WESTSIDE — Rev. John Thurman Stell, Jr.
Rev. John Thurman Stell, Jr. 86, of Owasso, Ok., went home to be with the Lord Jesus on October 14, 2010 in his home. He was born on June 3, 1924 in Shawnee, Ok to John Thurman Stell, Sr. and Effie Jane Turner Stell. He graduated from Shawnee High School and was a veteran of the Army Air Corp, serving during WWII. After serving 3 years in the South Pacific theater, he returned to Shawnee and attended Oklahoma Baptist University and the Neff Business School. He pastored churches in Arkansas and Oklahoma and spent over 30 years as a vocational evangelist. Many individuals and churches across the U.S. benefited from John’s teaching on prayer and faith. He was the author of Mentoring Men from the Prayer Closet. In 1968 John married Genevie Bredehoeft Stell, who lovingly cared for him especially in his last decade of poor health.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Effie Stell, and infant brother, Richard Franklin Stell, a son, Richard Bruce Stell, a daughter-in-law, Patsy Weeks Stell and a great grandchild, Angel.
He is survived by his wife, Genevie of 42 years; 2 sons: Johnny Ray Stell and wife Eunice of Meeker, Ok and Gary Alan Stell and wife Kari of Choctaw, Ok and daughter-in-law, Debbie Stell of Las Vegas, NV; 6 grandsons: Toby Stell and wife Stephanie of Texas; Darrin Stell and wife Samantha of Gentry, Ar; Kevin Stell and wife Brandi, Gentry, Ar; Shane Stell of LA; Gary Stell Jr. and wife Angela, Las Vegas, NV; and Toli Stell of Colorado. 4 granddaughters: Beth Stell Worthley and husband Chris of Meeker, Ok; Regina Stell Straut and husband B.J. of Bowling Green, Ky; Johnna Stell of Las Vegas, NV; Lyndsey Stell Maggard and husband John of Meeker, Ok. 19 great grandchildren: Shelby, Montana, Becka, Jack John, Corey, Megan, Patrick, Carson, Isaac, Shane Jr., Sadie, Lauren, Kaitlyn, Mary, Lyndsey, Cody, Corbin, and Caylee and 3 nieces: Donna Bredehoeft Rush and husband Bob of Decatur, Ar; Genie Bredehoeft Walters and husband Kemble of Houston, Tx and Judy Bredenhoeft Marquess and husband Steve of Bentonville, Ar.
Services were held 12:30 pm, Monday, October 18, 2010 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel, Broken Arrow with interment to follow. Longtime friend and Southern Baptist Convention Officer, Dr. John L. Yeats is officiating and vocational evangelist Rev. Harry Layden is assisting.
Viola Grace Browers
Viola Grace McKinney Browers, 90 of Decatur, died Oct. 17, 2010, at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale
She was born Oct. 10, 1920, in Craig, Colo., to Roy John McKinney and Stella B. Kern McKinney. She lived most of her life in Decatur. She was a mother and housewife and worked at Peterson Farms. She was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Gentry.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Marvin Browers, on April 19, 2004; one son, Jerry Browers of Conway; one brother, George McKinney of Longmont, Colo; and two grandsons.
Survivors include one son, Marvin Leroy Browers of Decatur; four daughters, Darlene McClellan of Lincoln, Vickie Shields of Joplin, Mo., Jeannie Browers of Denver, Colo., and Pam Duncan of Summers; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Gentry, with Larry Hendren and Ralph Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Falling Springs Cemetery, near Decatur.
Arrangements are by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Nona Evans
Nona Mae Ennis Evans, 75, of Rogers, died Oct. 13, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers.
She was born July 15, 1935, in Gentry, to Henry Ennis and Pearl Davis Ennis. She received her GED and became a professional licensed cosmetologist. She was the wife of Assembly of God Minister Donald Wayne Evans. She moved from Bixby, Okla., to Rogers 27 years ago.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Survivors include one son, Charles Wayne Evans and wife Patti of Alma; three daughters, Deborah Evans of the home, and Donna Dornan and husband Clint of Rogers, and Pam Caldwell and husband Ron of Summers; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Virginia McClelland of Gentry and Elsie Davison of Siloam Springs.
Funeral services were Oct. 15 at Wasson Memorial Chapel, Siloam Springs, with Danny Cheney and Brian Clark officiating. Burial followed at Springtown Cemetery in Springtown.
Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Dolores Taylor
Pearl Dolores Taylor, 79, of Siloam Springs, died Oct. 7, 2010.
She was born Aug. 2, 1931, in Wesley, Okla., to Albert Wayne and Pearl Belle Durant. She lived in Siloam Springs for more than 25 years. She also lived in California, South Carolina, Texas and Louisiana. She was a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Gourd Dance Society, and the Moose Lodge in Springdale. She worked for Arkansas State Bank for 10 years.
She was was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 39 years, Lucky Truman Taylor; her brother Elvin Wayne Durant; and her sister Winona Partain.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Taylor andwife Penny of Layton, Utah, and Larry Taylor and wife Lindy of Gentry; two daughters, Marsha Taylor of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Karen Taylor of Siloam Springs; a sister; 11 grandchildren; and 12 greatgrandchildren.
Arrangements were by Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.
Vola Ethel Weeks
Vola Ethel Weeks, 83, of Siloam Springs, died at her home on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010.
She was born April 18, 1927, in Decatur, to Harvey and Gertrude Browers. She was of the Baptist Faith, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and was church secretary for Harvard Avenue Baptist Church. Later in life, she attended Liberty Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James William Weeks; three brothers Marvin Browers, Emery Browers and Jack Browers; and a sister, Norma Allen.
Survivors Include three sons, Larry Don Weeks and wife Linda Ellen of Oklahoma City, Okla., Bruce Lynn Weeks and wife Celia Marie of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Mark James Weeks and wife Sarah of Carrollton, Texas; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Leta McKinney of Longmont, Colo.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Backstrom Pyeatte Chapel in Siloam Springs. Burial will be at the Baptist Mission Cemetery near Westville, Okla.
Arrangments are by Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Siloam Springs.
For the Record, Pages 4 on 10/20/2010