Category: Oklahoman

Oklahoman

Avis Duncan: ‘God had a purpose for us’

‘God had a purpose for us’

BYLINE: Bobby Ross Jr.

SECTION: OKLAHOMA RELIGION; SOUL SEARCHING

LENGTH: 1087 words

DATELINE: WOODWARD

Her voice choked with emotion, Avis Duncan shut her eyes tightly, trying to keep a storm of tears from raging.

The Fifth Street Church of Christ member was talking about the green ceramic squirrel that lives on her living-room table.

A smile on its face, the squirrel stands not 3 inches tall.

It cost only a quarter.

Yet, it tells the story of this 72-year-old Woodward native’s life.

“It’s OK if you cry,” said her son, David, 33. He joked, “It’ll make it a better story.”

The dime-store trinket, bought in Enid in August 1946 as Raymond and Avis Duncan celebrated their honeymoon, conjures so many memories. So many laughs. So many tears.

Continue reading “Avis Duncan: ‘God had a purpose for us’”

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Oklahoman

Saluting a notable survivor

With Papa in Tennessee during our family vacation in 2008 • • • Saluting a notable survivor, originally published May 26, 2001 By Bobby Ross Jr. As a freckle-faced kid, I never thought much about my grandfather’s contributions to World War II. I just knew his leathery hands and gray hair made him smarter than anybody, including Mom and Dad. “Papa Ross” knew everything about … Continue reading Saluting a notable survivor

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Oklahoman

The Oklahoman: You can call me ‘Reverend’

You can call me ‘Reverend’ Bobby Ross Jr. Published: May 12, 2001 THOSE who watched me sweat and stutter my way through my college speech class may not believe it, but I am now an ordained minister! It says so right there on the certificate with the official gold seal: “Reverend Bobby Ross.” My license from the Universal Life Church in Billings, Mont., came with a note that … Continue reading The Oklahoman: You can call me ‘Reverend’

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Oklahoman

Murphy preaches a powerful sermon

Murphy preaches a powerful sermon Former Braves slugger now bats for the Mormons Bobby Ross Jr. Published: April 26, 2001 GUTHRIE – The 19-, 20- and 21-year-old missionaries came dressed in uniform Wednesday: dark suits, white shirts, ties. Dale Murphy, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound guest of honor, wore his uniform, too. Not the one he sported during an all-star baseball career in which he slugged 398 home runs, … Continue reading Murphy preaches a powerful sermon

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Oklahoman

Passionate about Easter play

PASSIONATE ABOUT EASTER PLAY Aging with grace Bobby Ross Jr.    Published: April 13, 2001 HOLY CITY OF THE WICHITAS, Okla. – In its heyday, the “Prince of Peace” Easter pageant in this mountain wildlife refuge northwest of Lawton featured 3,000 performers and drew an audience estimated at 225,000. It was 1939. Leona Dean was 2 years old. Her father helped build this living stage of stone buildings that … Continue reading Passionate about Easter play

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Oklahoman

Toting Bibles and bike tools

Toting Bibles and bike tools Young men answer Mormon Church call for two-year mission Bobby Ross Jr. Published: April 7, 2001 EDMOND – A car honks. The driver yells an indecipherable insult. Three Mormon missionaries riding their bicycles on a side street near the University of Central Oklahoma just smile and keep pedaling. “I don’t think we really want to know what he said,” quips Trevor Alvord, 20, … Continue reading Toting Bibles and bike tools

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Oklahoman

Wanda Jean Allen executed: Two-time killer dies by lethal injection

By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Oklahoman McALESTER, Okla. — Just hours after Gov. Frank Keating and the U.S. Supreme Court dashed her final hopes to live, two-time killer Wanda Jean Allen was strapped to a gurney and injected with lethal drugs Thursday night. Allen, 41, was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. “Two families were victimized by Wanda Jean Allen,” Attorney … Continue reading Wanda Jean Allen executed: Two-time killer dies by lethal injection

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Oklahoman

Execution day starts early, lasts 18 hours

Execution day starts early, lasts 18 hours Bobby Ross Jr. Nine times this year and 28 times since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1977, Oklahoma has led prisoners to the execution chamber. Here’s a look behind the scenes on a recent execution day. McALESTER – At 6 a.m., before the sun has time to scale the towering white walls of the Oklahoma … Continue reading Execution day starts early, lasts 18 hours

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