named completed,” the detective wrote. that Taylor was responsible for The 100-year-old guest of honor smiles beside her award The detective opined that the from Governor Kevin Stitt. Courtesy photo. Her hobbies are traveling, read- Kane Tanakara, who was born the health, safety, and welfare ing, and sewing. in January 1903, and that Okla- mother’s acts ultimately ended of the two minor children and She also enjoyed her work as homa’s oldest known person is in the death of the child at the willfully and maliciously caused Driscoll Business College, where age of two-years-old. Induction she graduated in 1939. As a young, single woman, a volunteer at the museum and had been honored to serve as president, treasurer, and secre- Ethel Bowens of Gutherie. She was born in August 1909. The oldest known male in The detective also alleged that the mother, Taylor, pro- or permitted harm to the chil- dren by Troy J. Jones. While an arrest warrant re- Continued from page 1. she attended a cocktail party tary of the Cultus Club. Oklahoma is Willard Qualls of tected the dog, known as Dr. mains active for Taylor, she has held by the then-mayor of Elk Dre and that the dog’s attack Her favorite holiday is Christ- Shawnee, who was born on Sep- a pre-set bond of $100,000. a representative of the City. However, no alcohol was left permanent scars on the mas, and her favorite song is tember 11, 1915. Jones currently has a SWODA group upon aging. We permitted. child. How Great Though Art. The Oklahoma group has hon- $500,000 bond. Should he be have been giving this award for The group joked that they “Evidence seen clearly shows Her favorite foods are ice ored over 2,600 100-year-olds able to bond out of the Beck- around twenty years, and it is were served ice water. a lack of care for her (Paige’s) cream and chocolate. since the non-profit group was ham County Detention Center, all volunteer. It is a rare achieve- The purpose of the matching- children and the protection of Heckrodt gave a hearty en- founded in 1991. he is ordered not to be around making function was to intro- Troy and his dog at all cost,” the ment. Oklahoma is the only dorsement of both culinary de- The last census shows that ap- duce naval officers to the young detective added. the victims’ family or other state that recognizes their cen- lights. proximately 450 centenarians ladies of the city. Taylor, the mother, has hired children under the age of 18. tenarians,” Elrod said. Elrod went on to observe that live in Oklahoma. an attorney. The detective at- Jones is due back in court on Elrod then read a short biog- tempted an interview but said June 14 for a conference date. raphy of Heckrodt’s life. The Oklahoma native was Children Blanch Barrymore Ron Engel born on May 19 in Leedey in Dewey County, Oklahoma, to Richard and Ruby Jane Barton. receive free A Funeral Service and a celebration of life for Ron Her father was a farmer and her mother was a school teacher. meals Engel, 77, longtime Clinton educator and athletic director She went to school at Leedey OKLAHOMA CITY – With will be held 11:00 A.M., Fri- through the ninth grade and many schools across the state day, May 21, 2021 in the First then went to Elk City until she winding down for the year, al- United Methodist Church of- graduated. most 1,400 feeding sites are ficiated by Pastor Rick Robart From there, she went to preparing to welcome children and speakers Mike Lee and for free summer meals. The Dave Meadows. Burial will Oklahoma State Department conclude in the Stafford Cem- Round of Education’s (OSDE) summer feeding programs will serve Blanche Barrymore passed away in her sleep November The community Blanche grew up in, embod- that etery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Ronald Lee Engel was born and administration boards. He two meals a day while kids also served in the church of- January 17, 1944 to Ed and Town are out of school on summer break. 2, 2020 in Bellevue Nurs- ing Home in Oklahoma City. Blanche was born at home ied the traits of the pioneering spirit that helped make Okla- homa’s rich heritage what it Myrtle (Short) Engel in Clin- ton, OK and passed away late fice, and maintained the flower beds for a number of years af- “Hunger is one of the more se- Sunday, May 16, 2021 in the ter his retirement. He was a 30 to Levi and May Fowler in is today. In that “little village May 22 vere roadblocks to the learning Sweetwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Heart Hospital in plus year member of the Okla- on the prairie”, watching the ebb and flow, of birth, life and process,” said State Superin- The second eldest of seven Oklahoma City, OK. homa Coaches Association. Kiwanis Karnival, Con- tendent of Public Instruction Ron married Jeanne Kin- children, Blanche was raised passing over to the other side, He was raised in Elk City, vention Center. Joy Hofmeister. “A lack of on the farm, along the red OK where he graduated from caid on June 8, 1970, and they where loving relatives are nutrition during the summer dirt roads against a backdrop Elk City High School in 1961. celebrated their 50th wedding waiting, we are reminded of months may set up a cycle for of nature’s symphony. Her While in high school he was a anniversary on June 8, 2020. the lyrics of a song as we cel- Ackley Park Opening, poor performance once school formative years were spent three year letterman in foot- The two loved to travel to- ebrate her life and this is what Aquatic Center, Centennial begins again. That’s why it’s im- picking cotton, milking cows, ball, basketball, baseball and gether, raised cattle, gardening we pray: “And the little con- perative we ensure appropriate walking two miles to school track for the Elks. He made and entertaining friends and Carousel, Train and Minia- gregation prayed for guidance nutrition for our children dur- every day, singing in church All District in football and was family. from above, Lead us not into ture Golf. ing these critical months, even with her older sister, Crystal selected for All State in 1961 He had noted those that temptation, Bless this hour of and interacting with a large at quarterback. He continued have influenced his life, first though school might not be in celebration/meditation Guide community of cousins, loving his education at the University his parents, Ed and Myrtle En- session.” us with Eternal love.” Softball Big Elk Summer parents and siblings. of Oklahoma and was on the gel, for the guidance they gave More than 400 sponsors will Blanche Barrymore is pre- In essence she was part of a Sooner squad as a freshman. and their priority they put on Classic Tournament, Elk serve a combination of break- ceded in death by her par- village that created a legacy of Following his sophomore year education. His wife, Jeanne fast and lunch or lunch and a ents, Levi and May Fowler, City 5 Plex. a strong work ethic, extreme he transferred to Southwestern Engel, for being an awesome snack at 1,359 sites, includ- two sisters, Crystal Henson of honesty, kindness and always, Oklahoma State University coach’s wife and mother to ing parks, schools, commu- Sweetwater, Oklahoma, Lova always a willingness to help and played football two years their children and to list only May 23 nity centers, churches and day Ringley of Tyler, Texas and a others. for the Bulldogs and base- a few of the coaches for their camps. Many sites also provide brother, E.L. Fowler of Sweet- ball from 1964 to 1966. Ron Softball Big Elk Summer Joyful in heart and spirit, water, Okla. hard work and dedication and education or recreational pro- she believed in the innate earned his Bachelor’s from just being good role models: Classic Tournament, Elk She is survived by three sib- SWOSU in 1966 and received gramming. Summer meals are goodness of humankind. Bob Thomas (Elk City High lings, a brother, Jimmy Fowler his Masters in Guidance and City 5 Plex. eligible for children 18 and These qualities were and still School Football); Port Rob- of Gruver, Texas, two younger Counseling in 1969. under, as well as for people up are what our large family ertson (OU); Otis Delaporte twin sister, Patsy Gibson of Coach Engel began his to 21 years old participating in stands for, today. She had a (SWOSU); Jim Frazier, Eddie Edmond, Okla., and Peggy teaching and coaching ca- May 28 state education programs for love and zest for life. Always Paul, Jerry Havens, Jack Treat, Munkres of Elk City, Okla- reer in 1966 at Clinton High the mentally or physically dis- happy and upbeat, all of her Dave Meadows, Willard Nah- Baseball and Softball See- homa. School. He taught in the abled. cousins were crazy about her rgang, Mike Smith, Mike Lee ing Home Tournament, Elk She is also survived by two classroom and accepted the Between May and August and she lit up the room when (All Clinton High School) and adult children, Pam Barry- position as assistant varsity City 5 Plex. 2020, 13.4 million meals were she walked in. She was ex- others he coached and taught tremely close to her siblings, more of Oklahoma City, Steve football coach, a position he served through the summer Barrymore and his wife, Car- with. (even though she once tied her held until 1987. During that He was preceded in death by feeding program. ol, Oklahoma City, their two twenty two year span, the Red May 30 little brother to a tree in her his parents, brothers, Gerald To find a feeding site near you, earlier years), and especially children, John Barrymore of Tornado Football teams made Engel and Edward Engel; and Baseball and Softball See- go to meals4kidsok.org. The her older sister, Crystal and Newport Beach, Calif., Steph- it to the play offs fifteen times son, Michael L. Engel. meal site finder was created in also her best friend and cousin, anie Coles of Edmond, Okla., and won six State Champion- ing Home Tournament, Elk partnership with Hunger Free Nelda. She was an outstanding and five great-grandchildren. ships in either Class A, 2A or He is survived by his wife, City 5 Plex. Blanche’s Celebration of Jeanne, of the home; daugh- Oklahoma, OSDE and Code for salesperson. While working at 3 A. Three of those State titles Life service will be held at ter, Shalyn Carpenter and Tulsa. Lyric Theatre, she was consis- were back- to- back-to back in Sweetwater Baptist Church, husband, Terry, sister, Yvonne tently tops in sales. We always Class A in 1967, ’68 and ’69 in Sweetwater, Okla. on Sat- Davis; brother in law, Clark said she could sell swampland Clinton also added three state urday, May 22, 2021 at 11:00 Kincaid, sister in law, Joann in Florida. She was artistic as Runners-up-titles, and four A.M. for her extended family. District Championships. Sanders and a daughter in law, well. She was an outstanding Cindy Ketchum Engel. photographer and also created The family would like to Ron became the Red Tor- thank Hospice and the car- nado’s head baseball coach He is also survived by four and sold her own line of hand- grandchildren, Shelby Gladd made jewelry. Her handmade ing staff at Bellevue Nursing in 1967. His teams won four (USPS # 173-020) and husband Cameron, Taylor Dreamcatchers were sold Home in Oklahoma City. District titles and made the In lieu of flowers, please tell 580-225-3000 Carpenter and his wife, Crys- throughout Western Europe. State Baseball Tournament someone you love them and twice, reaching the class 2A tal, Colby Engel and Garrett As a published author, her Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC remarkable short stories and hold your parents near and Semifinals in 1976 and the Carpenter; two step grandchil- 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 poems about growing up in dear to your hearts. Quarterfinals in 1978. Ron’s dren, Emily Ketchum, Keaton Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 Oklahoma during the Dust For condolences, please vis- final year to coach was 1982. Ketchum and wife, Keele and it the website of: He also served Clinton Public their son, Elias and daughter Bowl provide an important POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 www.classicfunerals.com Schools as Athletic Director Grace Lane; two nieces, Rhon- insight into that time in his- “Oh, I have slipped these for Twenty-eight years, from da Powers and Sarah Mwaura; tory in which she lived. At the Josh Umholtz 1978 to 2008. nephew, Ronnie Davis, and SUBSCRIPTIONS request of the Oklahoma His- surly bonds of earth, two great grandchildren, Gun- Deliverd by mail: Publisher torical Society, her published And danced the skies on He gave a total of 43 years books of short stories and po- laughter-silvered wings… to Clinton High School youth ner and Gracelyn Gladd. $75/yearly Amy Loynd The family suggests that Business Manager ems will be entered into their ….Put out my hand and by teaching, counseling, men- $50/six months toring, coaching and most of those who desire may make a archives. touched the face of God. No refunds on subscriptions. Neva Pyatt all being a great example. memorial contribution to the Advertising Director He is a member of the First Friends for Life Animal Soci- [email protected] [email protected] D’Ann Brasuell Production Manager Send obituaries to United Methodist Church; he attended the Tri-M Sunday ety, P.O. Box 1965, Weather- ford, OK 73096 or the Clinton [email protected] [email protected] School Class and served in Public School Foundation, Maressa Margerum many capacities of the church P.O. Box 822 Clinton, OK [email protected] Customer Service Rep as a greeter, usher, liturgies 73601.