Clergy Family

• Bill Todd to retirement from Lawton-Centenary (Lawton District), effective Dec. 31, 2009.
• Philis Griffin to leave of absence from Lawton-Centenary, effective Jan. 1.
• Norma Gravely-Quinn to Lawton-Centenary from Putnam City (North OKC), effective Jan. 1.
• Jonathan Bates to supply Sycamore Chapel/Wyandotte (Bartlesville), effective Jan. 1.
• Barbara Plank to Jay from Big Cabin (both Bartlesville), effective Jan. 1.
• Don Scott, retiree, to Big Cabin, effective Jan. 3.
• David DeVore to discontinued from Jay, effective Jan. 1.
• Andrew Tevington to OKC-Leland Clegg from OKC-Church of the Servant (both North OKC), effective Jan. 15.
• Bennie Warner to Blanchard (South OKC) from OKC-Leland Clegg, effective Jan. 15.
• George Rowe to Union City/Cogar (South OKC) from Okeene (Enid), effective Jan. 15.
• Jan Fletcher to Okeene from Hugo (McAlester), effective Jan. 15.
• Dewayne Heath, new, to Purcell-Bowman Chapel (South OKC), effective Jan. 1.
• Michael Shepherd to Fargo/Gage (Woodward), effective Jan. 1.

In memoriam

J. "Clif" Sprouls

Rev. Dr. James Clifton "Clif" Sprouls, 91, of Yukon died Jan. 10, 2010.

Clif was born April 19, 1918, in Girard, Texas. During World War II, he served on a hospital ship. He married Helen Patricia "Pat" Ash while stationed in Charleston, S.C.

He held degrees from Texas Tech, Southern Methodist University, and Oklahoma City University.

He was ordained as an elder in 1949 and began his career serving the Decatur, Texas, Circuit. Also before moving to Oklahoma, he was the founding pastor of two Methodist churches in New Mexico.

In Oklahoma, he was Conference treasurer and director of the Council on Administration, as well as superintendent for both Oklahoma City districts and Muskogee District. He served Memorial Drive UMC, Tulsa; OKC-Linwood; and Miami-First.

He retired in 1985.

Survivors include two daughters, Carol Worden, Oklahoma City, and Jamie Crooch, Edmond; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren and five stepgreat-grandchildren. His wife predeceased him.

Memorial service was Jan. 13 at OKC-Church of the Servant, directed by Smith & Kernke.

John Ferguson

Rev. John Robert Ferguson, 67, of Midwest City, died Jan. 5, 2010.

He was born April 6, 1942, in Lawton. He had been a full-time Local Pastor, serving Covington UMC in 2003 and ’04 and studying at St. Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo. He held a master’s degree in business from the University of Central Oklahoma.

He retired from Tinker Air Force Base. He also was an adult leader for Boy Scouts for 25 years.

Survivors include his wife, Deanna Ferguson; two sons, John Ferguson II, McLoud, and Thomas Ferguson, Oklahoma City; two stepsons, Donald Kennedy, Edmond, and Dale Kennedy, Durant; a stepdaughter, Dianna Leppke, Wellston; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife and a son, Patrick.

Service was Jan. 9 at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Midwest City, directed by Smith-Parks, Harrah.

Norton Wey

Rev. Norton Eugene Wey, 88, of Oklahoma City died Jan. 1, 2010.

He was born on June 1, 1921, in Eldorado. He held degrees from William Jewell College, Perkins, and Oklahoma City University. He was ordained as an elder in 1949.

During 1962-1973, Rev. Wey was director of Religious Life and Associate Professor of Bible at OCU. He also served at OKC-Wesley, Putnam City, OKC-St. Mark’s, Wilburton, Hartshorne, and Tulsa-Boston Avenue and, in the ’50s, directed the Methodist Student Movement. He retired in 1986.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice Kamp Wey; three daughters, Karen Wey Smola, Annamarie Wey Cooper, and Alyson Wey Bailey; and nine grandchildren. His first wife predeceased him.

Service was Jan. 5 at OKC-Wesley, directed by Smith & Kernke.