Duncan Banner, Sun., July 9, 2006
Ryan - ARTHUR J. KNOWLES, 84, of Ryan, passed from this life on Friday, July 7, 2006, from a sudden illness.
Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Ryan Cemetery. Services are under direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Ryan.
Arthur J. Knowles was born November 9, 1921. A son of the late Manerva and Arthur Knowles, J was a graduate of Winfield (Kan.) High School. J and Gladys married October 6, 1946, and moved to Ryan, Oklahoma, where they made their home and raised their children. J Pop was a wonderful person, always happy and eager to go to a Ryan Cowboys game. It did not matter what grandchild was playing or what sport it was, he would be there yelling "Go Cowboys Go". He was a member of the Ryan Church of Christ and was the song leader for more than 50 years. He was a volunteer fireman, served four years in the Navy in World War II and also cooked "J Burgers" for everyone in Jefferson county at the Dairy Lane, which he owned for 27 years. Anyone who knew J knew that he was sincere and ready to help out as much as possible. He was a family man and that is what meant the most to him. He was loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife Gladys, of the home in Ryan, Okla.; two daughters, Cindy Suitt of Iowa Park, Texas, and Lonna Smith and her husband Mike of Duncan, Okla.; three grandchildren, Stacie and her husband Terry Wright of Ryan, Okla., Carissa and her husband Curt Partridge of Iowa Park, Texas, and Daniel Long and is wife Sarah of Wichita Falls, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, Magen, Hunter and Macie Jo Wright of Ryan, Justin, Chloe and Carter Partridge of Iowa Park, and Jack and Jentry Long of Wichita Falls, Texas; and one sister, Martha Guymon of Tulsa, Okla.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Manerva Knowles; one daugher and son-in-law, Sandy and Danny Long; three brothers, Lonnie, Wilbur, and Lester Knowles; and one sister, Opal Kingsbury.