January 27, 2021 Issue, Page 2 of 18

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News/Obits January 27, 2021 Round 100 were Seright if we are spelling it right. We are so grateful to those States Navy. His service took the couple to to,” Sharon explained. In fact, Sharon said that her their daughter, son-in-law and cherished grandson. He died mother’s bi-annual trips to mar- Continued from page 1. neighbors because they gave Idaho and Washington state. ket in Dallas was her parents’ in 2006 and Lou continued to Town Mother the greatest gift of her When they returned to Okla- make her home in Oklahoma annual vacation, homa after the war had ended, girls and four boys,” Sharon life by taking her to that church “Mother had started go- City to be near her family. explained. “Her father was 52 and she gave that to us.” they traveled by train for three ing to market when she was at The Ansleys were longtime February 12 when she was born, but Mother Lou then graduated from days with their newborn daugh- Burr’s and that blessed her as Merritt High School in 1939. ter. members of the Elk City First “Valentine’s Day Make and always said that God knew what she started her business part- Baptist Church before moving He was doing in giving her older As Lou entered the workforce, Returning to Elk City, Lou nership. My father was always Take” all day and supplies a skill her mother had taught also remained committed to her very careful not to favor Moth- to their new congregation in provided, Carnegie Youth Li- parents because they had life experience to give her good ad- her at an early age proved more work in interior design. er’s business in his job at the Oklahoma City. brary. vise. They were poor, but they than useful, not just for that “One of the greatest things newspaper. Integrity was very “Mother still reads the news- worked very hard. Her father time but her entire life. you can learn in life is the color important to both of them in paper from cover to cover and was a share cropper and her “At the age of eight, Mother wheel and how to pair colors,” their business dealings. She is still loves to learn,” Sharon said. February 13 mother did all their washing by was taught by her mother how Lou said. a people person and so was he. Southwest Rustic Mar- a washboard. They never owned to sew,” Sharon stated. “By the In 1968, she was approached ‘They passed that down to me. “She is still as bossy and opti- a car and traveled by horse and age of 14, she was sewing for by the Thorton family who She was very good at her work mistic as ever. She says the se- ket, Convention Center wagon until her older brothers others to help the family sur- owned at restaurant at the cor- at the store,” Sharon said. cret to a long life is being very got cars.” vive. She learned how to draw ner of Third and Main. The wife, In approximately 1993-1994, adaptable, learning nutrition Of the hardships Lou both Bessie Fay, was eager to leave patterns because that wasn’t Ansley Thornton was sold out and loving the Lord. Her cur- February 14 witnessed and endured during something you could just go buy the restaurant business and to Terry Schones, who later her prairie childhood during from stores. At the age of 16, wanted to replace it witha furni- molded that into Terry's Fur- rent hobbies are cooking and Valentine’s Day the Great Depression and Dust she was working at the TG&Y ture store. She knew Lou would niture on South Main Street in reading. She still likes to cook Bowl, she said she was also for-in the piece goods departments, be the perfect business partner. Elk City. Lou said she is pleased everything. She loves getting tunate to receive her Christian which would have been like the “Mother still says if she were that business continues to oper- cards and wants everyone to Southwest Rustic Mar- faith. fabrics.” to come back in another life that ate in Elk City. write to her about how they are “One of the things Mother is While working at Burr's De- she would have wanted to be an After Bill became sick, the couple moved into a retirement doing. You can send her a card ket, Convention Center partment Store, Lou met her architect because she loves mea- most thankful for, as we all are, was one of her neighbors,” Sha- future husband, Bill. He was al- surements and design. At the community on the north side to 516 NW 148th Street, Ed- ron said. “Her brother worked ready working for the Elk City store, they didn’t just have fur- of Oklahoma City to be near mond, Oklahoma, 73013. February 20 for these neighbors and who Daily News by that time. niture. They had a bridal regis- With Annual Father/ started taking Mother and her ‘The young couple married in try, home accessories, fabric for Leslie Ottis brother to church. She was 1941. ‘The early years of their drapes — you name it. She says Daughter dance, Hearts saved when she was 15. She was marriage were, like most the she loved helping people make the church of Christ in Burns for Hearing Fundraiser, baptized at the Prairieview Bap- country, consumed with WW2 their homes into something Flat. Throughout his life he tist Church. Their last names as Bill served in the United that they loved coming home has been a dedicated Christian. Convention Center. In 1959 he was one of several men who were instrumen- tal in the construction of the February 26 present day church building. Elk Creek Strutters He served several years as a church deacon and elder in the Hunting Heritage Ban- Burns Flat church of Christ, as quet, Convention Center well as leading singing. Leslie loved the land, farming, and Leslie came into this world cattle. He was often heard say- April 1 on Sunday, March 4th, 1928 ing “the Lord created good- Shop Hop, participat- at the Florence Hospital in ness from the earth and he Cordell, Oklahoma. His par- wanted to be a part of that”. He ing businesses open late ents were George Ottis and served on the Bums Flat Cot- utnil 7 p.m. Florence Ada (Armstrong) ton Gin Board for 20 years. In Hinds. Leslie was the young- 1968 he was appointed to the est of five children; three Kiwash Electric Cooperative April3 older brothers and one sister. board. He served for 45 years He grew up in the Burns Flat and held several leadership po- Chamber of Com- ofl oy area, attending school until his sitions including president. He merce Annual Easter sophomore year. Leslie’s Dad received the honor of Washita it can be. My crew will really be ford for two years before serving purchased a farm three miles County ‘Farmer of the Year’ Egg Hunt. Thorton a small part of it in the end, but we are excited to see it come to 12 years in management with United Supermarkets. north and a half mile west of Burns Flat, when they had to in 1969. In 2002, he was ap- pointed to the Ok. Association life,” Thorton said. April 10 Continued from page 1. After Elk City voters approved His career with United took move from their land for the of Electric Cooperatives as building a new elementary him to Enid before returning to western Oklahoma to join the building ofa naval base during President and in 2003 was pre- Annual Southwest market to countless ball tour- naments. school several years ago, Thor- Elk City store in 1998. World War II. This location sented the “Good Neighbor” Farm & Home Expo and “One of the coolest things ton and his staff also helped In 2003, he went to work in was in the Foss school dis- Meritorious Service Award. to install the used playground trict. While attending school in He also served 37 years on out there that I think goes over- equipment donated to the city the oilfield with Weatherford Bull Sale, Convention looked is the Dream League ball by the Elk City Public Schools in International as a district man- Foss, Leslie drove the school the Western Farmers Electric fields,” Thorton explained. “It ager. He oversaw sales for west- bus his junior and senior year. Cooperative Board serving as Center, the smaller city parks. is good because it helps to see “One of the places we added ern Oklahoma, the Oklahoma ‘Leslie loved playing basketball Vice President on two differ- our handicapped children suc- panhandle, north Texas and all and baseball. In the spring of ceed. It gives all kids something them was out at the lake,” Thor- ent occasions. He considered it ton stated. “We hauled in sand April 11 to do. It is really amazing to see of Kansas. 1945, the Foss Cardinals won a privilege and honor to serve the pure joy on those children’s for the beach and built new re- “Then in 2015, there was a big the Class B State Champion his community and state. Annual Southwest strooms. We took out fifty trees downturn that shut down all of title in baseball. He played an faces. I think it is one ofthe bet- and added a volleyball area.” my shops,” Thorton recounted. He was preceded in death Farm & Home Expo and ter things we have.” ‘Thorton credits the Elk City important role as pitcher and by his parents George Ot- Among Thorton’s tenure in Lake’s campgrounds as one of “I was eventually laid off and 1st baseman. Upon graduation tis and Florence Ada Hinds, Bull Sale, Convention his position, he said one of the the city’s most overlooked gems. started to apply with the City of biggest undertakings he and “We have five RV spots out Elk City. I was hired for this and in 1946, Leslie attended Okla- three brothers and their wives, homa A & M, known now as Center. his crew have tackled has been there that have 50 and 30 amp have spent the last five years Harlan and Ruby Hinds, Her- Oklahoma State University. installing the turf on the ball hookups. The city charges $15 here.” man and Polly Hinds, J.W. and fields. per night and there is a pay While at OSU, he was able “We are planning the new Within his career with the to train under Coach Henry Imogene Hinds, bother-in-law Due to the COVID-19 fault that we check daily. It City ofElk City, Thorton says he Dennis Mincher, nephew Jerry aquatic center that will be simi- works on the honor system, but has found the most career fulfill- Iba in basketball. In 1947, he pandemic, many events lar to Crystal Beach in Wood- we never really have a problem ment of his life. went to work at the Cordell Paul Hinds, and niece Brenda ward, but I think better. It will with people paying. It stays full Fay Belkin. have been cancelled, have a zero entry pool that is “This is a really great job. It National Bank. It was at this Leslie is survived by: his like a beach and a new bath- most of the time and sometimes has good benefits and good time that he saw the love of post-poned or modi- house, It will have a water slide has a waiting list during the hours, but the best part is the his life at a Cordell school pep loving wife, Frankie; two fied. Please check with and a splash pad type feature in peak camping times, There is a people I work with. My cowork- rally. In December 1948, Les- children—Marsha Morris of the shallow end. The people of website, sundowners.com, that ers are some of the smartest and lie and this strawberry blonde Weatherford; Stan Hinds and the event coordinator Elk City and the surrounding ar- has our lake really highly rated most hard working people that wife, Patti, of Elk City; three as will really enjoy that and the with the highest stars available,” T have ever had the chance to lady, Frankie Flaming, were to make sure of any city has a lot of great partners married. Their love continues grandsons---Justin Morris and and smart people working on ‘Thorton described. work with. The thing that is spe- after 72 years. They lived in wife, Shelby; Kyle Morris changes. that to make sure it is the best Visitors especially enjoy the cial about this job is that there and wife, Kristyn, of Stillwa- 12 miles of walking and biking are rewards other than mon- Cordell for two years, Frankie ter, and Chad Hinds and wife, trails that surround the Elk City etary. We get to go to work on working for Dale Hubbard in Jo of Stratford, Tx.; and five "ElkCituNews Lake, Thorton says. something all day and see what the County Clerk’s office and Thorton explains that those we have accomplished at the end Leslie farming at Bums Flat great grandchildren--Kylie, trails are maintained by a sepa- of it. Then we get to see people, with his Dad. Leslie always Evan, Kolton & Kyler Morris rate group, but that the City of including our own families, en- loved working with his Dad in Cole Hinds, and one sister Dot Elk City recently applied for a joy it. I would really like to stay farming, plowing wheat fields Mincher. (USPS # 173-020) grant to install cabling around here until I retire if possible,” In lieu of flowers, donations 580-225-3 100 the tracks to further improve or cultivating cotton, He and ‘Thorton emphasized. his Dad worked together for can be made in his honor to: In the area. In fact, Thorton is married to Search of the Lord’s Way, PO. Is published twice weekly by Beckham County Media, LLC “People also like that we a fellow city employee, Denise 21 years. One of his many 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644-4736 have a dump site right there ‘Thorton. His wife of 13 years is joys was his first small herd Box 371, Edmond, OK. 73083 Periodicals Postage Paid at Elk City, OK 73644 on site,” he said. “We were able employed at Elk City’s rock yard of registered white faced cat- www.search.tv.org/formdona- to transform the old restrooms as ascale clerk. tle. In 1950 Leslie & Frankie tions.html POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 109 W. Broadway, Elk City, OK 73644 into that. We like to repurpose “We are best friends who hap- built a two room house south Graveside services will Josh Umholtz things to make the most of it pen to be married to each other,” of Burns Flat on 80 acres. In be held Sunday, January 24, SUBSCRIPTIONS that we can. We have gotten re- ‘Thorton gushed. 2021 at 2:30 PM. at Lawn- Deliverd by mail: Publisher ally good feedback on that.” The couple shares a blend- 1951 they were blessed with a Amy Loynd ed family of six kids and four daughter, Marsha Renee, and view Cemetery officiated by $75/yearly Additionally, Thorton and his granddaughters. Every Sun- Rod Minor and Jim Foster. Ar- $50/six months Business Manager staff oversee the city’s soccer day, the couple enjoys hosting in 1954 blessed with a son, Neva Pyatt Stan Keith. Frankie was a stay rangements are under the di- No refunds on subscriptions. fields. Sunday dinner for their “Brady at home mom helping Leslie rection of Chris Whinery and Advertising Director Thorton is a 1984 graduate Bunch.” editor @ecdailynews.com D’Ann Brasuell of Erick High School. Following He enjoys almost every type with farming and raising their the staff of Affordable Crema- sports @ecdailynews.com Production Manager his high school graduation, he of hunting and fishing, Dallas family. Leslie was baptized tion Service-West. Condolenc- [email protected] Maressa Margerum attended Southwestern Oklaho- Cowboys football and painting at an early age by a long time es can be made online at www. classifieds @ecdailynews.com Customer Service Rep ‘ma State University in Weather- with acrylics in his free time. gospel preacher, Joe Laid, at classicfunerals.com