Howard Everett Jensen, born Sept. 20, 1925, died July 31 in Yukon, after a long battle with dementia. He was 88 years old.

Howard was a California native, who spent much of his life in Ventura County. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving his country during World War II. He spent the last 21 years of his life living in Oklahoma with his wife of 53 years, Norma.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jerry Jensen.

He is survived by his wife, Norma; his three sons, Larry Prebble of Oxnard, Calif., Ron Prebble of Mustang and Ken Prebble of Yukon; five grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

A private military funeral is planned at a later date in Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Howard’s name to the Veterans Administration.

 

Ronnie Leo Williams, age 72, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, after an extended illness.

He was born Sept. 3, 1941, in Comanche, Okla., to Woodrow and Geneva (Petty) Williams. He grew up in Comanche and was a 1959 graduate of Comanche High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force and attended SWOSU, Cameron State College and Central State College after high school. Ronnie worked several years for Humpty Dumpty Foods, before starting his career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1973. He was a letter carrier for over 25 years, before retiring in the late 1990s. He was a member of Chisholm Heights Baptist Church in Mustang.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Roy Biffle; five stepbrothers, Roy, Robert, Lee, Jerry and Charlie; and one stepsister, Dovie.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Patsy (Pat) of the home; two daughters, Lorrie Williams of Oklahoma City and Kerri Cole and husband Keith of Mustang. Also by three grandchildren, Ashlea, Kirk and Brady; one sister, Shirley Bush and husband Jerry of Claremore; and by one stepbrother, Price Biffle of Fort Worth.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Chisholm Heights Baptist Church, either the Building Fund or Youth Ministries.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 4 at Chisholm Heights Baptist Church in Mustang. Interment will be in Red Hill Cemetery under the direction of McNeil’s Mustang Funeral Service. Online condolences may be made at www.mcneilsmustangfs.com.

 

Michael Scott Sanders, age 48, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 28, 2014.

Mike grew up in Moore, Okla., the son of Don and Sue Sanders.  He graduated from Moore Christian Academy and attended OCCC for a time.  Mike married Brenda Wright on March 15, 2001 in Mustang.  Mike worked at Tinker Air Force Base as landscaper/carpenter for 18 years.  He attended Clear Springs Free Will Baptist Church.  He enjoyed making others happy, undertaking special projects and generally just family time.  Mike’s pride and joy were his wife and girls.

Mike is survived by his wife, Brenda of the home; two daughters, Brooklynn Nicole and Savanna Marie of University of Oklahoma; mother, Anita Sue Sanders; a brother, Gregory Dean and wife Kristi; a sister, Donna Sue and husband Tony Wildman; and several nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, Don; grandparents, Bill and Edith Harkins, Earl and Elsie Sanders; and one niece, Morgan Wildman.

Graveside services will be held at the Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle on Thursday, July 31, at 10:30 a.m. McNeil’s Funeral Services is handling arrangements.

 

Paula LaKay (Apple) Gilpen, age 67, died Sunday, July 27, 2014, at her home in Oklahoma City.

Paula was born April 14, 1947, in McKinney, Texas, to Clifford and Mabel Irene (Isaacs) Apple. Paula grew up in Frederick, Okla., married Walt “Tom” Gilpen in 1964 and settled in the Mustang/Oklahoma City area in 1968. She was a teacher at the Mustang United Methodist Preschool for many years, as well as a Cub Scout leader and a vacation Bible school and Awana’s teacher at her home church, First Baptist of Mustang. Paula was very involved with her boys’ and grandchildren’s activities, as well as spending time with a special group of ladies. Her time was spent with her grandchildren, doing crafts, and scrapbooking.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Paula is survived by her husband, Tom, of 49 years and 11 months; two boys, Tommy and wife, Misty of Tuttle and Bruce of Oklahoma City; also by grandchildren, Rebekah Thomas, Bailey Gilpen and Christopher Thomas; and one brother, Jerry Apple and wife, Sandra.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 31 at First Baptist Church of Mustang, with interment to follow in Mustang Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made to www.mcneilsmustangfs.com.

Douglas John Burkert, Sr. was born Oct. 3, 1932 to Lebo and Annette Burkert in Clinton, Iowa.

Doug was raised in Rock Island, Ill. He was the youngest of five children: William (deceased), Betty Jane Mankoski (deceased), Rosemary Johnson, Moline Ill.; and Norma Jean Pierson, Pueblo, Colo. He was a graduate of Rock Island High School and Black Hawk College.

He married Ruth Wisdom from Geneseo, Ill. on June 5, 1955. They were married 59 years. They have two children, Douglas Burkert, Jr., wife Mary and three daughters – Lauren, Elyse and Brianne, all living  in Richardson, Texas; and daughter, Nancy Rateliff, husband Jeff and their children, Jacob and daughter Jamie, living in Mustang.

Douglas and his wife Ruth were small business owners, running Annette’s Interiors until 1978, when he closed the business and went to work for John Deere, retiring in 1987. To keep busy, he worked for Project Now Community Action Weatherization Program through 1993, then Rock Island Public schools a short time before retiring and moving to Oklahoma to be closer to his kids and grandkids.

Doug loved bowling, golfing, fishing and watching his grandchildren compete in various sports. He attended Mustang United Methodist Church. He also loved traveling, particularly to family reunions.

A memorial service is planned for Thursday, July 24, at Mustang United Methodist Church, at 3 p.m., with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, we ask donations be made to Mustang United Methodist Church, in care of Skyline Ministries, or United Methodist Women, for their care and support of other families in their time of need.

Richard Elmer Phillips age 61, died Sunday, July 13, 2014 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was born May 12, 1953 in Portland, Ore. to Richard Edgar and Beulah Marie (Kirkendall) Phillips.

As a young man, Richard enjoyed fishing off the coast of Oregon. He went on to farm for 12 years and worked for Cascade Diesel in Moses Lake, Wash. He received a degree in computer software engineering from Eastern Washington University, and his degree afforded him the opportunity to work in jobs located in Virginia, Arizona, California and Oklahoma. He currently was employed at Boeing as a software engineer. Richard was a very spiritual and thoughtful man who, with his wife Linda, enjoyed serving in their church callings, such as Boy Scouts and Primary.

He was preceded in death by his mother and sister, Phyllis.

Richard is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda (Duvall); six sons, David and wife Tara, James and wife Melissa and their daughter, Ellie, Thomas and wife Kristen and their children, Kylie, Sariah and Natalie, Peter and wife Rebecca and their children, Pierson, Nathan, Emmett, Felicity (and one on the way), Paul and wife, Eva and their daughter, Carlie, Richard A. and wife Alyssa and their daughter, Ariana; and one daughter, Gina and her fiancé Travis Johnson. He was also survived by his father, Richard Elmer; brothers, Randall and Craig; sisters, Cherie and Patt; as well as many other family and friends.

Public viewing will be held on Friday, July 18, between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. at McNeil’s

Mustang Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 19, at the LDS Chapel, located at 925 W. Kentuck Drive in Mustang, with interment in Rexburg, Idaho.

 

Adda Leona Bortz was born near Wagoner, Okla. to Fitzhugh and Lydia Lancaster.

Adda was the oldest of six siblings born of Cherokee Indian decent. Her family lived in the country outside of Wagoner until 1928, when they moved to Oklahoma City for work. Adda married Dick Mauldin and had her daughter, Phyllis, in 1941.  In 1946, Dick died suddenly in an oil field accident. Adda went to work with her dad, Fitzhugh Lancaster, at Lancaster Grocery Store and had lots of great memories of that time. She then went to beauty school in the early 1950s and opened “Adda’s Beauty Shop” on 34^th and Byers in the house her brother Pete built for Adda and Phyllis. She beautified lots of neighborhood ladies for many years there.

In 1973, Adda married Alva Bortz, who she had known from church. They enjoyed years of traveling, gardening, doing woodwork, painting and teaching children’s Sunday school at Central Pentecostal Holiness Church. They moved to Mustang in 1990, where they attended The Bridge. After Alva passed away, Adda moved to The Arbor House in 2005, where she was a much loved member of that community.

Adda was preceded in death by her parents, Fitzhugh and Lydia Lancaster; first husband, Dick Mauldin; second husband, Alva Bortz; sister-in-law, Martha Lancaster; favorite and only son-in-law, Lee Holley; and younger sister, Patricia Geurin.

She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis Holley of Mustang; her granddaughter, Tammy Bales and husband Brian of Mustang; her great granddaughter, Lindsey Pittman and husband Philip; and great great grandson, Carter Pittman of Fort Gibson, Okla.; siblings, Verona Hunter of LaGrange, Texas, Pete Lancaster of Del City, Faye Mathis and husband Leroy of Oklahoma City and Bev Huston and husband Fred of Edmond; a brother-in-law, Ron Geurin of Oklahoma City; many nieces and nephews whom she adored; and many loving friends and employees of The Arbor House of Mustang, along with many loving friends and employees of Crossroads Hospice.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 21 at McNeil’s Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Kenneth McGee of The Bridge Church officiating.  Burial will be in Mustang cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.mcneilsmustangfs.com.

 

 

Ronnie Lynn Smith, age 53, of Southlake Texas, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 of a tragic car accident in Little Rock, Ark.

Ronnie was born on May 19, 1961 in Bentwaters, England to Homer and Sue Smith. He graduated high school from Western Heights in 1979 and continued his education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a degree in economics and business. He was married to Christine Aragon on July 23, 2000 in Laguna Beach, Calif. He was employed by Gallo Wine for 20 years and continued his career at China Mist Tea. Ron was a chef at heart and loved spending time in the kitchen. He enjoyed entertaining and spending time with friends and family. Ronnie was an incredibly loving, attentive, and supportive husband and dad. He will be remembered as a wonderfully caring son to his parents. His beautiful mind and heart will be missed and remembered forever.

Ronnie is survived by his wife, Christine and daughter, Lauren; parents, Homer and Sue Smith; sister, Latrisha Elders and brother-in-law, Jeffrey Elders; and nieces, Lauren and Alexa Elders.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Roy and Flora Willis and Minnie and Homer Smith, Sr.

Funeral arrangements are provided by McNeil’s Funeral Service and will be held at First Baptist Church of Mustang at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 18. Online condolences may be made at www.mcneilsmustangfs.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Albert John Cook, age 80, died Tuesday July 8, 2014. He was born Sept. 18, 1933 in Tonica, Ill. to Lewis and Anne (Bruch) Cook.

Al grew up near LaSalle, IL, where the family farmed. Al joined the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Korean War, where he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). After fulfilling his military duties, he returned to farming and raising livestock in central Illinois. In 1971, Al moved to Oklahoma and started Gulfco Industries with an Army buddy, manufacturing oil field equipment. After retiring from Gulfco in 1984, he opened Mustang Tire & Auto until his second retirement in 2002.  Al was a 33 degree Freemason and active member of the American Legion for 53 years.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, sister Shirley, and brother Richard.

He is survived by his wife, Paula of 39 years; his children, Cindy Cook, Peggy and husband Steve Byerly, David and wife Beth Cook, Angie and husband Conrad Caldwell and Michael Cook; 11 grandchildren and numerous cousins from central Illinois.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 14, at McNeil’s Mustang Funeral Service. Online condolences may be made at www.mcneilsmustangfs.com.

Leonard “Lenny” Wiley Fly II, age 40, of Mustang, died tragically and too soon on July 6, 2014 in Bryan County, Okla. He was born on May 14, 1974 in Fort Dix, New Jersey to Leonard and Wendy (Nork) Fly.

He went to high school at Mustang High. At the time of his death, he was a catastrophe adjuster for Worley Catastrophe, a home inspector with A to Z Inspections, and his true passion, a Women’s NCAA Softball Umpire.

Lenny was an avid outdoorsman, mechanic and self-made “Bob Villa.” Lenny loved music, dancing, inviting everyone in the world over to hang out and softball. But, more than anything else, Lenny’s life was his family. Whether it be cheering his little girls on at gymnastics or coaching his son in multiple sports, Lenny was involved. His gentle spirit, piercing blue eyes and big smile were contagious.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Shelby and Margaret Fly and Humbert and Hazel Vitalone; great uncles, Percy and Virgil Fly, Thomas William Crumpton and Winfield Lewis; great aunts, Vera, Fly, Helen Fly and Margaret Lewis; a brother, Daniel Fly; and sister, Stephanie Fly.

He leaves behind his wife, Heidi Fly, soul mate and love of his life. He also leaves four precious children, his “lil big man”, Karson (9 months); his princess and Daddy’s baby girl, Jayden (4); his “Cupcake”, Kennedy (8); and his “G-man” and sidekick, Garrett (13). He is also survived by his parents, of Mustang, and his sister, Kristen Brogan. He was more than just an uncle to his many nieces and nephews, especially his “lil helper,” McKinley Cliff-Bowie (7), who he loved and adored like his own.

Viewing will be held at McNeil’s Funeral home in Mustang, on Friday July 11, from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Services will be held Saturday, July 12, at Chisholm Heights Baptist Church at 11 a.m.

A memorial account in the name of his wife, Heidi Cliff-Fly, has been established at Prosperity Bank for his children. Contact Prosperity Bank for further information.

Online condolences may be made at www.mcneilsmustangfs.com.