Obituaries

Wake services for Zella Marie Addison Pekah will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, June 8, with funeral services on Tuesday at 1 p.m., both at the Pow-Wow Grounds in Concho with Rev. Waylan Upchego officiating. Burial will be in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Zella passed away May 31, 2020, at her home in El Reno. She was born Nov. 2, 1943, in Canton.

Zella graduated from Riverside Boarding School where she studied plumbing, and then attended vocational school in Galveston, Texas, studying to be an architect.

Graveside services for Jannine Frances Niedo will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 6 in the Concho Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Jannine died May 30, 2020, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. She was born May 31, 1967, in Clinton and was raised in Watonga where she attended high school. 

Jannine lived most of her life in Oklahoma City where she was a member of Victory Baptist Church.

Graveside services for James Edmond Black Bear Jr. was held Thursday in the Concho Cemetery with Rev. Floyd Black Bear officiating. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

James died May 27, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Watonga. He was born Feb. 7, 1943, in Kingfisher but lived most of his life in Geary. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Army and worked in various fields including casino security.

Funeral services for Janice Lynn Frye of Pocasset were held Friday at the Pocasset Community Center with Jim Ross officiating. Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home in Minco.

Graveside services for Monte Ray Dirickson will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, in the El Reno Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Monte was born in El Reno to Bill and Helen Dirickson on Oct. 31, 1950. He graduated from El Reno High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Monte was preceded in death by his parents, Bill Dirickson and Helen Dirickson Shaw; brother, Larry E. Dirickson; and stepfather, John C. Shaw. 

Robert Lynn Gardner passed away Saturday, May 16, 2020, at his home in Anadarko. He fought a valiant fight for almost three years with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Robert “Bob” was born Dec. 8, 1941, in Anadarko to Watson S. Gardner and Arzie Mae (Richardson) Gardner.

The family resided in Anadarko for several years before moving to Childress, Texas, and Concho, and then returning to Anadarko.

Loving wife and mother, Barbara, died May 23, 2020, at her home. She was born Dec. 11, 1937, in Anadarko.

Barbara married George F. Lerch on Sept. 1, 1955.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Benny and Grace Elms; brother, Billy C. Elms; and sister, Pauline Felton.

Gloria Jean (Walker) Arenson, 95, sunset May 13, 2020, was born at home in Florence, Ala., to Ray and Florrie (Wells) Walker, now deceased. She was a favorite only child until the birth of her dear brother, Robert, now deceased, also of Florence.

In 1942 Gloria graduated from Coffee High as salutatorian and Most Beautiful, and in 1946 graduated from Southwestern Memphis, now Rhodes College, with a bachelor in mathematics, where she was also a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity.

Catherine (Cathy) Delene Jones, 78 years of age, went home to the Lord on Friday, May 22, 2020, surrounded by her family.

Cathy was born March 19, 1942, in Oklahoma City to Georgie and Elmer Raymond. She was the second oldest of four children. Cathy was a 1961 graduate of El Reno High School.

Cathy married Don Jones in 1963, and they lived together in El Reno for 37 years before Don passed in 2001.

Wake service for Eugenia Mae Chouteau will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, with funeral services at 1 p.m. Monday, both in the Benson Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Eugenia died May 27, 2020, in Blair. She was born Dec. 9, 1960, in Oklahoma City where she lived most of her life. She worked in housekeeping.