FAMILY OBITUARIES

GEORGE E. FLAHERTY

George Eugene "Gene" Flaherty, 66, longtime Okmulgee resident, died Thursday, May 18, 2000 at his home. He was born January 30, 1934 in Spiro, Oklahoma to Benjamin E. and Otta Gertrude (Keys) Flaherty.

He held a certificat of welding from the State of Wyoming.  He moved to Okmulgee from Wyoming 27 years ago.  He was of the Pentecostal faith and was active in Senior Citizen activities.  He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, two sisters, and 14 half-brothers and sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, of the home; a son Clayton Flaherty of Illinois; two daughters, Shanna Flaherty of Okmulgee and Wynona Davis and husband Scott of Ft. Gibson; one sister, Maggie Elnoire of Arkansas; seven grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and 12 step-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be Friday, May 19, at 10:00a.m. at the Okmulgee Cemetery.  The Rev. Terry Harmon and Rev. Guy Langston will officiate.  Services are under Direction of the Kelley Funeral Home. 

LAWRENCE ZIMMERMAN

Lawrence Emery Zimmerman, former resident of Lusk, died in the Douglas hospital Sunday, December 3, 1978.  Funeral service was conducted here from the Peet Mortuary Chapel Friday afternoon.

The Rev. Frank Bozart officiated at the service.  Taped music of "The Old rugged Cross" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" was played.

Pallbearers were Tom Rea, Jack Rea, Bill Rea, James Wade, Charles McKinney and Robert Zimmerman.  Interment was in the Bodarc Cemetery in Nebraska.

Lawrence Zimmerman was born February 13, 1911, at Harrison, Nebraska, the son of Irven and Mabel (Thayer) Zimmerman.  He attended school in Harrison and worked at various ranches in the Harrison area.  He was married to Doris Peterson at Crawford, Nebraska on March 5, 1936 and they moved to Lusk in 1938 where he worked as a carpenter and TV repairman.  He moved to Douglas in 1965.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.  He is survived by six children; Mable Wade of Lusk, Dorothy Flaherty of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Beverly Younie of Gillette, Larry Zimmerman of Denver, Colorado, Patty Irven of Lusk and Jm Zimmerman of Rock Springs; three sisters, Lily Grapes of Littleton, Colorado, Margaret Kipp of Santa Anna, California, and Clara Haworth of Lusk; 18 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

DORIS E. ZIMMERMAN 

Graveside services for Doris E. Zimmerman, Age 77, were held Tuesday, August 2, 1994, at the Lusk Cemetery with Rev. Sara Power officiating.

Mrs. Zimmerman died Thursday evening, July 28, 1994, at the Niobrara County Nursing Home in Lusk following a long illness.  She was born January 5, 1917, at Exeter, Nebraska, the daughter of Edgar and Ruth McLeese Peterson.  She attended school in Crawford, Nebraska, and graduated from Crawford high School in 1935.

On March 5, 1936, she married Lawrence Zimmerman and to this union six children were born.

Doris worked for various businesses in Lusk, including the Gambles Store, the Budget, Safeway and was secretary/dispatcher at the Lusk Police Department from which she retired in 1981.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter-in-law Mary Zimmerman; and a granddaughter, Rhonda Younie.

Survivors include: four daughters, Mable Wade of Lusk; Dorothy Flaherty of Cushing, Oklahoma; Beverly Younie and husband Curt of Lusk; and Patricia Irven and husband George of Gillette; two sons, Larry of Lusk and Jim and wife Brenda of Cheyenne; three sisters, Shirley Dierksen of Chadron, Nebraska; Avis Peterson and Gladys Peterson, both of Sidney, Nebraska; two brothers, Verle and Raymond Peterson of Torrence, California; seventeen grandchildren and twenty-nine great-grandchildren.

For those who wish, memorials to the family will be appreciated.

Bader Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  

LARRY I. ZIMMERMAN

November 30, 1945-January 1, 1999

Funeral services for Larry I. Zimmerman, age 53, was Tuesday, January 5, 1999 at the Bader Funeral Home in Lusk with Pastor Phil Stombaugh officiating.  Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Larry died Friday, January 1, 1999 at the Swedith Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, where he had been confined since October.  He was born November 30, 1945 in Lusk, Wyoming, the son of Lawrence and Doris Zimmerman.  On October 7, 1966 he married Mary Jane Bokamper and to this union one daughter was born, Melissa Sue.

Larry was seriously injured in a truck accident in May of 1979, which put him a wheelchair permanently.  He spent his time enjoying his family, drinking coffee with his friends, listening to his music and talking on the CB radio.

The biggest joy of his life and the apples of his eye were his grandchildren, Sara and C.J.  He was very proud of them and encouraged them constantly.  Anyone that met Larry knew that gleam in his eye.

His honesty, compassion, generosity and sense of humor will be missed by everyone that knew him.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and two nieces, Laura Fleck Ybarra and Rhonda Younie.

Survivors include his daughter Melissa Leach of Lusk; four sisters, Mable Wade of Lusk, Dorothy Flaherty of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Beverly Younie of Lusk and Patricia Irvin of Manville; one brother Jim Zimmerman of Nampa, Idaho; two grandchildren plus numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers for Larry were Dan Wade, Cody Zimmerman, Steve  Fleck, Don Savage, Larry Halligan and Darrel Frye.

For those who wish, memorials to the family will be appreciated.

Bader Funeral Home of Lusk was in charge of the arrangements. 

JERRY FLAHERTY

Jerry Edward Flaherty, 52, of Ozark, died Saturday, March 1, 2003.  He was born February 15, 1951 in Spiro, Oklahoma to Lewis Edward and Doris (Hatcher) Flaherty.  Graveside service was at 2p.m. Wednesday, March 5 at Peeveyhouse Cemetery in VanBuren and was officiated by Rev. Robin Hood under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home of Ozark.

He is survived by his mother, Doris Flaherty of Ozark; 11 sisters, Brenda Phillips of Hunt, Gloria Jane Bartsch of Subiaco, Linda O'Kula of Las Vegas, Nevada, JoAnn McMasters of Blue Mountain, Kathy Jackson of Ozark, Mary Moore of Clarksville, Angela Predmore of Alexander, Molly Brixie of Alexander, Otta Ruston of Alexander, Polly Henslee of Alexander, Doris Calhoun of California; five brothers, Lewis Flaherty of Lamar, Truman Charles Flaherty of Coal Hill, Jackie Flaherty of Altus, Steven Flaherty of Lavaca and Thomas Flaherty of Scranton.

Pallbearers were Charles Bartsch, Harold Phillips, Doyle Bowman, Randy Henslee, Ricky Jackson and Phillip Brixie.

Honorary pallbearers were brothers and nephews.  

ETHEL L. FLAHERTY

Ethel L. Flaherty, 80, of Spiro, passed away Saturday, June 22, 2002, in Arkoma.  She was born July 11, 1921 at Paris, Arkansas to Phillip Washington and Francis Pauline (Collins) Moore.  She was a homemaker.

She was preceded in Death by her husband, Thomas Albert Flaherty; two daughters, Collean Freeman and Francis Massey-Real; her parents; one sister; four brothers; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Survivors include four daughters, Lois Boone and Debra Johnson, both of Spiro; Marie Maida of Bauxite, Arkansas and Irene McKinney of Keota; two sons, Thomas Flaherty of Commerce and Curtis Flaherty of Spiro; 26 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1p.m. Tuesday, June 25 at the Birch Chapel Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Bryan Fouts officiating.  Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home of Spiro.  

RUTH MARIE 'PINKIE' FLAHERTY

Ruth Flaherty, 53, of Spiro died Thursday, July 10, 2003, in Fort Smith.  Graveside service will be 2p.m. Saturday at New Hope Cemetery in Spiro under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home of Spiro.

She is survived by her husband Curtis; a daughter, Kathleen Flaherty of Spiro; a son, Tommy Flaherty of Spiro; a sister, Tassa Drake of Sacramento, California; and a brother, William Massey of Reno, Nevada.  The body may be viewed at the funeral home.

RANDY MASSEY FLAHERTY

Randy Michael Massey Flaherty, 32, of Spiro died Saturday, January 22, 2000, in Spiro.  He attended the Calvary Southern Baptist Church in Spiro.

Funeral will be 10a.m. Friday in Mallory Funeral Home Chapel of Spiro, with burial at New Hope Cemetery in Spiro.

He is survived by his wife, Brigette; one daughter, Shantel Massey of the home; his parents, Ruth Massey and Curtis Flaherty of Spiro; his grandmother Ethel Flaherty of Spiro; one sister, Kathleen Flaherty of Spiro; and a brother Tommy Flaherty of Spiro.

CLEO MAY SOUTHERN

Graveside services for Cleo May Southern, 93, of Muldrow are being held at 2p.m. Wednesday at Sallisaw City Cemetery with the Rev. C. H. Ramey officiating.

Mrs. Southern was born August 3, 1904 in Muldrow, Sequoyah District Oklahoma, Indian Territory to George and Amy (Shaver) Keys.  She died Monday April 13, 1998 in Muldrow.  She married Wes Southern, who preceded her in death in 1958.

Survivors include one son, Hugh; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are under the direction of Agent Funeral Home in Sallisaw.

RUBY ANN LAYTON

Mrs. Ruby Ann Layton, age 64, died Saturday, January 29, 2000, at her home near Marianna.  Mrs. Layton was born December 11, 1935, in Oklahoma, to Leroy Brown and Viola Mae Flaherty Brown.  She was a housewife and a member of the Church of God.

She was preceded in death by her mother Viola Brown in January 2000, her father Leroy Brown in 1972, a son, bejamin Dearing in 1992, and two daughters, Opal Layton in 1967 and Shelia Layton in 1989.

She is survived by three sons, Thomas Layton of Bald Knob, Gary Layton and William Layton both of Marianna; a daughter, Cecilia Browning of McRae; six brothers, willie Brown of Monroe, Roy Brown of Oklahoma, Lewis Brown of Danville, Johnnie Brown of Houston, Joddie Brown and David Brown both of Marianna; four sisters, Mary Walker and Dorothy Ables both of Marianna, Alice Marshall of Searcy, and Ruth Hollis of Harrisburg; and 12 grandchildren.

Visitation will be held today, Monday, January 31, from 4 to 5p.m. at Morgan Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 1, 2000 at 10a.m. at the Church of God in Marianna with Rev. Ken Walls officiating.  Burial will follow at Marianna Memorial Park under the direction of Morgan Funeral Home.

MABEL C. HAWORTH

Lusk - Funeral services for Mabel C. Haworth, 83, will be 10 a.m. Wed. November 15 at the Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home, with Rev. Tom Strock officiating.  Interment will follow in the Lusk Cemetery.

She died Wednesday at the Hospice Care Life Center in Casper after a short battle with cancer.

She was born on July 18. 1917 in Bordac, Nebraska to Irven and Mabel (Dout) Zimmerman; she was the youngest of six children.  She attended school in Harrison and after graduating high school, she attended the Business College in Omaha, Nebraska.  She married Howard Haworth on December 14, 1936.  She enjoyed life, her family and friends.  She especially enjoyed bowling, playing cards and attending her many club meetings.

She was survived by three grandchildren and their spouses, C.J. and Mike Allington of Douglas, Jack Rea and his wife of Hanceville, Alabama and Bill Rea and his wife of Lusk; seven great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard, an infant son, Irven, her daughter Villa, her parents, three brothers and two sisters.

A memorial has been established to the Hospice Life Center in Casper or the Niobrara Senior Center in Lusk.

Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  

FLAHERTY--In San Jose, California on December 7, 1958, Mr. Robert A. Flaherty beloved husband of  Essie Flaherty of San Jose; loving father of Mr. Clarence R. Flaherty of Los Angeles, Mr. Elwood Flaherty of Marysville, and Mrs. Pauline Simmons of Vacaville; brother of Mrs. Lottie Raby of San Jose, Mrs. Cynthia Weaver and Martha Sherfield both of Oklahoma, and Mr. Perry Flaherty of Arkansas; a native of Missouri aged 78 years.

Funeral services Tuesday, December 9, 1958, at 2 p.m. from Chapel of Roses, Oak Hill Memorial Park.  Friends may call at Oak Hill Mortuary, 300 Stone Avenue.  Interment Oak Hill Memorial Park.

CLARENCE FLAHERTY   

Funeral Services will be today for Clarence R. Flaherty, 61, of 3041 Walter St., who died Monday after a sudden illness.

The husband of Pauline Flaherty, he had lived in Santa Clara County for 36 years.  He was a native of Oklahoma.

Other survivors include his mother, Mrs. Essie Flaherty and son Robert, both of San Jose, and daughters Mrs. Arlene Mason of Sallinas, Mrs. Joyce Thornley of Oregon, Mrs. Pat Black of Roseville and Mrs. Jeanie McKinney of Oregon.

Others are brothers Gene Flaherty of Piedmont and Elwood Flaherty of Marysville, sister Mrs. Pauline Simmons of San Jose and 13 grandchildren.

Services will be at 11:30 a.m. from Oak Hill Mortuary's Chapel of Roses.  Interment will be in Oak Hill Memorial Park.

JAMES FLAHERTY

Spiro--James Edward Flaherty, 69, of Spiro died Monday, February 28, 2000, in Fort Smith.  He was a member of the American Legion and veteran of the Korean War.  He was in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.

Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Janet of Spiro, four daughters, Cheryl Belfy of Temperance, Mich., Diane Kuhn of Perrysburg, Ohio, Merrie-Ann Ferow of Maumee, Ohio and Carrie Anderson of Batavia, Ohio; three sons, Robert Webber of Lima, Ohio, Daniel Webber of Perrysburg and David Webber of Toledo, Ohio; and eight grandchildren.

The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

BENJAMIN WINSTON FLAHERTY

04-18-1930 - 07-13-1999

Ben W. (Silver Eagle) Flaherty, 69, of Bokoshe, died Tuesday, July 13, 1999 in a local nursing home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, several brothers and sisters and a daughter Sherrie Angel Flaherty.

He is survived by four daugthers, Deborah (Rosalee) Hawkins, Jewell Pauline Flaherty (Morseth), Jewell Pauline Flaherty Dart and Lula Angel Flaherty Brueski; two sons, Kenneth and James Wilson; two sisters, Maggie Shaver and Viola Brown; one brother Eugene Flaherty; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Vanessa Cheyenne.

Graveside services will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, July 15, at New Hope Cemetery in Spiro, with burial following there.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mallory Funeral Home. Spiro. 

MAGGIE (FLAHERTY) SHAVER

Maggie Shaver, 86, of Fort Smith died Tuesday, November 11, 2003, in a local hospital.  She was born January 12, 1917, in Crawford County.  She was a homemaker and of the Jehovah Witness faith.

Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Lewis Funeral Chapel in Fort Smith with burial at Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith.

She is survived by two daughters, Margie Bryant of Fort Smith and Edna Shurley of Muldrow; a son Kenith Shaver of Billings, Montana; 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Kevin and Russell Sanders, Troy and Tim Bryant, Phillip Newcomb and Terry Freeze.

KENNETH OWEN WILSON

Kenneth was my cousin and the son of Benjamin Winston and Verna Marie Pace Flaherty.  He was adopted by a family named Wilson.  I met him at the funeral of his father Benjamin Flaherty.  Below is his obituary.

Kenneth Owen Wilson, age 43, Joplin, passed away Monday, September 29, 2003, from injuries sustained in an accident.

Kenneth was born on October 17, 1959, in Hope, Arkansas, the son of the late Benjamin Flaherty.  He worked as a Class I Painter for Water Tower Maintenance, Inc.  He served in the United States Army.

He married Judy Brayman in November, 1993 in Joplin.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Wilson, of Joplin; one daughter Patricia McGonigal and her husband, Kelly, Carl Junction, Mo.; one brother James Wilson and his wife, Bregetta, Clarkston, Wash.; one sister, Laura Morseth, Bokoshe, Okla.; seven grandchildren, Michael McKinistry, whom he was raising as his son, Amber Edwards, Kelly Edwards, Kimberly Edwards, Shelia Starchman, Jonathan McGonigal and Greg Adamson; and four nieces, Jose Wilson, Kitrisha Wilson, Jewell Morseth and Tiffany Morseth.  He was preceded in death by one son, Todd McKinistry.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary, Jamie Lankford, minister, will officiate.  Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary.

MARTHA JANE (FLAHERTY) SHUFFIELD

Entered into eternal rest December 4, 1972

Seagraves (Special)--Services for Mrs. Martha Jane Shuffield, 94, are set for 2:00 pm Friday in the Church of God with Rev. Clyde Clark, Pastor officiating.  Mrs. Shuffield died Monday night in a Temple nursing home.

 Burial will be in Seagraves Cemetery under the direction of Webb Funeral Home.

Mrs. Shuffield was a native of Cashville, Missouri and a long time resident of Lawton, Oklahoma.

Survivors include three sons H.P. Shuffield of Seagraves,  J.R. Shuffield of Stinnett and C.J. Clark of Fritch; a daughter Mrs. Lottie Dennis of California; two sisters, Mrs. Lottie Raby of San Jose, California and Mrs. Cynthia Weaver of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; 24 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.