McWatters, George

Three miners who have been gouging at the abandoned old Joanna Mine, got a "lucky break" recently when they discovered a lead cave. The mine is located four miles east of Quapaw Oklahoma in the Devil's Promenade area. George McWatters, who resides near the mine reported that chunks of lead weighing as much as 35 to 40 pounds were found. George Stoots of Quapaw and Leonard Collins of Asbury Missouri are partners of McWatters. McWatters is reported to have been prospecting on the site for almost two years and was joined by Stoots and Collins about three months ago.

George R. McWatters, Sr., Quapaw Oklahoma, died Sunday, Jan 21, 2001. He was 86. Mr. McWatters was born March 6, 1914, at Fairland Oklahoma, to John H. McWatters and Etta Berry McWatters. He was a lifelong Quapaw resident. He was a stockman, lead and zinc miner and industry worker. He was employed by Crane Industry of Miami until his retirement. He was a noted authority on old cemetery locations and historical markers in the northeastern Oklahoma area. He was a member of the Cherokee Tribe. He was a 50-year member of Ottawa Lodge No. 492 A.F.&A.M. of Quapaw, and a 32nd degree Mason of the Tulsa Scottish Rite Consistory. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Miami. He married Odestine Hampton McWatters on May 1, 1938, in Joplin Missouri. She preceded him in death on Sep 25, 1997. Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Yannah Stephenson and David Stephenson, Broken Arrow Oklahoma; a son and his wife, Ranny McWatters and Kathy McWatters, Quapaw Oklahoma; three sisters, Frances Daugherty, Tulsa Oklahoma, Alma Hirsch, Sarcoxie Missouri, and Mary June Cleveland, Lake Horn Mississippi; four grandchildren, Stephannie Johnson, Dallas Texas, Andrea Hornig, Berryville Arkansas, Mason McWatters, and Mary McWatters, both of Quapaw; two step-grandchildren, Tari Big Pond, Owasso Oklahoma, and Mike Stephenson, Nashville Tennessee; one great-grandson, Aidan McWatters, Quapaw; and one stepgreat- granddaughter, Nichole Stephenson. The service is 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the Paul Thomas funeral home, Miami, with the Rev. Fred Von Moss Officiating. Burial is in G.A.R. cemetery at Miami. Pallbearers are Jesse McKibben, Mike Shawnee, Pokey Valhere, Russ Garber, Glenn Wedell, and Lloyd Neal.