Mary T. "Mollie" Hardwick

Notes:

Viki Anderson "Viki's Little Corner of the Web," http://www.roark-family.org/ shows that John David and Francis Dunephine had a child between 1872 and 1874. Jon Eastman Hardwick, in his article in "Pioneers of Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory Volume II" writes that John David Hardwick and Frances Dunephin "had a DAUGHTER, name not known." (Emphasis added).

It appears that this daughter must be Mary T. "Mollie" Hardwick, born 23 Oct 1872 in Indian Territory. Mollie married Thomas Bunker Payne in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, in 1891. She died in 1893, leaving behind her husband and one son, Thomas Hamilton Payne II. Thomas Bunker Payne later enrolled in the Chickasaw Nation based on his marriage to Mollie.

The actual marriage license between Thomas and Mary shows her last name as HARDWICK. Thomas B. Payne's application for enrollment in the Chickasaw Nation by marriage shows the name as HARDRICK. That spelling appears to be incorrect.

All circumstantial evidence points to this being the only family into which Mary "Mollie" Hardwick, the wife of Thomas B. Payne, could fit. However, there is not as yet any definative proof. PLEASE EMAIL US at stxstrong@gmail.com if you can provide more information about the child of John David Hardwick and Sarah Dunephine, and/or help us prove or disprove that this child was Mary T. "Mollie" Hardwick.

Mary married Thomas Bunker Payne on 11 Jul 1891 in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory. Thomas (son of Thomas Hamilton Payne and Martha Jane Marshall) was born on 24 Nov 1864 in Shelby County, Missouri; died on 11 Oct 1906 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried in Marlow Cemetery, Marlow, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas's mother died when he was just three months old. His father remarried shortly after he turned six. Sometime after his father's remarriage, Thomas was sent to Decatur, Texas to attend school. His daughter, Anna Laura Payne, believes this school was run by Jesuits. While he was away at school, about six months after his thirteenth birthday, his father died "of a long and lingering illness like consumption." Before he turned 17, Thomas's stepmother died as well. Within the next ten years, both of his younger half-brothers died tragically. In spite of suffering these many significant losses, Thomas was a gregarious and outgoing person with many friends. He loved to hunt and be in the outdoors.

Ken Harvey wrote "Tom was musical and learned to play the piano by ear. He seemed, throughout his life, to have had little sense of responsibility or of time. As a boy he would often disappear and be found, for example, asleep in a field. His father often had to saddle up his horse and go and get him when he was missing from home as a child."

Harvey continued "In the First World War Tommy served in the 90th Division US Army alongside his double cousin Carl. Tommy used to collect enemy arms after a military action, Carl reported, even though he was not allowed to keep them. He could be seen staggering across the battlefield weighed down, dropping a weapon from the pile he clutched when he saw another gun he preferred better. He was a marksman who shot left-handed. He had been excused from further army rifle practice in basic training, and allowed to fire holding the gun as he wished, when it was discovered how accurate his aim was."

Daughter Anna Laura reported that her father did not go oversees until after the Armistice, he was part of the later occupaying forces. She remembers waving to him from the train station as he departed for the service. After he returned from overseas, Thomas resumed his farming and ranching operations in Stephens county.

Charles Strong reports that Tom lost his land in the late 1920's, after the bottom fell out of the cattle market. He had borrowed money against his ranch from a bank in Wichita, Kansas to raise a herd of cattle. A couple of years later, when they had fully matured, he shipped them by freight train to Chicago to be sold. The market crashed, and the sale of his cattle didn't raise enough even to pay the freight charges that were due on his shipment. To avoid foreclosure, Tom arranged to sell his land holdings to Leonard Ketchum. Ketchum paid him a few thousand dollars in cash, and also assumed to notes that were due on the land, a fair and gracious offer that helped keep Tom on his feet.

Tom used this stake to homestead for a while in Wyoming, thinking this would give him a fresh start. He thought it a great adventure. Bessie was horrified. Charles Strong recalls that Bessie's initial impression of the Wyoming homesteads was favorable. She admired both the large screened in porches, and long clothes lines. Her admiration turned to stark terror, however, when she learned that the screened in porches were actually set up so the children had somewhere to play away from the rattlesnakes. She also came to realize that long lines between the homes and barns weren't for clothers. They were set up so that you wouldn't get lost and freeze to death going between your barn and your home in the case of a sudden blizzard. At Bessie's urging, they soon moved back to Oklahoma.

These setbacks eventually became too much for Tom. One day he simply disappeared, leaving Bessie and his children behind. Unbeknownst to them, he moved to California. This is how he was listed at the time of the 1930 Federal Census:

California, Los Angeles, Signal Hill, ED 1509
Taylor, Joseph A Hd M W 40 M @ 25 Calif Ill Ind Assistant Operator Gasoline Plow
Taylor, Mary A Wife F W 45 M @ 30 NY NY Ireland
Crossen, Albert Lodger M W 22 S Cal Cal Iowa Rotary Helper
Stamper, Edgar A Lodger M W 34 S Oklahoma Tenn Iowa Rotary Helper Garlington, Robert Lodger M W 35 D Alabama Georgia Alabama Rotary Helper Price, Sterling Lodger M W 49 M California Missouri Missouri Pumper Harris, Abbot B Lodger M W 31 D Pennsylvania Ireland Nebraska Promoter O&G
PAYNE, THOMAS Lodger M W 37 M @ age 20 Ok Missouri Ok Rotary Helper

The occupations of the lodgers in both the Taylor lodging home, and in the homes of their immediate neighbors, made it clear he was part of the booming oil and gas industry in California. In 1900, the state of California produced 4 million barrels. By 1910, this had jumped to 77 million barrels. In the 1920's three new major fields were discovered in rapid succession - Huntington Beach (1920), Santa Fe Springs (1921), and the biggest of them all, the Signal Hill, where Thomas lived. By April 1922, only 10 months after completion of the discovery well, Signal Hill was covered with 108 wells, producing 14,000 barrels daily. By the fall of 1923, 259,000 barrels of crude was being produced every day from nearly 300 wells. Signal Hill was the biggest field the already productive Southern California region had ever seen....this made California the nation's number-one producing state, and in 1923, California was the source of one-quarter of the world's entire output of oil!

(http://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/history/signal_hill/signal_hill2.html)

Tom appeared to be in the Long Beach area for well over a decade. In August, 1943, he filed a document with the Long Beach, California Selective Service board. It was a request for permission to depart the United States to visit the country of Alaska, which was not yet a state. He was in the employ of Guy F. Atkinson Co of San Francisco, a heavy construction company. As the nature of his business was listed as "confidential," it is likely he was involved in a civil engineering project in Alaska related to the war effort.

Back home in Oklahoma, in September 1950, his family had him declared legally dead so they could probate his estate and apply for benefits based on his enrollement in the Chickasaw tribe. Daughter Lois Marie Payne was named executor. Because they had not heard from him in over twenty years, they had no idea if he was still living.

Tom remained in the Pacific Northwest after the second World War, working as a civil servant at various Air Force Bases in and around Alaska. When he became terminally ill, the Red Cross reconnected Tom and his family in Oklahoma, via letters, prior to his death.

On the Standard Certificate of Death, State of Oregon, Thomas H. Payne is shown as having died at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon on December 12, 1957. His usual residence is shown as Palmer, Alaska, and his usual occupation is shown as Laborer. It appears that his marital status was subject to some question. It looks as if the "divorced" box was originally checked, and then scribbled over. The "married" box is checked, and the name of his spouse is shown as Mrs. Bessie Payne. The date of birth is given as March 20, 1893, and his birthplace is shown as Marlow, Oklahoma. Mother and Father are shown as "unknown." It is noted that he was a Veteran of World War I, and that the information on the death certificate was taken from his VA records. The certificate was signed by W.A Haug, MD, Asst. Pathologist. The funeral director was A.J. Rose and Son of Portland, and the cemetery or crematorium being Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. A telegraph regarding his death was sent the next day to Anna Laura Strong in Duncan.

His gravesite information is below:

PAYNE, THOMAS H PVT US ARMY WORLD WAR I
DATE OF BIRTH: 03/20/1893
DATE OF DEATH: 12/12/1957
BURIED AT: SECTION H SITE 2888 WILLAMETTE NATIONAL CEMETERY

http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/willamette.htm

11800 SE MT. SCOTT BOULEVARD PORTLAND, OR 97266 (503) 273-5250

Anna Laura Strong also received a letter from Mrs. Earle W. Barry, Star Route, Palmer, Alaska some eight months after her father died. She had apparently written Mrs. Barry regarding some trouble they were having in regards to an insurance settlement. Mrs. Barry informed her that she had "never heard him mention a divorce at any time and I believe I would have heard tell about it some time when he was under the influence of liquor. He was in California before he came to Alaska. The boys met him in Amchitka Island that was an Army base, the last was Ladd Field...near Fairbank, before that he was (at) Eidson Base. I am sending some papers that were laying around. Hope they will help you. Tom was a good man. His worst enemy was liquor."

Among Tom's personal effects that were returned to his family were his wallet and four photographs: two of the photos were of co-workers, Lee H. Talley of Iowa and Richard Neal of Missouri; one photo of Tom himself in outdoor gear; and a studio portrait of "Marie and Midge." Richard Neal inscribed his photo, taken at Amchitka Base Headquarters, "To a very good Pal from a Boiler house cook." Marie inscribed her portrait, dated 1944, as well, saying that although it was "not a good picture" of either her or Midge, she thought Tom might wish to cut it down to fit his wallet. He chose to keep it intact.

His brown Norwegian Cowhide wallet contained several money order receipts, a blank check from the First National Bank of Fairbanks, receipts for funds he received as a VA patient in Oregon (claim #1431661), his 1956-1957 Alaska Resident Hunting License, an National Rifle Association of America Membership card, a Veterans of Foreign Wars Ballard Post 3063 card, a membership card from the Ladd AFB Civilian Club of Fairbanks, his U.S. Civil Service Commission retirement card dated May 6, 1957 (#CSA-466-659), his union card from the National Federation of Federal Employees Local 899, a receipt for a .22 caliber rifle, and a business card from the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, based in Philadelphia. On the back of this card was written "Benjamin Constant, Amazona Brasil, S.A.".

A few pieces of correspondence were returned as well. Among these were his 1943 permit to leave the US for Alaska; a 1948 letter from the IRS--mailed to Tom in Seattle--regarding a $32 refund on the 1946 taxes; a "Notification of Personnel Action from Ladd AFB," dated July 8, 1955, showing Tom's change in title from Stationary Boiler Fireman to Heating Equipment Fireman. His grade, WB-54-02-09, and his salary ($2.94 per hour) remained unchanged. Also saved were his separation from duty papers dated 20 May 1957. It showed that he was retiring due to disability, and that his permanent home address would be in care of Earl W. Barry of Palmer, Alaska. A prescription for various drugs to treat his bronchogenic carcinoma was included as well, signed by E. Dank, Capt. USAF, of Todd AFB. He also saved his acceptance as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Ironically, his VFW Life Member card (No. 4427), also in his effects, was dated 1-1-1958, two weeks after his death.

These effects, as meager as they seem, were treasured by his daughters, and remained in 2005 in the position of his granddaughter, Lynn (Payne) Moroney of Oklahoma.

He was 1/32 Indian by blood through his mother. He appears as No. 3686 upon the "lists prepared by the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes under the Act of Congress approved July 1, 1902 (32 Stat., 641), of persons entiled to enrollment as citizens by blood of the Chickasaw Nation and approved by the Secretary of the Interior December 12, 1902". Because of this, he was first alloted land when he was only eleven years old in Tishomingo, Indian Territory on July 9, 1904, Section 29, Town IN, Range 5W, 160 acres in total with a value of $1,040. (Cert # 8801, Cert 11253).

Thomas married Bessie Bird Gentry on 27 Dec 1912 in Stephens County, Oklahoma. Bessie (daughter of James Edwin Gentry and Elzada Trawick) was born on 14 Dec 1894 in Alma, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory; died on 3 May 1958 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; was buried in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Member of the Chickasaw Nation. Her father, Thomas Hamilton Payne (Original Enrollee #3686) was a Chickasaw by blood.

It is believed she was named after the popular Scottish Folk ballad, Annie Laurie. Her nickname, "Roonie" was also a product of popular culture, based on the Little Annie Rooney comic strip that ran during the depression.

Anna Laura was baptized in 1922, her sponsors being her Aunt and Uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Sparks. According to a brochure from the Church of the Assumption, Duncan, commemorating Religious Heritage Day on Sunday, June 28, 1992, "Both sides of Anna Laura (Roonie) Strong's family history intertwines in their settlement of Duncan before the 1900's. Her Uncle John and Aunt Annie Sparks O'Neil's home, presently the Phil Leonard home, was used regularly for masses before the first church was built in 1909. Roonie attended the first parochial school, "Joan of Arc", which had been built by one of the outstanding parish priests, Fr. J.A. Garvey, and run by Sisters of Divine Providence."

After their father left home, Bessie had trouble making enough money to support her family. When Anna Laura was 15, she and Fay were sent to Saint Elizabeth Academy, an Orphanage and Boarding School for Native American Girls in Purcell, Oklahoma. Anna Laura remembers the long train ride being frightening. Although the distance from Duncan to Purcell was not particulary long, it was a freight train and made numerous long stops. It was very late at night before they finally arrived, and they had long since finished the sack lunch their mother had made them. Lois joined them at the school when she was old enough. Both Anna Laura and Faye graduated from St. Elizabeth's. Lois returned to Duncan to live with Anna Laura, and she graduated from Duncan High School.

Anna Laura's graduation was on the 26 of May in 1931. Her diploma was signed by Rev. Jacques Van Castel, Sister Adelhelma, Sister Theresa and Sister Lena. The nuns were members of the Sisters of St. Francis. Sister Lena had arrived at St. Elizabeth between 1889 and 1890.

Sisters Adelhelma and Lena were from Germany. Sister Lena worked in the kitchen and Roonie had been assigned to help her. She recalls the day Sister Lena accidentally dropped her rosary while cooking and loudly proclaimed, "Mein Lord and Mein Gott! I dropped my Jesus in the Soup." Sister Lena presented this same rosary to Anna Laura as a graduation gift, in memory of the work and faith they had shared. An article about the history of this school is contained under the "research" tab of these notes.

When Roonie's children were all school age, she returned to work. She was the head cook at first the parochial school in Duncan, and later at Duncan Junior High School. She held this position for approximately 20 years.

Roonie and her sisters Fay and Lois remained close friends throughout their adult lifes, often traveling together.

The Duncan Banner, Sept. 16, 2004 Anna Laura 'Roonie' Payne Strong

Anna Laura "Roonie" Payne Strong, 90, of Duncan, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in her home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Assumption Catholic Church with the Rev. Victor John officiating. Burial will be in Duncan City Cemetery, under direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home.

A rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home chapel. Roonie was born Oct. 23, 1913, in Alma (sic) to Thomas H. and Bessie Gentry Payne. She married Homer Richard Strong on Oct. 23, 1931 (sic), in Waurika. He preceded her in death on Sept. 19, 1990.

Roonie was a graduate of St. Elizabeth's Academy in Purcell in 1931. She later attended Duncan Business School. She was employed by the Duncan Public School System for 28 years before retiring.

She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir for 60 years and was a member of the Ladies' Altar Society. She was also a member of the Fatima Study Club and was a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.

She was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother.

Survivors include five sons and spouses: Charles and Pat Strong of Edinburg, Texas, Bill and Betty Strong of Yukon, Tom and Vickie Strong of Laveen, Ariz., and John and Brenda Strong, and Paul David and Jane Strong, all of Duncan; a daughter, Caroline Brasher of Duncan; a sister, Lois Marie Payne Hanna of Oklahoma City; 22 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Theresa Marie Rutledge; a great-granddaughter, Alexandra Kathrine Brasher in 1994; and a sister, Fay Pierce Yeager. Bearers will be her grandsons.Memorial contributions may be made to Chisholm Trail Hospice, P.O. Box 2000, Duncan, OK 73534-2000.

(Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

(Research):BELOW IS A TRANSCRIPTION OF AN ARTICLE ABOUT ST. ELIZABETH'S ACADEMY

A PIONEER PASSES
By Mary Jo Turner
Sunday, August 15, 1948
The Daily Oklahoman
D-Three

Purcell, Aug. 14-Historic St. Elizabeth's convent, which for 60 years played a vital part in cultural development of Indian territory and early growth and education of Oklahoma, is closing its doors September 1 for lack of funds.

Founded in February, 1888, one year before Oklahoma was opened to settlement and barely a year after Purcell was established as a junction point on the Santa Fe, it is one of Oklahoma's most famous old schools.

The spacious, roomy, two-storied frame building, set in a grassy plot with a peaceful background of slender poplars, elms and cedars, is still a thing of considerable beauty. For many years it was the only educational landmark in an unsettled area, and the sight of students playing about its grounds, supervised by the black-robed nuns, against the bright southwestern skies, has become familiar to nearly all Oklahomans who have lived here any length of time.

When St. Elizabeth's convent was founded, in 1888, Purcell was a part of the Chickasaw nation of the old Indian territory, and the gateway to the great ranching empire which lay to the west and south. The country then was all pastureland, heavily wooded and a ranch of 10,000 to 20,000 acres was commonplace. Most of the settlers were Chickasaws, but here were also Choctaw families, and a good many white settlers. All were eager to send their children to school and the news that St. Elizabeth's convent had opened in Purcell was welcomed far and wide. Families packed their children and brought them to board and room at the convent, or if there was no space there, boarded them in homes and they attended day school.

Three eager young nuns, all now dead, of the Order of St. Francis, made their way west from Philadelphia and arrived in Purcell on Feb. 14, 1888. They were the late Sister Barbara, Sister Mary Joachim and Sister Patricia. At the time there was under construction a three-room frame building on the same lot where the Benedictine priests had built a one-room church. Sunday services were conducted in the church which on week days was converted into two school rooms by hanging a heavy carpet to form a partition. In one room a Miss Fritch taught the boys, whil in the other room Sister Mary Patricia taught the girls. By November, however, the new three-room frame building was completed and enrolment consisted of 120 pupils. Ages of these pupils ranged from 6 to 18 years. Soon, there were 25 boarders, then 50. The one-room frame building was used for boys.

Money for the grounds, buildings and teachers was paid for by Miss Katherine Drexel of the wealthy Philadelphia Drexel family. She had become interested in educating the Indians through the efforts of Father Vincent Jolly, O.S.B., who taught at the Sacred Heart academy situated in unsettled wilderness in what is now Pottawatomie county. Father Jolly, accompanied by Father William Capital, took turns in coming to Purcell to hold services. Father Jolly told Miss Drexel of the Indian boys and girls who needed educational opportunities, and described the great wilderness, which pioneers were still to conquer. One church was unable to bear the expense. But Miss Drexel could and did for 60 years.

Miss Drexel furnished money for the grounds, buildings and early support, and a new building site was selected in 1891 by the Very Rev. Ignatius Jean, Benedictine priest, while Rev. F. Steven, director of the Indian bureau, gave the plans of the building to Miss Drexel. At her instigation, Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia designated the Sisters of St. Francis of the Philadelphia Foundation, Mother House in Glen Riddle, Pa., to take charge of the mission. Miss Drexel also offered to pay of the sister's support.

In an area known as Love's pasture, named for the late Robert Love, Purcell's founder, who proved to be very helpful to the new school, ground was broken and the building erected which still stands today. On the second floor near the chapel is a bronze plaque dedicated to the founder, the late Father Vincent Jolly.

In the summers of 1889 and 1890, three more sisters, Sister Valentine, Sister Lena, and Sister Ludemiller joined the little bands of nuns and in 1891, Sister Mary Teresa, who is now the only one of the early group left, came to teach.

Sister Teresa, now the Sister Superior of St. Elizabeth's convent, is 80. She is small of stature, being only 4 feet 9 inches in height and is slender and frail. Born in Philadelphia Ja. 29, 1868, she was an only child of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Caterson, also natives of Philadelphia. In May, 1888, she took her vows at Our Lady of Angels convent at Glen Riddle, Pa., and taught one year in Wilmington, Pa. The death of her mother the next year left her free for her appointment ot the new convent in the Indian territory. On the way to the new town of Purcell, she has two companions, twos sisters who were going to the missions near Pawhuska in the Osage nation. She she came alone from St. Louis and arrived at Purcell on Sept. 4, 1891, just in time to see the ground being broken for the present site.

Government support by which the Indian girls' tuition was paid in part by the government was withdrawn in 1932......(Causing the sisters) to run the institution on practically no income except from Miss Drexel. For some time the sisters kept the girls without government aid from their own slender resources as teachers. Continued maintenance was impossible during these depressing days. This meant that the girls representing the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee and Pottawatomie tribes as well as others in all probability would be deprived of an eduation.

However, through the mediation of George C. Wells, at that time supervisor of Indian education, Oklahoma district, and Chief Dwight, chief of the Choctaw nation, a contract of 10 was received. But things have changed during the "war" years. There is a scarcity of teachers and enrollment is down. All in all, it seemed best to close the doors.

So historic St. Elizabeth is closing its doors. And good little Sister Superior Teresea will teach no more. She will take a long rest. She would like to spend the rest of her life in Purcell but will go where the church decrees.

(Medical):mtDNA Results (based on test of a child of Anna Laura PAYNE, a direct female descendant of Mary Richardson).

Your Haplogroup and mutations relative to the Cambridge Reference Sequence (CRS) are shown below. A value of CRS indicates no mutations. High resolution (HVR2) results are shown only if you have requested the mtDNAPlus or mtDNA Refine test. If you ordered a Mega mtDNA the Coding Region (CR) will be displayed below.

As you go through your mtDNA results, we strongly encourage you to read the ?u?mtDNA Results Tutorial ?/u? that we have put together in the form of frequently asked questions about mtDNA results.
HVR1 Haplogroup J

HVR1 differences from ?u?CRS
?/u?16069T
16126C
16209C
16265G
16319A

?b?Haplogroup Description?/b? J* Specific mitochondrial haplogroups are typically found in different regions of the world, and this is due to unique population histories. In the process of spreading around the world, many populations-with their special mitochondrial haplogroups-became isolated, and specific haplogroups concentrated in geographic regions. Today, we have identified certain haplogroups that originated in Africa, Europe, Asia, the islands of the Pacific, the Americas, and even particular ethnic groups. Of course, haplogroups that are specific to one region are sometimes found in another, but this is due to recent migration. The mitochondrial haplogroup J contains several sub-lineages. The original haplogroup J originated in the Near East approximately 50,000 years ago. Within Europe, sub-lineages of haplogroup J have distinct and interesting distributions. Haplogroup J* -the root lineage of haplogroup J-is found distributed throughout Europe, but at a relatively low frequency. Haplogroup J* is generally considered one of the prominent lineages that was part of the Neolithic spread of agriculture into Europe from the Near East beginning approximately 10,000 years ago.

Anna married Homer Richard Strong on 23 Feb 1932 in Waurika, Jefferson County, Oklahoma. Homer (son of Walter Winfield Strong and Terezie Rose "Tessie" Soukup) was born on 29 Feb 1908 in Junction City, Comanche County, Oklahoma; died on 19 Sep 1990 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried on 22 Sep 1990 in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Duncan Banner Mar 12, 2002

Dora Fay Pierce Yeager

Dora Fay Pierce Yeager, 87, of Oklahoma City died Thursday, March 7, 2002, in Oklahoma City.

Service was held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Assumption Catholic Church in Duncan, with the Rev. Donald Wolf officiating. Burial was in the Duncan Cemetery under the direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home. Mrs. Yeager was born on Jan. 30, 1915 , in Duncan to Thomas H. and Bessie Gentry Payne.

She married Edward R. Pierce, who preceded her in death in 1951. She then married George Yeager in 1965. He preceded her in death in 1977.

She was a homemaker and also worked as a bookkeeper.

She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church. She is survived by one daughter, Lynn Moroney of Oklahoma City; two sisters, Anna Laura Strong of Duncan and Lois Payne Hanna of Oklahoma City. She was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas H. Payne III; a sister, Patty Gay Payne; and her parents. Grandchildren include Siobhan Moroney of Highland Park, Ill.; and Tracy Moroney of Studio City, Calif. Great-grandchildren are Michael Moroney and Anne Green of Highland Park, Ill.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas H. Payne III; and a sister, Patty Gay Payne.

(Transcription courtesy of Lynell Cordell).

Avid genealogist, and gathered much of the information contained in these files.

Dora married Edward Roscoe Pierce on 27 Mar 1935 in Jefferson County, Oklahoma. Edward (son of James William Mills Pierce and Alice Emaline Tussey) was born on 15 May 1909 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; died about 1951 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Dora married George Yeager about 1965. George was born before 1915; died in 1977. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Duncan Weekly Banner
Friday, Jan. 19, 1917
Born - To Mr. and Mrs. Tom Payne, east of town, Wednesday, Jan. 17, a fine twelve pound boy. Congratulations are in order.

Thomas was educated in a boarding school/orphanage for Native American boys after his father left the family. It was a different school than that attended by his sisters, whom all attended St. Elizabeth's in Purcell.

Thomas H. Payne, Jr. Chief Petty Officer

Thomas H. Payne, jr. son of Mrs. Bessie Payne, 915 Oak, has been promoted to the rank of chief petty officer in the U.S. Maritime Service. his address now is Los Angeles, California, and he is stationed at west coast ports. Payne attended Duncan High School. He formerly was employed by Lynn COURSEY. (Undated, unreferenced news clipping, courtesy of Fay Payne Yeager).

Information from the California Death Index at Rootsweb.com:

Payne, Thomas Hardrick Mother's Maiden Name: Gentry Born: January 17, 1917 in Oklahoma Died: 4/12/1997 Shasta County, California SSN: 549-01-5512 Age: 80 years

Great nephew Tom Strong recalls that Thomas Payne worked as a butcher in California.

Thomas married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ken Harvey writes that she studied to be an attorney "but married one instead." She worked as a secretary in Oklahoma City.

Attended Saint Elizabeth Academy, an Orphanage and Boarding School for Native American Girls in Purcell, Oklahoma. She graduated from Duncan High School, however, in 1938. She told Lynell Cordell she had only one skirt and two sweaters to wear throughout her entire senior year.

The Duncan Banner - Monday, April 25, 1949 Marlow News - Pg. 5 Miss Lois Marie Payne of Oklahoma City was a guest of Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Gregston Sunday. (Courtesy of Lynell Cordell)

Obituary
Chickasaw Times, January 2014, Page 21

Lois (Marie) Payne Hanna

Lois (Marie) Payne Hanna died November 20, 2013 at the Lakes Nursing Facility in Oklahoma City, after a long struggles with Alzheimer's disease and a short battle with congestive heart failure.

She was born February 10, 1920 to Thomas Hardwick Payne and Bessie Bird Payne at Duncan, Okla. Though her early formative years were spent at St. Elizabeth's School in Purcell, Okla.; and education provided to her from the altruism of the Chickasaw tribe, she graduated from Duncan High School in 1938. Some years later she moved to Oklahoma City where she became a lifelong resident. After the War, she enrolled in the Oklahoma City School of Law (currently OCU) where she met her future husband, James Cullen Hanna. As one relative put it, "she studied to be an attorney, but married one instead." In the early 1960's she secured employment with the architecture firm of Coston, Frankfurt, Short (now Frankfurt Short Brusa) and rose from a secretarial position to retire in the 1990's as a member of the firm's board of directors. It was from this career position that Mrs. Hanna became a long lasting member of Executive Women Incorporated (EWI). Lois served in many capacities during her lengthy membership in EWI including that of president. Association with this organization provided her with the opportunity to travel and cement lifelong friendships. In later life she fondly recalled the places and people she had the pleasure to know.

While her sharp and penetrating mind permitted her to explore a keen interest in myriad of subjects, her main focus was on just a few. Aside from her whole family,---her offspring, her siblings, her sibling's offspring, in-laws and everything in-between---which she cherished above all else, her great passions in life were music, literature, history, Sooner football and all things Oklahoman.

Her enthusiasm for music and above all, opera brought her great happiness. She delighted in being a proud patron of the Oklahoma City Symphony, holding season tickets for more than thirty consecutive years. Last year Mrs. Hanna was honored when the Chickasaw tribe recognized her as a senior member of the tribe and presented her with a brooch.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Hardwick (sic, s/b Hamilton) Payne and Bessie Bird Payne; her husband, James Cullen Hanna; sisters, Anna Laura Strong, Dora Faye Yeager, Patricia Gabriela (Patty Gay) Payne; and a brother, Thomas Hardwick Payne.

She is survived by her three sons, Fred Hanna, Tom Hanna and John Hanna; a daughter-in-law Gabrielle Hanna; grandsons, Brandon Hanna, Travis Hanna, and Cameron Hanna, children of Fred and Gabrielle; and a great-grandson, Jack Hanna, son of Brandon Hanna.

She will be forever remembered for the warm tender kindness that she shined on those that were closest to her and the unique glow of genuine charity with which she embraced all that were lucky enough to be close to her for however momentary.

She will be dearly missed by all those who knew, and therefore, loved her.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2014)

Lois married James Cullen Hanna on 22 Nov 1951 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. James was born on 16 Dec 1925 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; died on 21 Nov 1990 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Patty Gay died when she was about eight years old. The day before she died, after six weeks of illness, she said to her sister Fay "I am so tired of being tired."

Charles Strong reports that she had a leaky valve in her heart. It would be something fairly easy to fix by today's standards. It might have been something that could have been fixed even in the 1930's, had the family had the resources available to them.

They were quite poor however. Charles reported that money was so tight that one winter Bessie got behind on her utility payments, and the company threatened to cut off their power. Patty's doctor intervened, telling the company that they would be responsible for her death if the power was cut off.

Notes:

Charles was born in the midst of the Depression, and vividly remembers the financial struggle faced by his impoverished parents. In the summers, Charles was usually sent to stay on the farm owned by his great-grandparents, James and Zada Gentry. Charles remembers Zada as a tiny woman, and a good cook. She often remarked, after he devoured her meals, "Charles, you must be hollow to your toes."

Charles eventually rebelled against his father's stringent demands. In a bid for independence, he dropped out of school for in the eighth grade, staying out late most nights or not coming home for days at a time.

His parents sent him to Oklahoma City, to live with his Aunts Fay and Lois, who shared a home. His grandmother, Bessie Payne, lived there with her daughters as well. Charles slept in a cot in the back room. He remembers his grandmother having a Chocolate Hostess Cupcake waiting for him each day when he returned from school. Charles graduated from the 8th grade at Holy Angels Parochical School in Oklahoma City on May 25, 1947. After his graduation, he enrolled in the Oklahoma National Guard. He added two years to his age so he would be eligible to enlist. He was 5'8" and 138 pounds, and told the unit he was age 17, not 15. After seven months of duty, on June 4, 1948, he was honorably discharged as a Private. The reason for his discharge was listed as "Business Interference"

Charles returned home to Duncan to attend High School. He later dropped out of High School as well, and went to work at a bakery. He developed a lifelong aversion to most baked goods, remembering the overwhelming smell. Charles finally realized that education, was the best way to escape poverty, so he returned to school. He graduated from Duncan High School in May, 1952, along with his younger brother Bill.

Charles and Bill both enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) in Stillwater. Charles borrowed money from his Aunt Lois to pay for his freshman year, and then was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He received a medical discharge due to a chronic skin condition which made it impossible for him to wear combat boots. After his brief military service, he returned to OSU and used the GI bill to pay for the remainder of his education. He was original a Chemistry major, but changed to business and accounting due to these same skin allergies.

A Feb. 7, 1956 article in the student paper reported that "Charles Strong, arts and sciences junior from Duncan, was named president of the Newman club Sunday evening during the election of the 1956 officers. Strong, a chemistry major, replaces Stan Prochaska, agriculture journalism senior from Enid, as proxy of the organization of Catholic students. He had been vice president and one time co-chairman of the membership committee. Ed Wakeen, OIT student from Massachusetts was elected vice president...(also from Massachusetts) Joe Hayden was elected treasurer...Beverly Kirchmeyer from Ponca City was elected secretary. Continuing as chaplin.....will be Rev. Joseph Dillon, assistant pastor of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Stillwater."

Being president allowed Charles to live in the Newman club, further helping him with financing his education. It was also through the Newman club that Charles met his wife, Pat, a fellow student at OSU.

Charles received his B.S. degree in May, 1959 with a major in accounting and minor in economics. His first job was as an instructor of accounting and economics at Bloomsburg State College in Pennsylvania. He was there for one year, after which time he went to work as an auditor for a public accounting firm in Tulsa. After two years in public accounting, he worked as an auditor for two years at Halliburton in Duncan, Oklahoma. He received his CPA certificate (#1659) from the State of Oklahoma in 1963. Charles went back to OSU, and received his M.S in accounting in May, 1964.

Later, he went on to obtain his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama (May, 1972, Major in Industrial Relations with minors in Economics and Finance). It was at the married student housing at the University of Alabama that the Strong's started their lifelong friendship with JF and Earlene Burney.

While working on his Ph.D., the Strong's moved between small college's in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas at which Charles had short term teaching assistantships. He was an instructor at OSU, the University of Alabama, Mississippi State College for Women, University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Montevallo (in Alabama).

Charles looked a bit like Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State under Richard Nixon). Once, while on a business trip, he was in a bar in Washington D.C. He heard a whispered conversation between two people, who were hotly debating whether or not he was indeed Dr. Kissinger. When the waitress came up to ask if he wanted a refill, he drolly answered, in his Kissingerian best, "Yah."

In May, 1973, Charles was offered a position in the Accounting Department of Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas. He also received his Texas CPA Certificate (No. 12,595) in January, 1974.

While in the Rio Grande Valley, Charles became an avid bird watcher and member of the National Audobon Society. He participated in many bird censuses. He also enjoyed sailing.

Dr. Strong later became a full professor at Pan American. He taught mainly accounting classes, although towards the end of his career he began to teach in the management department. He retired in December, 1997. During his tenure at Pan Am, he served on numerous committees, was a N.A.S.A. Faculty Intern at the Johnson Space Center during the summer of 1974, and served as a visiting professor at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. He also did the accounting, taxes, and financial planning for a corporate client in Edinburg. Charles retired from Pan American in December 1997.

Charles is a voracious reader, and is especially interested in nature and history. In the late 1990's he and his brother Bill made several trips to Europe to visit their cousin Pete Kubik and to visit various battle sites of World War II. He also became interested in Genealogy, and began travelling throughout the southwest, visiting courthouses in search of land records and also interviewing family members.

He is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw nation, as was his maternal grandfather, Thomas Payne. He is also a Mason.

(Medical):Had Covid-19 in December 2020.

Charles married Patricia Marion McGuire on 25 May 1957 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. Patricia (daughter of Keith David McGuire, Sr. and Josephine Marguerite Morlas) was born on 30 Oct 1933 in Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma; died on 16 Mar 2018 in Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas; was buried in Camargo (Westside) Cemetery, Camargo, Dewey County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Bill attended Oklahoma A&M at the same time his brother Charles was there. He served in the Army from 1957 to 1978. He was a Major, and in Military Intelligence. He was stationed in Germany for many years. After his retirement, he became a regional sales manager for Motor Manual.

Obituary

William "Bill" Robert Strong passed away on March 4, 2024. Bill was the second child of Homer Strong and Anna Laura Payne born in Duncan, Oklahoma on February 20, 1934. As the second son of seven children, he had four brothers and two sisters.

Bill gained a love of music and singing from his father who sang in a Barbershop quartet throughout his childhood. He received a scholarship in music to Oklahoma State University in 1953 and helped to create the singing group called The Four Chi's as a part of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He met the love of his life Betty Wehunt on a blind date at the University. He was drafted into the Army after college in late 1957. During boot camp he married Betty in Colorado Springs on February 22, 1958. He spent 20 years in the Army and then had a 20-year career with Hearst Publishing. He enjoyed traveling, and both of his careers provided plenty of it. They lived in Europe several times and transferred to six different states while in the military. He also traveled all over the states for his job at Hearst while based in Oklahoma.

Bill was a class clown who loved one liners and corny "Dad jokes" which always made us laugh. He also had a lifelong love of dancing. No matter where we lived, he would find a restaurant with a dance floor and would dance with mom while the kids ate. He loved going out on a family vacation. While his children were young, they either went camping, boating, sailing or drove cross country to visit out-of-state relatives every summer. Later in life he and his wife would take 2 vacations a year traveling either to Europe or visiting their children across the nation. When Bill retired, he bought a home in Texas and spent his later years "snow birding" from Oklahoma to Texas with a few trips to see his children in the US or friends in England.

He was diagnosed with cancer over 10 years ago. His cancer resurfaced in 2019 and then again last year in 2023. The last reoccurrence eventually took his life after nearly a year of chemotherapy. Bill is survived by his brother Thomas Strong (wife Vicki) and his brother Paul David Strong; his son, Richard Strong; his son, John Strong (wife Kim and son Benjamin); his son, Stanley Strong (wife Ginger and daughters Kennedy, Brooklyn and Rayanna); his son, Gregory Strong (wife Cecille and son Maximillian).

Obituary published on Legacy.com by YANDA & SON FUNERAL HOME - YUKON on Mar. 12, 2024.

William married Betty Alice Wehunt on 22 Feb 1958 in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. Betty was born on 4 Mar 1935 in Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma; died on 29 Apr 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; was buried on 3 May 2013. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary

John Ralph Strong, 86, of Duncan, Oklahoma passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 4, 2022.

Graveside funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2022 at the Duncan Cemetery with Rev. David Galletly, and arrangements have been entrusted to the family care of Carter-Smart Directors.

Family visitation will be Thursday evening April 7, 2022 at the Carter-Smart Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

John was born June 16, 1935 in Duncan, Oklahoma to Homer and Anna Laura (Payne) Strong. He attended Duncan Public Schools, where he participated in Choir, and graduated in 1954. He joined the U.S. Air Force in June of that year and served until May 1968. After his military service he worked for Halliburton, Texas Instruments, and retired from Duncan Public Schools after working as a janitor at Woodrow Wilson Elementary for many years. He married Brenda Cole in 1979. They had two children, Carrie and Taylor. He was a practical man and was excellent at mechanical repair. In his younger years he was an avid fisherman, spending hours at the lake. He was above all. though a voracious reader and history buff, and was passionate about subjects he studied. He was also a lover of classical music. During his military service and after, he was fortunate to work and travel all over the glob and always had an interesting story to share. These stories about his travels helped instill his love of history and the arts in his children.

He was preceded death by his parents, two sisters and one brother.

John is survived by his wife; Brenda of the home, daughter; Carrie and her husband Andy Walters, son; Taylor and his wife Catherine Strong, two grandchildren, Edward and Anne Strong, and three brothers; Bill, Tom and Paul David Strong and numerous nieces and nephews.

https://www.cartersmartfuneralhome.com/obituary/John-Strong

John married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary Caroline Brasher, 78, of Duncan, Oklahoma passed away Friday morning, January 5, 2018 in Duncan. Funeral services will be held at 2:00PM Monday January 8, 2018 at Don Grantham Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Glenn McGee officiating. Interment will follow at Duncan Cemetery under the care of Don Grantham Funeral Home. The family will receive friends 5:30 to 7:00pm Sunday evening, January 7, 2018 at the funeral home.

Caroline was born in Duncan, Oklahoma on March 18, 1939. She was the fourth of seven children of Homer and Anna Laura. She was baptized and raised in the Assumption Catholic Church in Duncan where she was a member for many years. She often spoke of warm childhood memories of family, friends, dancing and music. She recalled as a very young child meeting her father on Friday afternoons coming home from Ft. Sill during the War and walking home with him and about being the fastest runner on the street as a child, frequently out running her male playmates. She dearly loved her brothers and sister.

After high school, she met James Earl "Jim" Brasher, an army serviceman stationed at Fort Sill and they soon fell in love and were married May 28, 1960. Caroline and Jim became lifelong residents of Duncan where they raised their four children. Caroline was a tireless homemaker, ran a small day-care from home, and was avidly involved in her children's school and sports activities. Caroline enjoyed spending her later years collecting and watching classic movies, listening to Frank Sinatra tunes, remodeling her homes, attending family reunions and traveling. She loved the colorful Southwest desert landscape, and made a few trips to visit the rich cultural heritage found in Santa Fe, New Mexico with family and church members. She loved following OU football and OKC Thunder basketball. Most of all, she loved her family and was very proud of her children's and grandchildren's accomplishments. She was passionate about giving to charitable causes including religious and cultural affiliations. She drew strength from Billy Graham and other evangelical ministries and was a prayer warrior, especially during her beloved husband's prolonged illness.

Caroline is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 57 years, her parents, Homer and Anna Laura Strong, her sister, Theresa, and beautiful granddaughter Alexandra. Caroline is survived by her children Regina Stuart and her husband, Don; Libby Morris and her husband Terry; Andy Brasher and his wife, Kim; and Patti Moore and her husband Steve. Grandchildren Brandon, Shelby, Beau, Victoria, Trevor, Caroline, Jeremy, Caelan, Shannon and Kathleen. Great-grandchildren Jackson, Addison, James, Elizabeth and Clay all of whom she loved and was so very proud of.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christians Concerned at 702 W. Willow Ave, Duncan, OK 73533. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.granthamfuneralhomes.com.

Mary married James Earl "Red" Brasher on 28 May 1960 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. James was born on 10 Nov 1938 in Decaturville, Decatur County, Tennessee; died on 15 Jul 2017 in Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma; was buried on 18 Jul 2017 in Duncan Municipal Cemetery, Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Duncan (Okla.) Banner Sunday, July 30, 1995

Theresa Strong Rutledge

Austin, Texas--Former Duncan resident Theresa Strong Rutledge, 53, of Austin died Friday, July 28, 1995, in Austin.

Services will be 10:30 am Monday at Duncan's Assumption Catholic Church with the Rev. James Rapp officiating. Burial will be in Duncan cemetery under the direction of Don Grantham Funeral Home.

Ms. Rutledge was born March 25, 1942, at Duncan to the late H.R. "Sarg" and Anna L. Payne Strong. She had been an employee of the Word of God Benedictine Monastery in Watertown, S.D. and homemaker. She was affiliated with the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Austin.

Survivors include two daughters, Anna Marie Rutledge and Sarah Rutledge, both of Austin, five brothers Charles Strong of Edinburg, Texas; Bill Strong of Oklahoma City; John Strong of Duncan; Tom Strong of Phoenix, Arizona; and Paul Strong of Santa Barbara, California; a sister, Carolyne Brasher of Duncan; and a grandson, Matthew Rutledge of Austin.

Bearers will be nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Williamson County Hospice, 308 W. 17th, Georgetown, Texas 78626, or to the Chisholm Trail Hospice, P.O. Box 1142, Duncan, Oklahoma 733534.

Theresa married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]