Person Page - 765

     James Ashenhurst McNeese was born on 29 June 1887 at High Ridge, Belmont County, Ohio.^1,2 He was the son of John Atkinson McNeese and Margaret Ashenhurst.^1,2 James Ashenhurst McNeese married Maria Louise Harbaugh, daughter of Albert Jonathan Harbaugh and Juliette Nebinger Ensminger, on 22 August 1913 at Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia.^1,2 James Ashenhurst McNeese died in March 1976 at Tulsa County, Oklahoma, at age 88.³ He was buried at Resthaven Memorial Park, Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.³

     Charles Harold McNeese was born on 22 August 1892 at Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio.^1,2 He was the son of John Atkinson McNeese and Margaret Ashenhurst.^1,2 Charles Harold McNeese married Hazel Steele, daughter of Samuel Montgomery Steele and Mattielda Frances Brooks, on 23 July 1922 at Marietta, Love County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Charles Harold McNeese died on 26 February 1955 at Houston, Harris County, Texas, at age 62.^1,2 He was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.^1,2

     Mabel Edith Bryant was born on 28 August 1881 at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.³ She was the daughter of James Madison Bryant and Nancy Elizabeth Schriber.^1,2 Mabel Edith Bryant married Ralph Garfield McNeese, son of John Atkinson McNeese and Margaret Ashenhurst, on 18 May 1908 at Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia.^1,2 Mabel Edith Bryant died on 15 August 1961 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, at age 79.^1,2 Her obituary read, "Services for Mrs Mabel Bryant McNeese, of 2801 NW 34, who died Tuesday in St Anthony Hospital, will be at 2 pm Thursday in Street & Draper Funeral Home. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Mrs McNeese was born in Pittsburgh PA and first came to Oklahoma in 1911, living in Enid and Sapulpa. In 1915 she returned after moving from the state and came to Oklahoma City. She was a member of Ladies Music Club, Doremus Study Club, and the First Presbyterian Church. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs Don Akin, of the home; three sisters, Mrs Charles Borsche, Mis Iva Bryant, both of Wheeling WV; and Mrs Roy Tuttle, Dayton OH; and one brother, W J Bryant, Wheeling."⁴ She was buried at Rose Hill Burial Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2

     James Madison Bryant was born in April 1842 at Pennsylvania.³ He died on 29 January 1921 at West Virginia at age 78.³

     Nancy Elizabeth Schriber was born on 29 June 1860 at Ohio.³ She died on 21 January 1948 at West Virginia at age 87.³

     Millicent Bryant McNeese was born on 24 November 1910 at Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio.^3,4,5 She was the daughter of Ralph Garfield McNeese and Mabel Edith Bryant.^1,2 Millicent Bryant McNeese married Donald Herbert Akin, son of Herbert Jefferson Akin and Bertha Pearl Houghton, on 22 December 1934 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Millicent Bryant McNeese died on 18 July 2004 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, at age 93.⁵ Her obituary read, "Millicent Akin, died July 18, 2004 at the age of 93. She was born November 24, 1910 in Bellaire, Ohio to Ralph and Mabel (Bryant) McNeese. Millicent graduated from Classen High School in 1929 and went on to the Oklahoma College of Women graduating in 1933 with a BA in Music. Millicent went to work for the Oklahoma City Schools in 1934 and taught at Roosevelt Junior High and Taft Junior High. She was married to Donald H. Akin for 66 years before his death in 2002. Millicent was a member of the P.E.O., Mu Phi Epsilon and the Central Presbyterian Church. Survivors include her son Donald H. Akin Jr. Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, in the Chapel of Hahn-Cook/ Street & Draper Funeral Home."⁵ She was buried at Rose Hill Burial Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2

     Donald Herbert Akin was born on 6 April 1910 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2 He was the son of Herbert Jefferson Akin and Bertha Pearl Houghton.^1,2 Donald Herbert Akin married Millicent Bryant McNeese, daughter of Ralph Garfield McNeese and Mabel Edith Bryant, on 22 December 1934 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Donald Herbert Akin died on 2 February 2002 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, at age 91.³ His obituary read, "Donald Herbert Akin, 91, of Oklahoma City, passed away February 2, 2002. Mr. Akin was born in Oklahoma City on April 6, 1910 to Mr. H.J. Akin and Bertha Houghton Akin and resided in Oklahoma for his entire life. Mr. Akin was a World II Glider pilot and flew into Normandy, France on D-Day where he was wounded by German machine gun fire. Mr. Akin was an attorney for the Veterans Administration for 30 years and continued to help veterans for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and had been a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association for over 60 years. He was also a member of the World War II Glider Pilots Association and Central Presbyterian Church. Mr. Akin is survived by his wife of 67 years, Millicent B. Akin; his only son, Donald H. Akin, Jr. and his niece, Gloria Hoggard. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 6, 2002 at the Hahn-Cook/Street and Draper Chapel."³ He was buried at Rose Hill Burial Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.³

     Herbert Jefferson Akin was born on 9 November 1884 at Kentucky.³ He died in February 1974 at Oklahoma at age 89.³

     Bertha Pearl Houghton was born on 25 July 1881 at Pennsylvania.^3,4 She died on 3 March 1974 at Oklahoma at age 92.⁴

     Maria Louise Harbaugh was born on 21 April 1889 at Smithburg, Washington County, Maryland.^1,2 She was the daughter of Albert Jonathan Harbaugh and Juliette Nebinger Ensminger.^1,2 Maria Louise Harbaugh married James Ashenhurst McNeese, son of John Atkinson McNeese and Margaret Ashenhurst, on 22 August 1913 at Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia.^1,2 Maria Louise Harbaugh died on 13 June 1988 at Tulsa County, Oklahoma, at age 99.³ She was buried at Resthaven Memorial Park, Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.³

     Albert Jonathan Harbaugh was born on 8 February 1862 at Maryland.³ He died on 26 April 1938 at age 76.³

     Juliette Nebinger Ensminger was born on 1 May 1865 at Pennsylvania.¹ She died on 8 May 1889 at age 24.¹

     Margaret Louise McNeese was born on 26 September 1914 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2 She was the daughter of James Ashenhurst McNeese and Maria Louise Harbaugh.^1,2 Margaret Louise McNeese married Franklin Grimes Colladay, son of Glover Stewart Colladay and Sarah Ball Grimes, on 21 May 1939 at Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Margaret Louise McNeese died on 26 January 2006 at Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, at age 91.³

     Elenore Elizabeth McNeese was born on 26 November 1915 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2 She was the daughter of James Ashenhurst McNeese and Maria Louise Harbaugh.^1,2 Elenore Elizabeth McNeese married Printest Owen Gragg, son of Printest Gragg and Myrtle Beatrice Cox, on 3 June 1939 at Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Elenore Elizabeth McNeese died on 26 July 2007 at Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, at age 91.³

     James Albert McNeese was born on 3 March 1918 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2 He was the son of James Ashenhurst McNeese and Maria Louise Harbaugh.^1,2 James Albert McNeese married Ruby Elizabeth Porter, daughter of Frank Martin Porter and Louise Maude Love, on 17 June 1942 at Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma.^1,2 James Albert McNeese died on 16 October 2013 at Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma, at age 95.³ His obituary read, "James A. McNeese, resident of Ponca City, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, at the age of 95. The memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at Grace Episcopal Church with the Rev. Fr. Dee Wellington Bright, rector, as celebrant. Arrangements are made under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory. Jim was born on March 3, 1918, in Oklahoma City the son of James Ashenhurst and Maria Harbaugh McNeese. He was born at home, delivered by his grandfather. At the age of six months, he moved to Ponca City which remained his home for the rest of his life. He graduated from Ponca City High School in 1936. He attended the College of Wooster for two years before transferring to the University of Oklahoma in 1938. He received his bachelor's degree in 1940 and his law degree in 1947. Jim enlisted in the Navy in June 1941 and was called to active duty in September of that year. During World War II, he served on the U.S.S. Hannibal operating out of Norfolk, Va. and later on an attack transport, the U.S.S. Montrose, in the Pacific where he was navigator and senior watch officer. He was part of the closing operations in the Philippines and Okinawa and left the Navy in 1945 as a Lt. Commander. Jim married Ruby Porter on June 17, 1942, and they raised a family of six children in Ponca City during their 63 year marriage. He was one of the organizers of Sooner Life Insurance Company which was started in 1958 and sold to U.S. Life in 1979. He was a director of Oklahoma Natural Gas Company for 23 years and a commissioner for the Oklahoma Welfare Commission for six years. Jim McNeese loved Ponca City and was active in the community, serving a three year term as mayor. He was chairman of the board of St. Joseph's Medical Center for six years. Other boards of local organizations on which he served include the Chamber of Commerce, the Ponca City Industrial Foundation, the Ponca City Library Trust Foundation, the Ponca City Art Association and the Ponca City Police Foundation. Jim also served in the Oklahoma Legislature as a representative from Kay County. While a member of First Presbyterian Church, Jim served at one time or another as elder, trustee, or deacon. He also served a term as trustee of the Presbyterian Synod of the Sun Foundation. He and Ruby joined Grace Episcopal Church in Ponca City, where he served as treasurer and helped create an endowment fund for the church. In his later years, he was active in the refurbishment of the Artist Studio of the Marland Estate to house the works of the New York studio of Bryant Baker, the sculptor of the Pioneer Woman. He is survived by his children, John McNeese, of Ponca City; Bill McNeese and his wife, Loa, of Cypress, Texas; Mike McNeese, of Springdale, Ark; Martin McNeese and his wife, Martha, of Edmond; Hank McNeese and his wife, Sandy, of Ponca City and Becky McNeese, of Oklahoma City; 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Jim was a gentle man whose kindness, generosity, and wisdom touched the lives of many people. He was a blessing in the lives of his family, his friends, and his community. He will be missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 109 N. 13th, Ponca City, OK 74601."³ He was buried at Resthaven Memorial Park, Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.³

     Ruby Elizabeth Porter was born on 13 August 1919 at Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma.^1,2 She was the daughter of Frank Martin Porter and Louise Maude Love.^1,2 Ruby Elizabeth Porter married James Albert McNeese, son of James Ashenhurst McNeese and Maria Louise Harbaugh, on 17 June 1942 at Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Ruby Elizabeth Porter died on 12 April 2006 at Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma, at age 86.³ Her obituary read, "Ruby Elizabeth Porter McNeese, Ponca City resident, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2006 in Ponca City, OK. She was 86.
The memorial service will be held at 10 AM on Monday, April 17, 2006 at the Grace Episcopal Church with Rev. Kenneth Armstrong, rector, as celebrant, assisted by the Rev. Steven Mallory, deacon. Arrangements are made under the direction of Trout Funeral Home. Ruby was born on August 13, 1919, to Frank and Louise (Love) Porter in Ardmore, Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1941. On June 17, 1946 Ruby married James A. McNeese. Raising her children, she was involved in all of their activities. In later years, she loved needle pointing, fishing trips to Alaska, and going to OU football games. Ruby lived a long life and leaves behind a host of friends and family who will miss her dry wit and sense of humor. She lived a life of devotion to her husband and six children. She is survived by: her husband James A. McNeese of the home; five sons: John McNeese of Ponca City, OK; Bill McNeese and his wife Loa of Houston, TX; Mike McNeese of Springdale, Ark; Martin McNeese and his wife Martha of Edmond, OK; and Hank McNeese of Ponca City, OK; one daughter Becky McNeese of Oklahoma City, OK; 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The family is especially gratefully to the many caregivers who gave her such excellent care over the years. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Episcopal Church, 109 N 13th St, Ponca City, OK 74601."³ She was buried at Resthaven Memorial Park, Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.³

     Juliette Virginia McNeese was born on 21 February 1920 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.^1,2 She was the daughter of James Ashenhurst McNeese and Maria Louise Harbaugh.^1,2 Juliette Virginia McNeese married Paul Frank Victor Jr., son of Paul Frank Victor and Helen Magdalena Ratajczak, on 19 September 1945 at Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.^1,2

     Franklin Grimes Colladay was born on 22 September 1914 at Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas.^1,2 He was the son of Glover Stewart Colladay and Sarah Ball Grimes.^1,2 Franklin Grimes Colladay married Margaret Louise McNeese, daughter of James Ashenhurst McNeese and Maria Louise Harbaugh, on 21 May 1939 at Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Franklin Grimes Colladay died on 8 July 1981 at Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, at age 66.³

     Printest Owen Gragg was born on 5 December 1914 at Henryette, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma.^1,2 He was the son of Printest Gragg and Myrtle Beatrice Cox.^1,2 Printest Owen Gragg married Elenore Elizabeth McNeese, daughter of James Ashenhurst McNeese and Maria Louise Harbaugh, on 3 June 1939 at Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.^1,2 Printest Owen Gragg died on 23 September 1999 at Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, at age 84.³

     Printest Gragg was born on 8 February 1891 at Oklahoma.³ He died in March 1980 at Oklahoma at age 89.³

     Myrtle Beatrice Cox was born on 3 October 1891 at Arkansas.³ She died on 5 April 1979 at Oklahoma at age 87.³