Clergy Family
KENNEDY – Rev. Kay Karen Kennedy, 66, of Wynnewood died Oct. 1, 2014. She was serving Paoli UMC at the time of her death.
Kay Karen was born Oct. 22, 1947, in Oklahoma City. She earned a law degree from Oklahoma City University. She married Frank W. James on April 19, 1983, in Edmond.
Her legal career included the post of assistant attorney general of the Criminal Division and as a workman’s compensation judge. At the time of her death, she also was managing attorney for three offices of Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma.
As a pastor, she helped to build a new home for Paoli UMC, where she began serving in 2000.
Survivors include son Dale James, daughter Mary Sparks, and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband.
Services were Oct. 4 at Paoli-First UMC, with interment at Elmore City Cemetery.
SHORT – Rev. Arnold Lee Short, 81, of Oklahoma City died Sept. 26, 2014.
Arnold was born Oct. 3, 1932, in Weatherford. He played professional basketball and coached multiple sports. An Oklahoma City University graduate, he later served as its athletic director. In 2001, he was named to the Jim Thorpe Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
He served as a missionary in China and pastored at OKC-Putnam City, Turley, and OKC-Ridgecrest before retiring in 1998. He was pastor emeritus at OKC-St. Mark’s.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Cecille Phillips Short; daughters Lisa Carlile and Melinda Clonts; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Service was Sept. 30 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Oklahoma City.
HIMES – Lilly Cox Roberson Himes, 88, of Yukon died Oct. 13, 2014. She was the widow of Rev. Harold Himes, who died in 2013.
Lilly was born Jan. 12, 1926, in Crawford County, Ind. She had a career in teaching and held a master’s degree in Special Education. She married Rev. Himes on July 1, 1967.
In retirement, she had been active at OKC-St. Mark’s UMC.
Survivors include daughters, Rev. Jeannie Himes of Norman-St. Stephen’s UMC, Angie Hildenbrand, and Pam Roberson; son David Himes; seven grandchildren, including Andrew Himes, a Communications staff member in the United Methodist Ministry Center; and five great-grandchildren. She also was predeceased by her first husband, Wayne Roberson.
Service was Oct. 22 at St. Mark’s.
GRIFFIN – Helen Estella Chandler Griffin, 99, of Muskogee died Oct. 5, 2014. She was the widow of Rev. Leland Gardner Griffin Sr., who died in 2004.
She was born March 26, 1915, in Sarcoxie, Mo. Her career as an educator included Special Education teaching. In October 1934, she married Rev. Griffin in Sycamore Chapel Methodist Protestant Church.
Survivors include two sons who are retired Oklahoma UM pastors: Revs. Raymond and Leland Griffin Jr. She also was predeceased by son Gerald Maxwell.
Service was Oct. 9 at Muskogee-St. Paul UMC.
PATTERSON – L. Rena Vaughn Hall Patterson, 100, of Fort Smith, Ark., died Sept. 20, 2014. She was the widow of Rev. Ralph Patterson, who died in 2009.
Rena was born Sept. 3, 1914, in Bates. She lived in Heavener more than 75 years and was a lifelong United Methodist. She married Rev. Patterson in 2003.
Survivors include sons Joe and James Hall, 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by husbands Ray Hall and Rev. Patterson and three children.
Service was at Heavener-First UMC on Sept. 23.