Obituaries

Suellen Varnell Siebert, 74, passed away on September 15, 2020 in her home in Austin, Texas, with her daughters Amy and Evelyn by her side.

Suellen was born in El Reno, Oklahoma on October 16, 1945 to Elsie Ann (Womack) and Charles Edward Varnell.

She graduated from El Reno High School and later from the University of Oklahoma and worked as a registered nurse, with many years at VA hospitals in Oklahoma City and San Antonio and five years in the US Air Force.

On Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, Jacqueline Dawn Moshier of Las Vegas, Nev., lost her courageous and long-fought battle with cancer at the age of 59. Dawn was born Jan. 24, 1961, in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Dawn will forever be remembered for her love of God and Jesus her Savior. She would bow her head in prayer anytime, anywhere, asking God to “guard and guide” us in any life event we were facing.

She taught us about God’s grace, and second chances. She would say, “Life is not three strikes you’re out, if you never give up.”

Rosary for Emily Ann Ramirez will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at the Benson Memorial Chapel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Lance Warren and Deacon Lloyd Menz officiating.

A private burial will follow in the El Reno Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.   

Emily was born in Kingfisher on Jan. 4, 1938, one of five children and the only daughter of Fred Henry and Dulcie (Whitebird) Bushyhead.

Irene Reeder, born Nov. 28, 1926, in Pauls Valley, passed away Sept. 13, 2020, at River Oaks Nursing Home in El Reno.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Glen Reeder.

She is survived by her sister, Yvonne (Micki) McGraw and husband, Tom of El Reno; brother, Howard Cryer and wife, Beulah of Tulsa; nieces and nephews, Kathi Scott and Kim Delgrasso, Gary Cryer and Teresa Melton, Peggy Everett and Bill and Jerry Allen; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

Graveside services for Donna Grace Hawk-West will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Donna died Sept. 15, 2020, at the VA Medical Center in Oklahoma City. She was born Feb. 11, 1956, in Inglewood, Calif., and was raised in El Reno. After her graduation from Fort Sill Indian School, she joined the Army, serving as a mechanic. She was a member of the Indian Methodist Church.

Memorial services for Brenda Duran of Amarillo, Texas, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in La Crosse, Kan., with burial in the La Crosse Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Lighthouse Funeral Services, Amarillo.

Brenda passed away Sept. 13, 2020. She was born Nov. 11, 1954, in Great Bend, Kan.

She is survived by her children, Pam Brown of Amarillo, Rachel Whitestar of Moore and Christopher Duran of El Reno; nine brothers and sisters; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Private graveside services for Judith Stevenson Thompson of El Reno will be held in the El Reno Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Judith died Sept. 12, 2020, at her home. She was born March 2, 1937, in El Reno.

She was the owner of Thompson’s Gift and Office Supply. Judith was a member of First Baptist Church, P.E.O. Sisterhood, Athenaeum and Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

Melvin Lee Roy Payton, 79, of El Reno, peacefully passed away in Oklahoma City on Sept. 10, 2020. He was born March 12, 1941, to parents, Benjamin Franklin Payton and Helen Louise (Mathis) Payton in Lovell, Okla.

Melvin was a high school graduate of El Reno High School in the year 1959. Melvin married the love of his life, Linda, on Jan. 6, 1961, and together they shared 59 wonderful years.

Wake services for Harriet Irene Whiteshirt, 62, of El Reno were held Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, at the Canton Community Center. Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, at the Canton Community Center with Pastor James Scott officiating. Interment followed in the Canton Indian Mennonite Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Pierce Funeral Home in Canton.

Harriet was born Dec. 1, 1957, in Clinton to Arlie and Laverne (White Horse) Lime. She departed this life on Sept. 8, 2020, in Oklahoma City.

Harriet was raised at Seiling and attended school there.

Wake services for Virgil Whiteshirt Jr., 66, of El Reno were held Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, at the Canton Community Center. Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, at the Canton Community Center with Pastor James Scott officiating. Interment followed in the Canton Indian Mennonite Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Pierce Funeral Home in Canton.

Virgil was born Oct. 4, 1953, in Clinton to Virgil and Winnie (Chiefly) Whiteshirt. He departed this life on Sept. 5, 2020, in Oklahoma City.