Part V
Music in our Church
Methodists are suppose to be a singing church, and we have been blessed
over the years with soma very musical members. Some of the outstanding voices
during my years in the church were Gladys Vincent, Helen Kight, Sue Pugh,
Elaine Camp, Betty Ingham, Kristi and Kathi Nelson, Bill and Freeda Wooten,
Dorma and Jerry Ingham, and many of our ministers' wives who helped with both
the vocal and instrumental music; Mrs. E.B. Thompson, Margaret Webster, Fran
and Marvin Poison, Troy and Phyllis Pultz, (I've heard many say Troy sang
"The Lord's Prayer" like no one else) Jan and Denise Putnam, Deena Owens
and our present Shannon Lennons.
Texhoma schools Flora Rogers helped with
the choir and played her cello often; Minister Wilson Schultz gave us frequent
violin selections; C.B. Ingham and Larry Brooks have sung with their guitars.
Organists and pianists have been Gladys Vincent, Ginger Roach, LaVerne Freeman
Walls, Sybil Hensley, Mary Ann Moore, Russ Thatcher, with many helpers; Judy
Unruh, Mrs. Butch Rhoden, John Cozart.
One of our earliest pianists was
Mrs. Kate Jack who played for many years, and continued playing in Duncan,
Okla. after they moved there. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday
in that city and was feted for her long years of service.
Other choir
directors were Gerald Tucker, Keven Hanson, Carolyn Thatcher and Betty Ingham.
Choir members at the present are: Sue Nelson, Maxene Woodward, Margaret
Anderson, Shannon Lemnons, Ann Welch, Scottie Hopson, Betty Keylon, Margie
Pugh.
A word about some of the instruments of our church. We still have same
pianos in use that are well over 75 years old. Some probably given to the
church by individual owners and now used in the Sunday School department;
the piano in the fellowship hall was one bought for the church in its early
years and used in the Sanctuary of the Red Brick Church. The piano in the
Parlor was bought when the Educational Wing was built, I think, by the Beacon
Light SS Class. The Heydon Hensleys bought a new piano for the Sanctuary
in the 1970s and it is now in the Chapel. The present Grand Piano was
purchased in the late 1990s.
Our first instrument was probably a small pump
organ, and in later years a small one manual organ was obtained in 1950 and
used briefly in the Red Brick Church before using it in the fellowship hall
while we were having our Sunday services there. It was later placed in the
Chapel. While having services in Fellowship Hall a Balwin Electronic organ
was bought for the church. This was used in the Sanctuary until 1972 when
an Allen Digital was bought and used until the Thatchers donated the present
Rogers Combine Organ.
Our Allen Digital Organ was then given to the United Church of
Angel Fire, N.M. in honor of Bill and Freeda Wooten, members of
that church. In the late 1980's the Chapel organ was replaced by
an organ presented Jay Larry and Ray Field in memory of their parents, Leon
and Velma Field.
Centennial Celebration Schedule
Our Centennial History, Part I
Our Centennial History, Part II
Our Centennial History, Part III
Our Centennial History, Part IV
Our Centennial History, Part VI
Our Centennial History, Part VII
Our Centennial History, Part VIII
Texhoma's Location and History
Texhoma, Oklahoma/Texas Home Page