Last look back at 2021

Each year, we take a look back at news and events that shaped life in Central Oklahoma the past 12 months. We broke 2021 into three parts, the second of which was in last week’s edition.

A Giddey New Year for OKC

The Oklahoma City Thunder were hard to keep track of last week. Who is out? Who are these new players? And who is this guy on the sideline?

Brenda J. Huff

Brenda J. Huff of Drumright, Okla., was born July 9, 1949, in Yale, Okla. She died Wednesday, December 22, 2021, in Oklahoma City at the age of 72 years. Huff, the daughter of A.D. “Jappy” and Mary Naomi (Brittain) Ward, married Rusty Huff on June 8, 1972.

Gladys Marie Johnson

Gladys Marie (Duffy) Johnson was born to Woodrow Louis Duffy and Lucille Marie (Davis) Gardner on February 27, 1951. She died in her home on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at the age of 70 years. A 1970 graduate of Wellston High School, she worked as a hair stylist, a baker and a cook.

Douglas Otto Piper

Douglas Otto Piper was born September 30, 1946, in Kansas City, Mo. He died Saturday, January 1, 2022, in Shawnee, Okla., at the age of 75 years. Piper was preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Pauline Piper.

Velma Louise Lorenz

Velma Louise Lorenz was born to Willie and Louise (Speckman) Schmidt on October 18, 1929, in Wellston. She died Tuesday, December 28, 2021, in Wellston, at the age of 92 years. Lorenz, a 1947 graduate of Wellston High School, was a homemaker and made floral arrangements.

Darlene A. Stanek

Darlene A. Stanek was born May 8, 1948. She died Friday, December 31, 2021. She was 73 years old. Final arrangements are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Chandler.

Suspects in homicide appear in court

Four members of a motorcycle club charged in connection with the murder of a former Midwest City Marine killed last September have made court appearances. The State Attorney General’s Office last week filed first degree murder charges against Steven Roberts, 55, and Virgil Earl Nelson, 67.