Dorothy Laverne Kauffman

Dorothy Laverne Kauffman passed away suddenly on June 27, 2022, in her home at Chickasha Lake. Dorothy Laverne (Hardwick) Kauffman was born on Sept, 14, 1933 to George and Alice Hardwick of Granite, Oklahoma. At 11 years old, she started her first job at the drug store in Granite selling sodas and milkshakes.  She married John Kauffman in Lawton, Oklahoma on June 7, 1953. She worked as a telephone operator, and he was in the service at Fort Sill.  After marriage, they moved to Oklahoma City. Together they had three children: Don, Peggy and Johnna. She and John also helped raise one brother and two brothers-in law. While living in Oklahoma City, Dorothy worked as a secretary for a law firm.
 In 1972 they moved to the Chickasha Lake Community in Verden, Oklahoma where she lived for 50 years. In Verden, she worked as the school secretary and lunch lady for over 12 years. Dorothy loved hummingbirds and birds of any kind. She spent many years collecting hummingbird figurines and feeding numerous birds outside her kitchen windows. Every day she made a gallon of hummingbird nectar to fill her many outdoor feeders.  After retirement, she enjoyed many favorite pastimes including woodworking, ceramics, sewing, and gardening. Everyone in her community enjoyed her beautiful flower gardens from spring to fall.  At Christmas, her Christmas candy was always a big hit among teachers, neighbors, and family members.  Her favorite companion, Zippy was always next to her ready to chase a toy and get a treat.

Dorothy will be honored at 10:30 AM on Friday, July 1, 2022, at her home garden at 29 Catfish Lane, Chickasha Lake. The service will be followed by a private family burial. Under direction of Mcray Funeral Home in Chickasha, visitation will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  The family will be there on Thursday from 4:30-6:30 PM.

Preceded in death by her husband, John Eli Kauffman Jr., parents, George & Alice Hardwick, Brothers and spouses George and Willie Jean Hardwick, Buddy and Shirley Hardwick, Floyd Lee (Sam) Hardwick, Anne Gable, Roy Kauffman, and Mel Kauffman.

She is survived by her children: Don Kauffman and wife, Kathy of Blanchard, OK; Peggy Willis and husband, Tim of Verden, OK; and Johnna Kauffman Evans of Chickasha, OK. Her grandchildren: Michelle and Kip Fowler of Verden; Brandon Willis of Verden; Kyle and Kayse Kauffman of Blanchard; Sarah Evans of Yukon; Rachel Evans of Midwest City; and Zach Evans of Thomas, Oklahoma. Great grandchildren: Stephanie Fowler, Teresa Henderson and husband Aaron, Kaden Fowler and wife Baylie, Magen Willis and fiancé Logan Nitzel, Mika Evans, Raven Evans, Danni Kauffman, Emily Evans, and Maya Evans.
Great great grandchildren: Evan Sellers, Gabriel Fowler, and Aaron Henderson. Sister-in-law Wanda Hardwick; brother-in-law Mark Kauffman and Liz; sister-in-law Blanche Kauffman,  and brother-in-law Dick Kauffman and Rikki.

Hazel Imogene Taylor

Graveside service for Hazel Imogene Taylor, age 96 of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at Fairlawn Cemetery.

Hazel was born on December 6, 1925, in Chickasha Oklahoma and grew up in Chickasha.  She married Charles Taylor on June 18, 1944.  She was a beloved mother to Teresa and Charles Edward, Jr.; proud sister to Wanda; proud grandmother to Brandy, Kris and Danyon; proud great-grandmother to Spenser, Donavon, Carson and Jacob; proud great-great- grandmother to Oaklyn and Sadie.  

She lived a full life as a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

She loved to travel, attend church, garden and would sew anything for her grandchildren.  Most of all, she loved her family and friends and instilled good values in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Hazel was a faithful lady who loved the Lord, her family, church and community.  She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Charles; daughter Teresa Cobb; son Charles Edward, Jr; parents Fred Tryon and Buna Clay; sisters Wynona and Mary Jo; brother Jerry; and great-grandson, Danyon Jr.

Flowers can be sent to McRay Funeral Home who is in charge of the funeral arrangements. There is no viewing.

Cheryl Jean Johns

Cheryl Jean Johns, a long time Houston resident, real estate agent, and avid reader, passed away on May 2, 2022 in her home at the age of 69. Cheryl was born in Coalgate, Oklahoma on May 2, 1953 to parents Roy C. Bicknell and Ima Jean E. Hand. Cheryl welcomed her first son Christopher with her first husband Ernest “Ernie” Darvin in 1971. She expanded her family with her second husband Terry Johns and son Brandon in 1983.

She is survived by son Christopher Darvin of Lawton, OK, son Brandon and wife Joanna Johns of Greenville, brother Larry Michael Harris of Oklahoma City, OK, brother David and wife Mary Harris of Bethany, OK, sister Robin and husband Jon Palmer of Honey Brook, PA. She is also survived by granddaughter Ashley and husband Jesus Fonseca of Houston, three great-grandchildren Vincent, Asuna, and Damian Fonseca, granddaughter Candace Darvin of Houston, grandson Joshua Darvin of St. Louis, MO, nephew Jacky Harris of Oklahoma City, OK, nephew Matthew and wife Kendal Harris of Bethany, OK, niece Brittany and husband Brian Shriver of Raleigh, NC, and nephew Dillon Palmer of Honey Brook, PA. Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Ima Jean.

A graveside memorial service is scheduled for 9AM on Saturday, June 25th, 2022 at Fairlawn Cemetery in Chickasha, OK.

Vera Ireline Taylor

Graveside funeral service for Ireline Taylor, age 101, of Chickasha, OK will be held at 2:00pm, Monday, June 6, 2022 in the Rush Springs Cemetery. 

Ireline was born on September 12, 1920 in Fort Worth, Texas.  She was the third of four children born to John W Jacobs and Eva Bridwell Jacobs.  Her siblings included Alice Jacobs (1916); John W Jacobs, Jr (1918); and ImaJean Jacobs (1923).

The family came onto hard times and broke up when Ireline was 12 years old.  She went into the foster care system and was placed with a family living on a peanut farm.  It was not a positive experience.  As a youth she enjoyed sports, playing softball and volleyball.  She also learned how to sew.  She left the foster home when she turned 18 and married Fred McWhorter.  She was able to reconnect with her birth family and discovered that her father had remarried and she had three half-siblings: Jacklyn Jacobs Boardman (age 85); Franklin Jacobs (deceased age 77); and Jane Jacobs Lyon (age 77).  She also later discovered that her mother gave up an infant girl for adoption–Betty Litton (age 91).  Betty reached out to the family about 20 years ago.  Ireline was able to reconnect with all her siblings.  Ireline cared for her mother, Evie Carpenter, when she was not able to care for herself.  Evie lived to 103 years old.

In 1948 Ireline fell in love, married Buster Taylor, and had a blended family.  Their model was not “your children or my children,” they are all “our children.”  Her children are: Barbara Reid age 83; Jean Low (age 79); Linda Singleterry (deceased from leukemia at age 36); and Arnold Taylor (age 76).  Buster passed in 1992.  Prior to moving to Chickasha in 1985, they lived on an 80 acre cattle ranch in Rush Springs, OK.  They farmed and had horses.  She worked in several fields: beautician; bank teller; care giver and certified nurses aide.  Her hobbies included sewing, reading, traveling with siblings and volunteering.  From 1974 to 2003 Ireline was a foster parent to infants, toddlers and children up to age five.  She lost count, but approximately 40 children were with her–some for days, weeks or months, and one boy for several years.  She never had more than two children at a time in order to give them the necessary attention.  She fostered children until she was in her eighties when her pediatrician told her it was time to stop.  Since the 1960's she spent many years volunteering in hospitals.  Talley Walker Hospital in Marlow and Grady Memorial hospital in Chickasha.  Ireline has a strong Christian faith, read the Bible daily and was a member of the Church of Christ.  Her philosophy was to live a good Christian life and love everyone.  She loved old movies and country music.  Her favorite entertainers were John Wayne, James Arness and Travis James.  Words that could be used to describe Ireline are Kind, generous, good sense of humor, giving and forgiving.

Ireline was preceded in death by her parents John Jacobs and Evie Carpenter; husbands Fred McWhorter and Buster Taylor; daughter Linda Singleterry; grandson Max Taylor; granddaughter Shirley Hartline; brother John Jacobs; and sisters Alice Jacobs and Imogene Johnson; and half-sister Betty Litton.

Ireline is survived by her son Arnold Taylor; daughters Barbara Reid and Jean Low; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; half-sisters Jane Lyon and Jacklyn Brodman; half-brother Frank Jacobs as well as many nieces and nephews.

There will be no viewing. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.