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2 duncan lifestyles magazine 12 EVERY DAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY The Beautiful Day Foundation weaves together communities with a simple and innocent purpose: to serve two vulnerable populations, children and widows. 14 HOMETOWN HAPPENING Duncan Lifestyles Meet and Greet 18 QUILTING ON BARNS The Stephens County Oklahoma Home and Community Education organization has been teaching workshops to create quilt squares, but not with fabric like you might imagine. 24 HOMETOWN FAMILY LEGACY Meet top Duncan businesses that are building and maintaining a generational legacy. 36 DREAMS COME TO LIFE After volunteering for 26 years to keep kids safe, Bonnie Talley has a new Gabriel’s House dream. Contents 12 44 THE STORIES BEHIND THE SMILES Two Duncan Regional Hospital volunteers, Kevin Brown and Vicki Vermedahl, share their stories of the meaningful impact the Volunteer Auxiliary has had on their lives. 50 HOMETOWN HAPPENING Kiddieland Express Holiday Experience 52 COATLESS IN ALASKA Oklahoma has proud roots in the oil and gas industry that are shared in the book, Driller, featuring native Oklahoman, Hubert H. Hays who was responsible for drilling as many oil wells—if not more than—any other man in his time. 56 HOMETOWN HAPPENING Duncan Christmas Auction 58 SHARING GOOD NEWS WITH THE WORLD Fifty-six years of ministry, a life used and blessed by the hand of God. 2 4 On the Cover Photo by Cyndi Crook
3 hometown living at its best Living your BEST LIFE MMG Orthopedics & Podiatry can get you there ccmhhealth.com 580.357.3671 ORTHOPEDICS & PODIATRY
4 duncan lifestyles magazine Duncan Lifestyles Magazine© is published bi-annually by HometownMedia Group, LLC. hometownmedia.group 502 NMain Street PMB 116 | Weatherford, TX 76086 817.599.6167 | PROUDLY PRINTED IN THE USA All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice. WRITERS Cindy Kahler Thomas Alyssa Tarbet Peggy Purser Freeman Avery Pullin PHOTOGRAPHERS Debbie Duggar Visuals Matt &Heather Martin Executive Publishers I am thrilled to introduce this issue of Duncan Lifestyles Magazine. My name is Kayla Durham, and I am proud to be a part of Hometown Media Group as a magazine Account Executive and Digital Marketer. In this issue, we have amultitude of articles and features that showcase the local community such as the outreaches of Beautiful Day and Gabriel’s House, the talent of Barn Quilters, and the DRH Volunteer Auxiliary. Our goal is to provide you with valuable and informative content that highlights the unique culture and lifestyle of Duncan and surrounding communities. At Hometown Media Group, we understand the importance of promoting and supporting local businesses, and that’s why we offer a range of multimedia solutions to help them grow and reach their marketing objectives. If you’re interested in exploring newmarketing opportunities for 2023, I’d love to chat with you and discuss how we can help. Thank you for choosing Duncan Lifestyles Magazine as your source of local information and entertainment. I hope you enjoy this issue and that it inspires you to support and engage with your community. Warm regards, Kayla Durham Sales Account Executive Hello Duncan! Casey Perkins Executive Publisher Lindsey Kruger Marketing & Client Relations lindsey@hometownmedia.group Susan Avery Lead Creative Design Kayla Durham Sales Account Executive kayla@hometownmedia.group Tammy Smith Sales Accounts Receivable ON THE COVER Photo by Cyndi Crook Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ~ Colosians 3:23 photo by Jessica Rachel Photography
Insight Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, LLG is a full service real estate company specializing in the brokerage and management of all types of commercial real estate. JASON WELLS Managing Broker/ Owner NENA HARDY Broker Associate/ Property Manager MELISSA BUSSE Sales Associate g est Oklahoma Over J 7 Years! CRYSTAL HALL Sales Associate/ Marketing Director BILL STAMPS Sales Associate CHRISTIAN FORSYTH Sales Associate INSIGHTBROKERS.COM KEZIE ODUNUKWE Sales Associate
6 duncan lifestyles magazine THE BEAUTIFUL DAY FOUNDATION WEAVES TOGETHER COMMUNITIES WITH A SIMPLE AND INNOCENT PURPOSE: TO SERVE TWO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, CHILDREN AND WIDOWS. WRITTEN BY ALYSSA TARBET | PHOTOS BY CACTUS AND PEDAL is a Beautiful Day EVERDAY
7 hometown living at its best KKelsey Roberts, a Duncan native, became the Executive Director at Beautiful Day Foundation in August of 2022. According to Roberts she obtained the position by sheer luck and has loved every day since. Previous to her position at the foundation, she was an educator and a principal for 10 years, so working with kids is nothing new to her. Even though Roberts was not working at the foundation when it was founded, she has seen the organization at work through various ways in her own life. She experienced the birthday program through the lens of a teacher, witnessed her grandmother be served by Kindred Community after she became a widow, and now celebrates her own son attending birthday parties. In addition to these exposures, Roberts said what drew her to this job is the people and making connections. Through her position, Roberts has had the opportunity to establish connections with various populations involved with the foundation ranging from students and volunteers to educators and business owners.
8 duncan lifestyles magazine “I didn’t know that work could be this good,” she said, “I didn’t know that I could be so fulfilled and happy. This role, and what I get to do is curate, organize and facilitate good days.” Roberts said the foundation is genuinely just trying to love and show love to women and children because the core of the two initiatives prioritize relationships. Birthday celebrations received a new meaning in 2013 when Beautiful Day Foundation volunteers entered Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Duncan, Oklahoma. In the first year around 100 students were celebrated in a single school. The foundation has grown to now celebrate birthdays in 28 schools, 19 school districts and 8 counties around the state of Oklahoma, celebrating a total of 46,115 kids since being founded. Monthly school birthday parties include everyone’s favorite components: decorations, dessert and declarations. The first two are self-explanatory, but the declarations are
9 hometown living at its best a Beautiful Day specialty. The purpose of the birthday parties is to affirm to every student the day they were born was a beautiful day. One of Roberts’ favorite parts of her job is attending all 28 birthday tables every month to sit down with kids and celebrate. She smiled reflecting on conversations with kids she has had during her tenure. “The conversations that you will have can bring tears to your eyes for laughter and good, joyful reasons, but they can also bring tears to your eyes because you get to see and hear some insightful things that can break your heart, too,” Roberts said. “So, it's very rewarding to get to sit down with kids and just tell them that they matter.” The logistics of throwing a birthday party seem simple, but the rewards are immeasurable. Kids are the future, and according to Roberts, it is imperative to make the younger generations feel valued and give them a reason to love the community they grew up in. Roberts reflected on her own experiences as a child to affirm the importance of what the foundation does. She said she was an average student, never on the honor roll or achieving studious accolades. Although her birthday was celebrated in her home, she knew how impactful a Beautiful Day celebration would have been for her, to be recognized and seen by her peers.
10 duncan lifestyles magazine “Beautiful Day is a celebration a kid never has to earn,” Roberts said. The foundation has received such positive feedback from the birthday program efforts. Roberts said truancy, tardiness and negative behavior are all lowered on birthday party days. Other direct impacts are hard tomeasure, but Roberts smiled as she spoke about the reach of a simple birthday party. Of course, birthday parties are for the kids, but evenmore than the students, the birthday parties are for the custodian, superintendent, volunteer or teacher who overlooks the festivities. Roberts recalled a sentimental story about a student who had never received a birthday celebration prior to attending a Beautiful Day table. By the end of the encounter, the student had one question, when are you coming back. “You see these moments or hear these stories of how it has affected people,” Roberts said, “I have heard too many tiny glimpses and stories for me to say it is not making an impact.” The founders of Beautiful Day decided to engage in an additional community need, supporting widows through Kindred Community. Kindred Community began in September 2014 in Stephens County. This initiative of the foundation is for women by women, brought together by unfortunate commonalities. On average, 200-250 women attend the monthly gatherings. Volunteers and local venues, including several churches, open their doors to host Kindred Community widows. “KindredCommunity isaclubnobodywants to be in,” Roberts said. “Grief and loss are hard to navigate alone. Kindred Community gives the women exactly that, a community. The gatherings are a safe space for this vulnerable community.” Roberts referencedKindred Community as a well-oiled machine, due to the organization and servant-hearted spirits of volunteers. There are approximately 1,500 volunteers in the state that support the two programs of
11 hometown living at its best the foundation. The program’s initiatives are not only reliant on volunteers but also on donations for funding. Throughout the year, various fundraisers provide monetary support to continue the celebrations and gatherings. The foundation recognizes how precious these resources are and are encouraged by the consistent community support received. Everyday is a beautiful day according to the Beautiful Day Foundation. The organization’s service-oriented initiatives will continue to serve communities across the state of Oklahoma by celebrating birthdays and supporting widows. † To learn more about the Beautiful Day Foundation, inquire about starting a chapter, donate or volunteer, visit their website at beautifuldayfoundation.net.
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When it comes to your or your family’s health, you want and deserve the best. You want a hospital with the highest quality scores in the region – a hospital that provides safe, excellent care and a positive patient experience. That’s why we’re here. Southwestern Medical Center has been a part of this community for 115 years and has a history of leadership in delivering compassionate, skilled healthcare to Lawton-Fort Sill and surrounding communities. » We were the first hospital in Lawton to be awarded “Accreditation with Commendation” – the highest level of accreditation awarded by The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest accrediting body. » The Southwestern Rehabilitation Center was the first rehabilitation facility in the area to receive a three-year accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) – the highest level of accreditation achievable. » And Southwestern Medical Center is also the first Joint Commissioncertified Primary Stroke Center in Southwest Oklahoma. Choose the hospital that has always put the health of this community and region first. Call 580.531.4700 or visit us online at SWMConline.com. BWE ELL. LIVE WELL. Your health comes first – entrust it to Southwestern Medical Center, the hospital of firsts SERVICES AT SOUTHWESTERN • Behavioral Health • Cardiology • Digestive Health • Emergency Medicine • Endoscopy • General Surgery • Gynecology • Imaging and Radiology • Inpatient Surgery • Internal Medicine • Laboratory Services • Laparoscopic Surgery • Neurology • Nuclear Medicine • Nutritional Services • Orthopedics • Outpatient Diagnostics • Pain Management • Rehabilitation • Respiratory Therapy • Sleep Disorders Center • Surgery Center • Women and Children • Wound Care 13 hometown living at its best
HOMETOWN Happenings
15 hometown living at its best The Duncan Lifestyles team enjoyed hosting a meet andgreet atViridianCoffeeonAugust 26, 2022. Advertisers and article featured guests, including Country Club Care and Rowdy Friends, socialized over coffee. It was a great opportunity to get a first look at the summer issue before delivery and share laughs and great conversation. If you are interested in advertising with us or know someone that would make a great article feature, let us know! Email content@hometown-living.com. Photos by DEBBIE DUGGARVISUALS Duncan Lifestyles Meet and Greet
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19 hometown living at its best The Stephens County Oklahoma Home and Community Education organization has been teaching workshops to create quilt squares, but not with fabric like you might imagine. WRITTEN BY CINDY KAHLER THOMAS | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LINDA HEILMAN uilting on Barns Q There has been a revival of sorts in the art of quilting in Stephens County, but the quilts are not made of fabric, but of wood. The quilt squares are created on a 2-foot by 2-foot piece of outdoor sign board and are hung on fences, barns, houses and other outbuildings. They are varied in type and subject matter but one thing they all have in common is fantastic graphics. The colors are crisp with perfect lines and with beautiful contrasts. Some complimentary colors are used while others use colors to express their patriotism, loyalty to an alma mater, or even a tribute to those no longer with us. In fact, that is what started the Barn Quilt Movement. The barn quilt concept began in Adams County, Ohio. Linda Heilman, who is on the OklahomaHome andCommunityEducation County Membership Committee said, “Donna Sue Groves wished to honor her mother, Maxine, and her Appalachian heritage by having a painted quilt hung on her barn. She worked with the Ohio Arts Council and o the r commun i ty organizations to create twenty quilt squares that weredisplayedalongadriving trail. This idea has spread to 48 states and Canada. Over 7000 quilts are part of organized trails.” “I ama long-standingmember of the OHCE here in Stephens County, and our Extension Educator, Brenda Gandy-Jones
was the one who brought this information to our attention. It was such an opportunity for outreach and for membership growth,” Linda said. She said that the project has truly come to life. “I am interested in all kinds of art, and I love to quilt. The opportunity to paint a quilt block is a very special thing.” Sue Smith is another member of the OCHE County Membership Committee Group . She j o ined the membership committee about 3 years ago and dove right into the barn quilt movement. She agrees with Linda that being involved in painting the quilt blocks is fun but challenging. The process is not easy but the outcome is rewarding. They hold 1-day classes where people can pay to come in and their board is already prepped. This means they have already been painted front and back with 2 coats of Kilz so they are ready to come in and draw your pattern. “To me, this is the most difficult task. A lot of folks have researched, and they know exactly what they want to paint. If they don’t
21 hometown living at its best ABOVE TOP: Sue Garrett is taping her board and preparing to paint. ABOVE: Stephens County OHCE local groups worked together to create an 8' x 8' barn quilt which was hung on the Fairgrounds barn. TOP LEFT: Susan Andrews, Sue Garrett, Tricia Stogsdill and June McGuire are working on a section of the barn quilt to be hung on the Fairgrounds Barn. MIDDLE LEFT: Sharon Hobson and Sue Smith choosing just the right paint color. BOTTOM LEFT: Brenda Gandy Jones, Extension Educator, FCS/4H, CED, teaches each of the barn quilt workshops. have that determined we have a lot of books and patterns that they can choose from,” Sue explained. And of course, it requires yardsticks and fairly accurate measuring to get the pattern on just right. You have to have a little bit of geometry. Once you get your pattern drawn on the wood, then you start painting. You have to tape off areas between colors, and apply several coats of paint. “I like at least 3 coats of each color, and it just takes some patience. I tend to be meticulous, so it takes me a little longer than some folks, but if I hurried, I wouldn’t be pleased with the end product,” Sue said. The process takes commitment. When they hold the classes, they do 2 sessions with 1 class a day. They are scheduled on a Friday and a Saturday from 9-3, but if you are on top of it you can get it done in 6 hours. There are ladies that bring hair dryers and use them to dry the paint and that helps expedite the process to get it ready for another coat. It isn’t easygetting everything ready to do this event. Linda and Sue could not stress enough how the Extension Educator, Brenda Gandy-Jones, is the absolute cog and essential element for this to work in our county. The class starts out with a brief lecture by Brenda and a video, and then everyone goes to their tables and creates their masterpieces. “Brenda has committed so much time to this and she has done a superb job. We could not do it without her,” Sue said. All local groups of the OHCE, the Gleaners, the Comanche Homemakers, Oak College and the Sunshine group collaborated on a large patriotic barn quilt that is proudly displayed at the Stephens County Fairgrounds and Expo Arena. The eight-foot quilt block was painted in 4-foot by 4-foot sections with each section created by one of the 4 local groups. It depicts a large red, white and blue star.
The members of the OHCE are not just about membership. They are about education and serving others, and they have brought the barn quilt idea to the local Art Explosion. In the summertime, the Chisholm Trail Arts Council sponsors a camp for local children and they have various classes for various age groups. Linda and Sue’s group, Sunshine, taught one of the classes this year on how to create small barn quilts to teenagers. They painted a 1-foot by 1-foot board. They had 17 participants that created 17 unique small barn quilts. In addition, the OHCE did a barn quilt demonstration for the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum on Heritage Day. Last year the OHCE hosted 8 workshops. They also have a Facebook page, Stephens County OHCE in which they post all the happenings of their organization along with the Barn Quilt Workshops. The spots fill up fast, so they recommend calling the Stephens County Extension Office at 580-255-0510 to get on the list. Through the barn quilt workshops, they are trying to instill pride in our community, and by doing that they hope to stimulate rural economics and help increase tourism in Stephens County. The next step is to create their own Barn Quilt Trail which is in the works. It all fits together like a puzzle, or is it a quilt square? † Darcy Reeves shows off her finished barn quilt. Vickie Gildon has painted 3 barn quilts. Shelia Houston, fromQueensland, Australia. Cheryl Dowell has painted 5 barn quilts. 22 duncan lifestyles magazine
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“Behind the success of every small business, THERE IS A FAMILY.” -Unknown 24 duncan lifestyles magazine Meet top Duncan businesses that are building and maintaining a generational legacy. [ Photo by Debbie Duggar Visuals ] FAMILY Legacy Hometown
25 hometown living at its best e are excited to share a few of the many Duncan businesses which have earned the right to wear the slogan, “Family owned and operated.” As a family business ourselves, we understand and can relate to the joys and the sacrifices of working with your family and for yourselves. It truly is a labor of love that can draw you closer to one another and emits a new sense of pride in the industry where you operate. When your name is on the door, how you operate and how your sons and daughters operate matters just a little bit more. Enjoy reading the “Why” behind these family entites and please support them by utlizing their local services, knowing its more than a day job. - Note from the publisher of Duncan Lifestyles/Hometown Media Group
HOMETOWN LEGACY 26 duncan lifestyles magazine The late Bob Crutcher came to Duncan in 1977 establishing Crutcher’s Western Wear on Main Street. He moved the business to Elk Plaza in 1991 when retail began to shift to the north. Crutcher’s has been family owned and operated by the Crutcher family which consists of Crutcher’s son, Mark Crutcher, and his wife Tana, his daughter Tammy Tibbetts and her husband Geary as well as a granddaughter, Kristen Tibbetts Eden being the fourth generation. They also own and operate a second location in Lawton. Retail is in the Crutcher blood. Mark and Tammy’s maternal grandparents had retail stores in multiple Oklahoma communities including Rush Springs, Comanche, and Waurika making them a third generation of retailers. Serving southwest Oklahoma for so many years, the Crutchers have many second and third-generation of customers. The online presence which Kristen oversees has opened new doors outside the Oklahoma roots. Thru the years, the inventory has transitioned to a cross-over of mainstream as well as western, but Crutcher’s will continue to offer footwear and clothing, hats and outerwear for the entire family. Great customer service has always been the “Crutcher motto” and that will never change. CRUTCHER’S WESTERN WEAR Mark Crutcher, Tana Crutcher, Geary Tibbetts, Tammy Crutcher Tibbetts, & Kristen Tibbetts Eden 3049 North Highway 81 | Duncan | 580.252.3220 | crutcherswestern.com
27 hometown living at its best Tony and Melanie Wilkins moved to Duncan in 1991 and became owners and operators of Wilkins Health and Rehabilitation Community. Their son Tyler and his wife Halley are the second generation of Wilkins raising a family and serving the Duncan community. Tyler is now the Administrator of Wilkins Health and Rehab, and Halley is a Speech Language Pathologist at the facility that serves over one hundred elderly residents, including those in a Memory Care Wing. Their legacy with their family, business, and community has been to model Christ and to grow in faith so that others will know Him through their service and examples. “This community is our home, and we are honored to live here among such wonderful people,” the Wilkins share. The greatest reward of their work is making the residents’ lives better by taking care of each one individually. They strive to include family involvement, making it a happy place to be. WILKINS HEALTH AND REHABILITATION COMMUNITY Tyler, Melanie, and Tony Wilkins 1205 South 4th Street | Duncan | 580.252.3955 | wilkinshealthandrehabcommunity.com
28 duncan lifestyles magazine HOMETOWN LEGACY Since December 1892 there has been a Buckholts living and working in Duncan. It started when W.L. and Annie Buckholts established their homestead in Duncan in 1892. Fast forward 130 years, and E.J. Buckholts II and Carl J. Buckholts are continuing that tradition at Ellis & Buckholts. E.J. has been a partner at Ellis & Buckholts since 1982 when he joined Thomas T. Ellis and Philip H. Leonard. Carl joined the firm in August 2014. It was always a dream of E.J. and Carl to practice law together in Duncan, a place the family has always considered home. The firm prides itself on work ethic, concern, and compassion for its clients and community. The law firm is located in the Old Patterson Hospital building at 975W.Willow, which was remodeled and refurbished in 1992, through the efforts of Lewayne Jones and Sue Ellis, and placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. ELLIS & BUCKHOLTS E.J. Buckholts II and Carl J. Buckholts 975 West Willow | Duncan | 580.252.3240 | duncanoklaw.com
29 hometown living at its best Perkins Insurance and Realty has served Duncan and surrounding communities since 1955. Starting as a one-man operation, JC Perkins grew the business from the ground up and turned it into a major insurance and real estate company. JC and his wife, Inez, raised four boys in the Duncan community that they loved and served. In 1983, their youngest son, Keith Perkins, moved back home to help his dad with the family business. Keith and his wife, Sandra, raised their three children in Duncan, and in 2002, their son Grant came on as a third generation partner. Being a family of Duncan High School alumni, Perkins Insurance and Realty has taken great pride in serving the local communities, churches, schools and sports teams. The Duncan High School tennis program named one of their courts “ JC Perkins Court,” in honor of JC and his avid tennis playing until the age of 81. JC was a loyal supporter of the tennis program until his passing in 2006. As three generations have planted roots in the town of Duncan, Perkins Insurance and Realty has been building relationships with families for many years. Helping people find their home in a town that is so loved, and has been a part of their lives for so many years, is one of their biggest rewards. “Thank you, Duncan, for letting us serve you all these years!” PERKINS INSURANCE AND REALTY Keith & Sandy Perkins, Grant Perkins 3035 Brookwood Avenue | Duncan | 580.255.8137 | perkins-realty.com
30 duncan lifestyles magazine HOMETOWN LEGACY God called us to begin Freedom Biker Church 15 years ago, and we are extremely blessed to be able to do so with our family. Every member serves in at least one of our church’s ministries: children, youth, administration, worship, disaster relief, and as pastor. Our family’s heart is in this church, and we desire to see people come to know the love of Jesus by feeling loved and accepted when they walk through our church’s doors. We want our church to be a place where people don’t have to worry about what they’ve done or who they’ve been in the past, but they can know that there are people here who will love them and point them to a Savior. That’s the heart of our church, and that’s the heart of our family. FREEDOM BIKER CHURCH Billy and Vici-Beth Morgan, Nelson, Lyndsey, Aiden, Asher, and Boston Miller, Billy, Bethany, Emi-Jo, and Birdy Dempsey 803 West Walnut | Duncan | 580.786.0459 | fbcok.org
31 hometown living at its best Hunt Motor Company, a family-owned and operated business has supplied Duncan and the surrounding area with top-quality used cars, trucks, and SUVs since its founding in 1969 by Wayne Hunt. The current owners’ Mark Hunt, son of Wayne Hunt, and his wife Tami Hunt, along with their son Garrett Hunt, are committed to continuing this tradition. They offer great vehicles at all price ranges, anywhere from $2,500 to $60,000. Mark, who has overseen the buying and selling for nearly 35 years, and Garrett will make your Hunt Motor Company experience a pleasant one. From the buying to the financing, they cover it all. The Hunt family is incredibly thankful for all our customers and their loyalty to our business. Quality vehicles and quality service for 53 years are what keep our customers coming back and referring their friends and family to Hunt Motor Company. HUNT MOTOR COMPANY Mark, Tami, and Garrett Hunt 812 North 81 Highway | Duncan | 580.255.7071
32 duncan lifestyles magazine HOMETOWN LEGACY Don Rice was blessed to have his youngest of four sons, Michael, come into the practice with him in 2019. “He’s a tremendous asset to our practice, bringing innovative ideas & energy, as well as experience in laser-related procedures, such as capsulotomies, offering therapeutic/cosmetic botox, & experience finishing certain lens materials,” Don said. As Don cuts back hours and eventually transitions into retirement, he has the utmost confidence Michael will continue providing an excellent standard of care & outstanding customer service. Michael is honored to carry on the legacy his dad began regarding business experience, attention to detail, unmatched care, and genuine compassion for patients. “Becoming an optometrist and working alongside my dad has been a childhood dream and is an opportunity I will forever treasure,” he said. Rice Family Vision opened at their current location in 1980, where they eventually doubled its square footage to 3,000 sq. ft. to provide an expansive frame dispensary of over 1,500 frames and an ophthalmic finishing lab for in-house jobs. They provide services locally, specializing in visual exams, contact lens fittings, diagnosis & treatment of eye disease & injury, diabetes, glaucoma, cataract & Lasik evaluations, as well as foreign body removal. RICE FAMILY VISION Dr. Donald C. Rice & Dr. J. Michael Rice 1320 West Main Street | Duncan | 580.255.0988 | RiceFamilyVision.com
33 hometown living at its best B.E. Darby came to Duke, Oklahoma in 1905, looking for work picking cotton. Instead, local merchant A.L. Perry gave him a job in his general store. In 1907, he joined forces with his brother Robert to open their own store, Darby Bros. General Merchandise Store. B.E. opened Darbys’ Home Supply Store in 1930, officially renaming it Darbys’ Mercantile Store in 1932. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl struck in the 1930s and Darbys’ was one of the few local businesses to survive this era. After World War II ended in 1945, returning soldiers wanted to begin a new life and needed good furniture and good prices. By the time B.E. passed away in 1959, leaving his three sons in partnership, Darbys’ Mercantile Store was filled with every piece of furniture a home needed plus every accessory imaginable, from refrigerators to carpet. Tragedy struck in 1978 when the block containing Darbys’ Furniture Store caught fire. Only five months later, however, Darbys’ was back to business as usual, reopening at a new location with the fire sale of the century. In 2005, Darbys’ opened a new showroom in Lawton, where it was soon voted the best furniture store in town. Today, a new generation of Darbys’ continues the pioneering tradition that has spanned 100 years with good deals and good furniture for as long as Oklahoma has been a state. The Darbys’ spirit lives on, as does their faith in community, family, and God. Jon’s son Blake, and Jon’s son-in-law Darren, together represent a Darbys’ tradition four generations strong, still leading the way in home furnishing. DARBYS’ BIG FURNITURE 6746 NW Cache Road | Lawton | 580.510.3242 | Darbysfurniture.com
34 duncan lifestyles magazine HOMETOWN LEGACY Jimmy and Kimberly both grew up in self-employment, both sets of parents worked side by side with all kids on deck. They were taught to work hard, be fair and be honest. Both were also brought up in Christian households. “I remember early on in our married life, my dad making the statement, “you can’t out-give God,” said Kimberly. This comes originally from Genesis 12:2 “I will bless you. . . so that you will be a blessing.” While building their first couple of businesses, they learned the Truth of the Word given, and their key employees working in their offices would often use the phrase, “give till it hurts.” The whole family works together in one way or another within the Tilley Group of companies. They enjoy being a provider of good employment, with good benefits, and love being able to give back to the communities they live and work in. “If the Lord wills it, we are hoping to still be a group of family led businesses even in the seventh generation. God has blessed us with opportunities, which we have stepped out on faith and taken advantage of. He has also blessed us with great people to work for us, and work with us,” Kimberly said. To sum it up, they are very thankful and consider themselves blessed to be a blessing. THE TILLEY GROUP Jesse, Jimmy, Kimberly, Hilary, and Paul Tilley
35 hometown living at its best The Davis practice opened in 1983 and has been at its current location since 1994. Combined, there are over 57 years of experience in providing dental care for Duncan and the surrounding areas. Both father and son thoroughly enjoy what they do. Similarly, both show great satisfaction in having worked together during the past 17 years. A good portion of their meaningful time is spent together consulting on patient treatment. Their greatest asset is having a practice that is relational and believes in treating patients and staff as family. This is easily achieved in a town like Duncan. Whether it be a ballgame, restaurant, or theatre, they enjoy seeing their patients around town and visiting about life. Through advancements in both dental technology and modes of treatment, they hope that they can continue to provide care to the community for many years to come! DAVIS AND DAVIS D.D.S. Gerald and Gerrad Davis 1309 Jackie Road | Lawton | 580.255.3570
I After volunteering for 26 years to keep kids safe, Bonnie Talley has a new Gabriel’s House dream. WRITTEN BY PEGGY PURSER FREEMAN PHOTOS BY BRIANNA REED AND PROVIDED BY GABRIEL’S HOUSE DREAMS Come to Life If you visit Gabriel’s House inDuncan, you will see God’s love in action. For twenty-six years, Bonnie Talley’s after-school program has transformed the lives of children and ministered to their families. For 26 years, Bonnie has worked to find funding, to locate resources, and taught children to respect and love one another. The most extraordinary detail is she has never received a salary. Born inDuncan, Bonnie grewup ina family that struggled financially. Most people did in the 1960s. She attended Duncan Public Schools. She married Danny Talley and had two wonderful kids. Their family, like most, faced problems and ignored more than they fixed. "Troubles build up. Unless we face our difficulties and get help to fix them, those walls can crash,” Bonnie shared her story. “The year 1991 was the most difficult time of my life. But it turned out to be one of the best and changed everything for me. My husband and I separated for ten months. I was devastated. Not only was he my husband but also my best friend. I ran to God at the end of every day. I read my Bible and realized it was His love story written just for me. I joined Al-Anon and attended regular sessions with a wonderful Christian counselor. I spent a great deal of time alone—just God and me. I read every book my counselor or Al-Anon suggested. I realized that many of the children whose parents attended AA and Al-Anon needed help daily.” During this time, Bonnie started an AlaTeen group. When the Talleys' marriage was restored, Danny and Bonnie thanked God for their healing. 36 duncan lifestyles magazine
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38 duncan lifestyles magazine “God said He had a purpose and plan for each of our lives, but I had not yet discovered mine, and I asked Him to show me His plan. Reading newspapers and magazine articles, I learned about latch-key kids—children left alone for hours each day. I was not educated as a teacher. One day at church we sang, Here I Am Lord. At God’s prompting, I began the journey giving God control.” The next week Bonnie shared her dream with the pastor and members of the First Christian Church. With a gift from that congregation, the first Gabriel’s House opened in a small house across the street from Lee Elementary, the school Bonnie attended as a child. Over the next few years, Bonnie and her team were able to establish this faith-based afterschool program in all Title 1 schools in Duncan. She served as the volunteer Program Director for the first sixteen years and since that time has performed every duty that staff members currently fill. Proud to be thirty years sober, Danny Talley has also planted seeds in the lives of these families by remodeling and repairing houses over the years. Bonnie explained. “A few years ago, he delivered my birthday gift to my office, a fifteen-passenger van. He has been my rock.” Executive Director Jana Bowen learned about Gabriel's House in 2002 as a volunteer. “I’ve been employed there off and on since 2012. I love it and can't imagine being a part of anything greater. Gabriel’sHouse, Inc. (GHI)was founded in 1998 to provide a safe, affordable, and loving afterschool environment for atrisk children. We call them ‘at-promise,’kids. From kindergarten through third grade. As a Christian-based, non-denominational program, we offer enrichment opportunities andactivities that encourage healthy mental, physical, and spiritual growth.” Together with school counselors, teachers, and administrators, children from all five Duncan Elementary Schools and Empire are invited to apply to participate in Gabriel’s House, but children with the most needs are given priority. No child is denied due to inability to pay.
39 hometown living at its best "TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE CHILDREN WE SERVE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES"
40 duncan lifestyles magazine A parent, Melissa Funk, praised the program. “Gabriel’s House was a light for my child during some of his darkest days. The staff helped us when we learned his brain worked differently. We had no idea how to navigate that.” Eight-year-oldZerekandhisgrandmother, SusanDavisonexpressed gratitude. “Gabriel’s House staff has a positive influence on our family’s life. Zerek has been challenged to learn values, a positive attitude, and respect based on God’s love and principles.” Today, Bonnie longs for a new dream, a permanent home, a home where a faithbased program can be expressed, a home with room to grow. The foundation dreams include providing a summer program for the children that includes a nutritious meal, and activities to keep their reading and math skills from declining.
41 hometown living at its best A new building would provide a storm shelter, age-appropriate restrooms, outdoor playgrounds, space for enrichment classes, and a gym for exercise classes such as Zumba, karate, basketball, and dance. The need for adult education in Duncan has grown. The GHI foundation plans include room to help parents by providing them with evening classes for adults, including Bridges out of Poverty and Dave Ramsey’s Money Management. “Our own gymwould also provide a venue for our Christmas Program and annual fundraiser,” Bonnie's excitement shines through. “At our 2018 Annual Fundraiser, I shared this new dream with the attendees, and before the evening was over a friend gave me the first $100,000 for the project.” The Gabriel’s House. Inc. Foundation is a 501 3c non-profit organization created with the sole purpose of being the owner and overseer of the facility. The current facility can’t accommodate any of these new programs. An architecture firm out of Oklahoma City has created a rough draft of the building floorplan and exterior. The building is designed with certain areas to be used or rented by other non-profits. “We are giving presentations for local civic clubs, study clubs, churches, and other groups of adults who share our goals,” Bonnie added. “Donations are currently accepted. Families can purchase a room or specific area in honor or memory of a loved one. The foundation board hopes to receive grants from large foundations in the near future. The community needs to raise at least $1,000,000.00 locally before funds can be requested from large donors. † For more information on the new building, contact Bonnie Talley at 580-467-4545 or email her at talleybon@gmail.com. To request information on Gabriel’s House email: gabrielshouseinc@gmail.com.
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43 hometown living at its best HOME LOANS WITH PERSONAL SERVICE Arvest retains the servicing of 99% of the home loans we make, giving you peace of mind that you won’t suddenly be dealing with an unknown mortgage servicing company. If you're considering buying a home, give me a call today! Member FDIC arvest.com/home4me Loans subject to credit approval. Nita Mitchell nmitchell@arvest.com (580) 467-0824 NMLS# 564626
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45 hometown living at its best THE STORIES Two Duncan Regional Hospital volunteers share their stories of the Volunteer Auxiliary's meaning ful impact on their lives. WRITTEN BY AVERY PULLIN | PHOTOS BY CYNDI CROOK Behind the Smiles I In a time of need, you may walk through the doors of Duncan Regional Hospital scared or unsure. Maybe you will go to visit a friend or even perhaps celebrate the birth of a baby. Though your reason for visiting Duncan Regional may change, smiling faces will be waiting to greet you. Since 1977 the Volunteer Auxiliary has helped tens of thousands of patients and families navigate the hospital. Whether it is giving a warm welcome, working in the gift shop, walking a visitor to an appointment, or a myriad of other tasks, the volunteers at Duncan Regional are passionate about making both the hospital and community a place of comfort. Two volunteers in particular, Vicki Vermedahl and Kevin Brown are part of the heartbeat of the Volunteer Auxiliary. A Place to Call Home When she graduated from high school in Benton, Iowa, Vicki Vermedahl knew of two choices for women at the time: nursing or teaching. Though she first pursued nursing, she quickly realized that wasn’t her path. It was teaching that was her calling. Ultimately, she earned her teaching degree at the University of Iowa. After college, Vicky married her high school sweetheart who was sent to Ft. Sill upon his return from Vietnam. But when he got home, Vicki was teaching at the Army base and found herself in the middle of a school year. She did not feel right to leave the students, so the couple decided to stay in the area until they “got tired of it.” That was in 1971.
46 duncan lifestyles magazine Vicki continued teaching not only that year but until she retired in 2011 after 37 years dedicated to students. At that time she was excited to begin volunteering and pursuing other areas of interest. Thinking back on her high school days as a candy striper and then a young nursing student, Vicki chose to begin volunteering at Duncan Regional Hospital. Today she is going on 12 years as a volunteer. At the hospital, Vicki works the information desk. She enjoys being the first face visitors see when they visit. Her goal is to greet each person coming and going, knowing that each circumstance a visitor is going through is different. While Vicki is still currently on the Board of Directors for the Volunteer Auxiliary, she is also glad to have served previously as Board President. To Vicki, being part of the Volunteer Auxiliary means she is an ambassador for Duncan Regional Hospital, a place that she boasts is recognized by Newsweek as a World’s Best Hospital (2022).
47 hometown living at its best When Friends Become Family Working with Vicki in the Volunteer Auxiliary is Kevin Brown. Kevin was born in Mississippi and raised in Monterrey, California. After high school, he attended San Jose State University. He spent 20 years working for the state of California before his retirement in 2014. At that time Kevinmoved to Lawton, where he still lives today. Each day that he volunteers, he drives 30 miles one way, a fact that he was too humble to acknowledge. However, his colleagues applaud him for his selfless determination to make Duncan Regional Hospital a better place. Kevin also works at the information desk, plus he enjoys assisting patients when needed with wheelchairs or even helping in Human Resources. He truly goes above and beyond helping wherever and whenever a need arises. When he is not volunteering with the hospital, Kevin can be found working on staff in the medical records department. However, he says he does not have a hard time separating volunteering from the paid position. After losing his dad several years ago, Kevin would not want to give up his volunteer work. “Volunteering,” Kevin added, “ismy passion.” To him, the Volunteer Auxiliary is a family. One of Kevin’s closest friends in the Volunteer Auxiliary was Barbara who sadly passed away in 2021. The two became so close that Kevin called her “Mom.” On Fridays, they volunteered together and would always start their day with a prayer. Over time they began cooking and swapping recipes. They would give each other a recipe tomake for the followingweekandseewhosewasbetter.Kevin spoke of Barbara, “She brought something out of me that was dormant for a long time. To this day it keeps me going.” Barbara and Kevin
48 duncan lifestyles magazine Your Prescription to Volunteer Both Vicki and Kevin enjoy the familial aspects of the Volunteer Auxiliary. It is no doubt these two all-star volunteers give great contributions to that feeling others get when volunteering with them. The team is led by the Director of Volunteers Services, Betty Beck, a leader that both Vicki and Kevin attribute for the wonderful atmosphere in the group. The Volunteer Auxiliary ismade up of three distinct groups with the youngest volunteers being high school students. Prior to COVID-19 , the hospital welcomed 145 volunteers, but today that number has dwindled to 74. If you are interested in joining the Volunteer Auxiliary andwelcoming patients and families to Duncan Regional Hospital like Vicki and Kevin, visit their website by scanning the QR code and submitting an application. You may never know when your smile and assistance changes someone’s day, when your friends become more like family, and when your Barbara may walk into your life. †
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HOMETOWN Happenings
51 hometown living at its best The Inaugural Kiwanis Kiddieland Express Holiday Experience was held December 9-11. Approximately 700 guests of all ages from grandparents to infants enjoyed the Christmas event. Over $4200 was raised to sponsor Kiwanis supported outreaches including the operations of Kiddieland Park, scholarships for graduating seniors, Duncan Junior Police at the elementary schools, Key Club, a service/leadership youth organization at Duncan High School, and swimming lessons for children and youth at the DuncanMunicipal Pool. Kiwanis wished to utilize the brand new train and track so, thinking Polar Express, the project committee spent sixmonths bringing this special holiday experience that would be affordable for families to enjoy locally in Duncan. Kiddieland was decorated in a traditional Christmas theme completewithblow-ups, lights,music,Mr. andMrs. Santa Claus, elves, DuncanLittle Theatre carolers, and live green fir and spruce trees. Candy canes were given out by the elves and the Claus family. Each attendee received hot chocolate and ahomemade cookie before theyboarded the train bundled up for the cold weather. After two rounds around the track, the train stopped for a special storytime with Mr. Rick Rogers, who read “Twas the Night before Christmas” before the train pulled back to the station. Duncan Kiwanis Club Committee Members: Brittany Maxwell, Rachel Rhodes, Kindra McSpadden, Lyndsey Marshall, Tina McCord, and PattyWininger. Thank you to local merchants and businesses who were donor partners in this new endeavor including Homeland, Duncan Chicken Express, R&S Drug Store and Rhoodes Chiropractor, LLC. KIDDIELAND EXPRESS Holiday Experience Provided by PATTYWININGER&BRITTANYMAXWELL
52 duncan lifestyles magazine WRITTEN BY W. R. MCAFEE | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CATHERINE HEFFERAN OKLAHOMA HAS PROUD ROOTS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY THAT ARE SHARED IN THE BOOK, DRILLER, FEATURING NATIVE OKLAHOMAN, HUBERT H. HAYS WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRILLING AS MANY OIL WELLS —IF NOT MORE THAN—ANY OTHER MAN IN HIS TIME. Alaska COATLESS IN TThere’s a 7-foot bronze statue of a roughneck holding a 48-inch pipe wrench that greets visitors at Ardmore’s Memorial Square in Oklahoma. The statue, unveiled in 2001, was a duplicate of one unveiled 10 years earlier in England that stands today in Nottinghamshire, a tribute to the speed at which 44 handpicked young American roughnecks could drill oilwells. Ardmoreheadquartered Noble Oil had donated four rigs for a secret project to help the British who were getting critically low on the oil needed to keep their planes and wartime machinery running. It was taking British oil workers five to eight weeks to complete a 2,300 - 2,500-foot well. Additional oil had to be shipped to England in ocean tankers, but German U-boats were sinking many of them at sea. The 44 roughnecks, all of whom were sworn to secrecy, hit the ground in Sherwood Forest—England’s oil field—assembled their rigs, and began drilling with 12-hour shifts; completing wells in as little as eight days. In all, they drilled more than a 100 producing wells in a year that enabled England to close its oil gap.1,2 Little-known anomalies like this exist in the oilfield because people who work it seldom focus on public attention. Hubert H. Hays was responsible for drilling as many oil wells as—if not more than—any other man in his time, was one such anomaly. Hays, the subject of Driller—AnOilman’s 50Years intheOilfield,3 (TexasTechUniversity Press, Lubbock, Texas) never drank, smoked, chewed tobacco, seldom cussed or wore a coat, even in the dead of winter on the North Slope in Alaska. His body produced enough heat that he—literally—never got cold. Hays recalled getting off an airplane in Fairbanks, Alaska, in subzero weather and the passenger behind him asked, “Where’s your coat?” Hays said, “I don’t know. I must have left it in Anchorage.” The man said, “How cold does it have to be for you to wear one?”
Hubert Hays Hays said, “I don’t know. It’s never been that cold.” The man said, “You’re either crazy or the toughest sob I’ve ever met, and I don’t want to know which.” Hayswasbornona farminRoff, Oklahoma, in 1932, the only son in a family of seven. During the Great Depression the family traveled inahorse-drawnwagon topick cotton for money, often sleeping in the open on a tarp at night. Following high school, Hays got a job as troubleshooter for Paymaster Oil Feed Mills in Abilene, Texas, making just enough to afford a little apartment. He picks up the story: “I returned one evening from a ‘wrestling match’ at the local coliseum featuring Dorey Funk, Sr. and Cowboy Carlson, and saw Dad and my brother-in-law, Sid McAdams, sitting on my apartment steps. Sid said, ‘I’m running a Baker-Taylor rig and I need a roughneck out at Santa Rosa, New Mexico. I can’t find any hands and need you to go out there and work for me.’ I told him I was already working. Then Dad spoke up. ‘We’ve already packed your stuff and told the landlord’. To say I was shanghaied into the oil field wouldn’t be a stretch.” “At first, It was just me and Sid working the rig. He had a small N-34 Brewster that three, five-man crews normally worked. We had four men. Total. A couple of us would work thirty to sixty hours until the other two hands came on. When everyone was exhausted, we shut the rig down, slept a while and started again. Eventually we crewed up. I made that winter, summer, fall, and the next winter with Sid before the Army drafted me; learned every job a roughneck does and got as good a hands-on education as you can get on an oil rig. I was hooked.” William L. Wolfson, a third-generation oilman whose family started an independent drilling company in Wichita Falls, Texas, following World War II, and who wrote the introduction for Driller, commented: “Close to fifty years ago I had the opportunity to go to the North Slope in Alaska or the North Sea for Halliburton. I turned them down, and after reading Hubert’s experiences in those places, I’m positive I made the right decision.” One of Hays’ strengths was training crews how to drill safe and fast, techniques he learned working for Max Banks, the drilling 53 hometown living at its best
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