Obituaries

Freddie Gene Rutherford, 78, was a lifelong resident of Shawnee, OK. He was born to Isabelle Mills and AI Rutherford on May 4, 1943 and passed from this earth on April 25, 2022. Fred was a 1961 graduate of Shawnee High School and was honored to be inducted into the Shawnee Football Hall of Fame this last year. Fred was a devoted family man and football lover. In his younger years, he enjoyed track, basketball, softball, and bowling, while in his later years he took to golf as his sport of choice and enjoyed laking, waterskiing, and traveling to many different countries with his wife, Karen. Fred spent a few years working at Fred Jones Ford, as well as Tinker Field, until he bought his first business. In 1969, he opened and operated Fred’s 66 for 8 years until he moved across the street. In 1974, Fred opened the doors to Fred’s Tire and Battery, where you could find him 6 days a week for the next 48 years until just one month before his passing.

Freddie Gene Rutherford, 78, was a lifelong resident of Shawnee, OK. He was born to Isabelle Mills and AI Rutherford on May 4, 1943 and passed from this earth on April 25, 2022. Fred was a 1961 graduate of Shawnee High School and was honored to be inducted into the Shawnee Football Hall of Fame this last year. Fred was a devoted family man and football lover. In his younger years, he enjoyed track, basketball, softball, and bowling, while in his later years he took to golf as his sport of choice and enjoyed laking, waterskiing, and traveling to many different countries with his wife, Karen. Fred spent a few years working at Fred Jones Ford, as well as Tinker Field, until he bought his first business. In 1969, he opened and operated Fred’s 66 for 8 years until he moved across the street. In 1974, Fred opened the doors to Fred’s Tire and Battery, where you could find him 6 days a week for the next 48 years until just one month before his passing.

Linda Ferne Smith, housewife and life-long resident of Shawnee, OK, died on April 16th, 2022 at the age of 81. Linda was born in Tecumseh, OK on March 1, 1941 to Mary and Loniel Rader.

Dr. Thomas John Vaughn, Jr.died on April 17, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born to Alice Katherine Wagner Vaughn and Thomas John Vaughn, Sr. on October 26, 1943, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Shawnee Music Educator Peggy Horton died peacefully on September 19, 2021 in Owasso, Oklahoma. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 10:00am.

Robert E. Gentry, 86, lifelong resident of Shawnee, Oklahoma, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2022.

“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains.” Our beloved mother and grandmother, Thelda Joy (Copeland) Butler, was our family’s guiding light. She passed from this life into the next life to be with our Lord on April 13, 2022 at the age of 87.