Category Archives: Death Notice

Neala (Rogers) Montgomery – Class of 1971

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Neal D. (Rogers) Montgomery died March 8, 2019 in Lawton, OK. She attended Trona High School and was the class of 1971. While at Trona High School she played tennis and was in the high school marching band. After graduation she married Steven Montgomery and had 2 children, a son Christopher Neal and a daughter Candice Ann. She and her husband went on to join the Foreign Service and she worked abroad as a Diplomatic Courier until she retired in 2014. She had a jet-setting life that carried her and her family around the globe. She loved to travel, was extremely outgoing, had strong political opinions, was an avid gardener and green thumb, an aspiring architect, and a wonderful mother and wife. She was preceded in death by her son Christopher, father Wilburn D. Rogers (who worked for Kerr McGee), sister Mickey (Rogers) Brannon (class of 66), her mother Thelma Rogers (who was a school bus driver for Trona for 25 years), and 2 weeks before her own death her brother David Rogers (class of 76). Her husband and daughter live in Clovis, CA. She is missed and loved by so many people all over the world.

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Class of 1971 just lost a dear friend and classmate. Neala Rogers Montgomery passed away this morning ( March 10, 2019) of a heart attack. She had just buried her brother, David Rogers, on Thursday in Oklahoma and was due to fly home to California this morning with her husband. No other information is available at this time. Neala’s mother, Thelma Rogers worked for the Trona Joint Unified School District for 25 years. Her father, Wilburn David (Bud) Rogers worked for A.P.&C.C.

Sharon (Sessions) Lewis Hunter – Class of 1959

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Sharon R. Hunter passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 1, 2019, surrounded by her family and friends.

Sharon was born on April 9, 1942, in Trona, CA, and lived in Trona almost her entire life. She retired from the West End facility in Trona and spent her time in retirement keeping busy in her community and with her family. She enjoyed traveling and spent many vacations in the states and internationally; besides her little hometown, Hawaii was her most cherished place to be.

Sharon had a deep love for photography, taking pictures of family, friends and at special events happening around Trona. She took extra pride in her community, always making friends feel like family and one of her biggest accomplishments was to care for her trees that line the bike path.

She was loved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed.

Sharon is survived by Jim Hunter, her loving husband of 21 years; her son, Danny Lewis and wife Marni; and her daughter, Shanna Lewis. She is also survived by her stepdaughters Deana Garrison and husband David, along with Deborah Kramer.

Sharon leaves behind her grandchildren: Cameron Lewis and his wife, Kyla; Eric Lewis and his wife, Karessa; Robyn Lewis; Kyle Harrison; Keana Harrison; Kyle Leer; Hunter Maddux; Devon Kramer; Briana Heath; Venessa Gonzalez, husband Andrez; Richelle Branson, her husband Daniel; and Jennifer Smith, her husband Jared.

She also leaves behind her 10 precious great-grandchildren, whom she loved with all her heart.

Sharon’s funeral will be at the First Baptist Church in Trona at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 9.

https://www.ridgecrestca.com/obituaries/20190306/sharon-r-hunter

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197425995/sharon-r.-hunter

James Gale Harinek Jr – Class of 1966

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James passed away February 26, 2019.  He is missed by his family, friends and classmates. James was born on March 6, 1947 and passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. James was a resident of Ridgecrest, California at the time of passing.  He was buried at Desert Memorial Park 801 S San Bernardino Rd Ridgecrest, CA 93555.

Martin Joseph Hicks

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The children of Martin Joseph Hicks sadly announce the passing of their father. He was born 10-2-1931 and passed away on 2-16-2019. He was a Trona High School teacher, football coach, basketball coach, track coach, and elementary school teacher from 1981 to 1999.

Services will be held on Saturday March 9th at 2:30 at the Murrieta Community Center, 41810 Juniper Street,Murrieta, Ca 92562

David Wayne “Buck” Rogers – Class of 1976

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David Wayne “Buck” Rogers (Class of 1976) passed away suddenly in his home yesterday morning (February 20, 12019) in Kihei, HI. Services are pending. David’s mother, Thelma Rogers worked for the Trona Joint Unified School District for 25 years. His father, Wilburn David (Bud) Rogers worked for A.P.&C.C.

Update: David’s sister, Neala died while attending David’s funeral. Services for David were held in Oklahoma.

Dena Raye (Boring) Ross – Class of 1976

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Dena Raye (Boring) Ross, a resident of Yukon, Oklahoma, died at her home after losing her bitter battle with cancer on January 6, 2019, at the age of 60. Dena was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on February 21, 1958, to Dean and Doris Boring. She graduated from Trona High School in Trona, California in 1976, and shortly thereafter she married her former husband Douglas Ross. They had three children together; sons Zachary and Tyler, and daughter Audra.

Dena loved her family and pets and dreamed of retiring to enjoy traveling to some of the places that she arranged travel for her Hertz customers. Dena constantly pursued learning history and in the last few years had started gardening. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who knew her.

Dena is preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her mother; her children; her grandchildren Kelsey, Luciana, Capone, and Theodore (Teddy); and her siblings Donna (Boring) Heaslip, Jeffrey Boring, Vicki (Boring) Hobby, and Brian Boring. 

A service is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 12 at Smith and Turner Mortuary, Yukon, OK and interment to follow at Yukon Cemetery. Flowers, donations and condolences may be offered at Smith and Turner Mortuary.

http://www.smith-turnermortuary.com/book-of-memories/3692133/Ross-Dena/service-details.php?fbclid=IwAR1qWj-l-AC4QceMz3VAQ-3hnwKRCyGonOCbTrk18f_txwn3yPu1rNKkmg0

Coach Paul Monroe Branum

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February 16, 1936 – January 5, 2019

Obituary of Coach Paul Monroe Branum

Paul Monroe Branum of Fort Smith, Arkansas passed away peacefully January 4, 2019 at age 82. Born February 16, 1936 in Vinita, Oklahoma, Paul was the sixth of seven children of James Madison Branum and Gladys Mae Toler Branum.

He excelled in sports at Holdenville High School (OK) and he chose to take his talents to Murray State College (OK) and Austin College (TX). Paul graduated from Austin College and earned his Masters from East Texas State. In 1959, he married the love of his life, and wife of 59 years, Nicolette Brown of London, England.

Paul’s passion was coaching football. He coached the first integrated high school football team in east Texas, and spent over 20 years (1971-1991) coaching on the only sand football field in America at Trona, CA. His coaching career spanned 6 decades and influenced many lives. From his dust bowl roots, he was able to instill strength and resilience into generations of young athletes. He retired to Emory, Texas, in 2003, and eventually moved to Fort Smith to be closer to grand-kids.

He is survived by his wife Nicolette Cecile Branum; son Paul Branum and wife Joanna of Greely, Colorado and their children Aliyah, Caedmon and Jackson; son Russell Branum and wife Marilin of Greenwood, and their children Elissa Lucero and husband Michael, Matthew Branum and wife Haley, and Emily, Olivia and Ivalynn Branum; son David Branum and wife Jennette of Overton, Texas, and their children, Devin Branum and wife Devon, Karmen Lantz and husband Dillon and their children Emily and Lucas, and Katrina Hughes and husband Jonathan; daughter Suzanne Crable and husband Tom of Cincinnati, Ohio and their children Matthew and Jonathan; his sister Beverly Vannoy and husband Donald of Oklahoma, as well as his brother James Branum of Texas.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday 3 pm at Methodist Village in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Flowers will be shared profusely amongst patients and staff. Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral home. Memorial donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alz.org To leave an online memory, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.