Located in the heart of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Okie-Mart is the go-to destination for all your home improvement needs. This family-owned and operated business has been serving the community for over 4years, offering awide range of products and services to help you transform your houseinto the home of your dreams.
At Okie-Mart, you’ll find everything you need under one roof. Whether you’re looking to update your flooring, upgrade your appliances, furnish your living room, or tackle aDIY project, we’ve got you covered. Our extensive selection includes top-quality brands and products, ensuring that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for at aprice that fits your budget. One of the things that sets Okie-Mart apart from other home improvement stores is our commitment to exceptional customer service. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are always on hand to help you find the perfect products for your needs, answer any questions you may have, and provide expert advice on your projects. We understand that home improvement can be overwhelming, so we strive to make the process as easy and enjoyable as possible for our customers. In addition to our wide selection of products, Okie-Mart also offers aconvenient delivery service. Our team of professionals will deliver your products right to your door,saving you time and hassle.
As alocally owned business, we are proud to be apart of the Muskogee community and to support our fellow residents in their home improvement endeavors. We believe in the importance of shopping local and building relationships with our customers, which is why we strive to provide the best possible experience for everyone who walks through our doors. So whether you’re looking to spruce up your space with new flooring, update your kitchen with modern appliances, or tackle aDIY project with the help of our tools and lumber,Okie-Mart is the one-stop shop for all your home improvement needs in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Visit us today and let us help you turn your house into the home you’ve always dreamed of.
Muskogee. It’s who we are.
Born and raised Muskogee proud. He’s cared for his neighbors for 25 years, now, Donald is more than just a par t of the Saint Francis family—he’s par t of our promise to improve the health of the communities we call home.
Donald
• Certified Surgical Technologist
Mayes
PUBLISHER/EDITOR Ed Choate
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Angela Jackson
LAYOUT & DESIGN Joshua Cagle
WRITERS Cathy Spaulding
PHOTOGRAPHERS Mandy Corbell, Ronn Rowland, Cathy Spaulding, Manut Buapet
ADVERTISING SALES Kris Hight, Angela Jackson, Therese Lewis
Green Country Living is published by the Muskogee Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Green Country Living, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee OK 74402. email publisher@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: (918) 684-2929
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Couple
Discover
Owners
Owner
Sharla
The pink-painted pool glows vibrantly in the evening hours.
Photo by Mandy Corbell
MELLOW RETREAT transformation
Mendenhalls update early 1940s home, balance modern comforts with antique charm
Jarod and Shannon Mendenhall took a French Quarter style house on Boston Street and updated it into their mellow retreat.
Shannon Mendenhall said they were looking for a historic house when they first moved to Muskogee in 2018. Jarod Mendenhall has been Muskogee
Public Schools superintendent since 2018. Shannon Mendenhall is an MRI technologist.
The couple found what they were seeking on a cozy cul de sac, lined with eclectic homes from the 1920s-40s.
She said they were living in another Muskogee house before this favorite became available.
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell
Wrought iron balconies and well-trimmed hedges bring a southern charm to the Mendenhall house on Boston Street.
“We felt it was just a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said “I love the layout and the New Orleans architecture of the house.”
“I love the layout and the New Orleans architecture of the house.”
— Jarod Mendenhall
The home has beige brick with a brick entry walk. A balcony trimmed with white wrought iron stretches across the front. They found more unique features inside.
“I think that’s why we like it so much: The character,” Jarod Mendenhall said. “You can’t find character like this in today’s houses.”
A two-tiered fountain towers above a raised flower bed in the backyard.
A brick walk borders the backyard, which also features caladiums and flowers.
But the house, which dates to the early 1940s, was showing its age, so the two began updating it.
“We did all of the wood floor, put in new light fixtures in different places, we repainted everything,” he said. “Our goal was to modernize it, but still have our antiques.”
Shannon said most of the new lighting came from Pottery Barn or Lifestyles, Lighting and Furniture in Tulsa. Some lamps came from Facebook Marketplace.
“There was wallpaper from the 40s through the 60s on the walls and curlicues on the wood,” she said. “We made
it look more modern, more basic.”
She said they redid most of the walls with white paint and redid the wallpaper in the dining room. They redid the ceiling, the trim and the floors.
“There were four different floor types in the first level,” she said. “We took them all up and put in hard
White paint and creamy sofas offer a contrast with the fireplace and brass/glass table.
A hallway with shelves and cabinets doubles as a small, bright office.
wood.”
Many original features, such as the curving iron bannister in the entry, remain.
“We mainly live downstairs,” she said. “Upstairs is used as guest rooms.”
Shannon said previous owners, Ron and Rebecca Wright, remodeled the
kitchen “and did an outstanding job.”
The kitchen features a farmhouse sink, two walk-in pantries and seemingly endless storage. There are white cabinets around the walls, but black cabinets under an island. Three barstools at the kitchen island seems enough for the couple.
Lexi claims a spot in the sunny living room, the Mendenhall’s favorite room. New wallpaper complements place settings in the dining room.
“But anytime the family’s here, we use the dining room a lot,” Jarod said. “When everybody’s here, it could be in the neighborhood of 20 to 30.”
A tiny hall beside the kitchen has bookshelves on each side of a picture window. A small desk is by the window.
FEATURED HOME MENDENHALL
A walk-in shower on the first floor features a bench, lights and a cubby for shampoo and soap.
White sofas and an area rug add elegance to the living room. There also are clocks that were part of Shannon’s father’s collection.
Wide french doors open onto a sunroom that originally was an added screened porch.
“It’s where we spend our time,” she said. “We put in new curtains and blinds.”
A master suite is by the sunroom. Closets are on each side of a broad bay window.
The Mendenhalls added marble tile floors and a walk-in shower to the master bath.
Closets and cabinets all along the hall were original.
A second first-floor bedroom has built-in shelves and cabinets.
“When everybody’s here, it could be in the neighborhood of 20 to 30.”
— Jarod Mendenhall
Upstairs, the original wood floor has been sanded and restained. It retains the creak.
Two doors open onto the front balcony. Another door opens onto a back porch thats sits on the sunroom.
Jarod said one upstairs bedroom originally was the maid’s quarters. It used to have its own staircase, but still has a small cabinet with a drop-down ironing board.
One upstairs bathroom has 1950s pink tile with gray accents. Another has blue tile and white accents.
The Mendenhalls keep a washer, dryer and freezer in the basement.
Their longhaired greyhound, Lexi, enjoys romping on the grass that stretches across the backyard.
Gardens with caladiums, hostas and a variety of flowers border three sides of the lawn. A brick walk lines the garden.
“We both work a lot out here,” Jarod said. “We basically spend a lot of time making sure we pick up sticks every day.”
Two large trees shade the east part of the yard. A 100-year-old tree that shaded the other half was lost last year, Shannon said.
“We came home, and it basically had fallen on a neighbor’s house,” she said. “There was very little damage.”
Shannon said she’d like to remove the remaining stump and replace it with a small pool.
“I don’t want to destroy the parklike backyard,” she said.
A stairway with wood steps and an iron banister curls along the entry hall.
A crystal chandelier lights up the paintings on the entry walls.
ROBB STREET RANCH:
Timeless legacy of personal touches
By Cathy Spaulding •
Corbell
Photos by Mandy
Trees tower over the ranch house that stretches along Robb Street.
Owners over the decades enhance, personalize a beloved family home
Asprawling ranch house on Robb Street has seen different owners over the years, and each added a unique stamp to it.
“It’s just a home for all ages,” said Mary Robinson, who lived there for 19 years.
“Being a ranch style, the way it wraps around
the corner, it’s just a gorgeous setting.”
Mary and Ed Robinson lived in the house until seven years ago. Mary Robinson remembers “so many good times.”
“It has all the beautiful Japanese Maples that have been there forever,” she said.
“They continue to add grace to the house.”
Robinson said the house seemed built for large groups.
“I love to entertain, have family gatherings and holidays were always special,” she said. “It was a home to entertain in, a home for families. It could be a bed and breakfast easily.”
“It was a home to entertain in, a home for families. It could be a bed and breakfast easily.”
— Mary Robinson
Robinson said a previous owner Steve Yaffee, made several additions in the 1980s. They include an upstairs master bedroom suite with built-in cabinets and an office/library. Downstairs, he added a suite with a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, she said. He also installed a custom pool, she said.
Bricks form a grand entrance to the house.
Navy blue and off-white walls provide the perfect backdrops to fine art pieces. The wet bar doubles as a coffee bar.
Like many mid-century houses, there were lots of smaller rooms, Robinson said, adding that she opened up some space.
“The first thing we did when we went in, I replaced ceilings, put crown moulding in every room, and big white baseboards.” she said. “We totally repainted and re-carpeted.”
The house has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. Several rooms can serve a variety of purposes.
Robinson recalled one room that
“It became the favorite part of the house. It was so cozy. I had it decorated with the sofa and chair, added a nice game table to the side.”
— Mary Robinson
featured a wet bar.
“I called that my useless area,” Robinson said. “It became the favorite
part of the house. It was so cozy. I had it decorated with the sofa and chair, added a nice game table to the side.
The wet bar was there to service that.”
The current owner uses the wet bar as a coffee cubby, but has a hutch lined with spirits in the room.
A den near the dining room has a fireplace with a white wood mantel by white wood bookshelves.
French doors open onto the sunporch, which has seen a variety of uses.
RIGHT: Azalea Festival banners surround a pool table in the sunroom.
BOTTOM LEFT: Coral and teal give a beachy vibe to the guest kitchenette.
BOTTOM
RIGHT: Built-in bookshelves and cabinets feature an electric fireplace.
TOP: People can enjoy conversations by this fireplace, while a bookshelf displays vases.
BOTTOM LEFT: White columns and white trim accent the dark navy in the den.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Built-in white shelves and a fireplace add elegance to the master bedroom suite.
FEATURED HOME ROBINSON
LEFT: The kitchen features white appliances and cabinets, plus tile countertops.
CENTER LEFT: The sunny breakfast area features a built-in hutch.
CENTER RIGHT: An heirloom hutch offers lots of space to display fine dinnerware.
ABOVE: A daybed provides a cozy space for reading or gazing out the window.
LEFT: The house offers plenty of rooms for entertaining.
“We heated and cooled it, so it became another living area we could enjoy year-round,” Robinson said. “When the grandkids came, we opened it all up. they had a great place to be.”
The room since has become a game room, complete with a pool table and video arcade console.
Robinson said she refurbished and updated the kitchen.
“It has that pretty little area where you can sit and look out the windows,” Robinson said.
A main room has three alcoves separated by wood columns, Robinson said she repainted the columns to look like marble.
“I kept the
skylight
in the
bathroom
because that was always such a joy to walk into that nice big bathroom.”
— Mary Robinson
One side of the house has two bedrooms and bathrooms. A large laundry has lots of cabinets, a sink and a counter for folding.
The master suite is on the other side of the hose. Robinson said it’s “a major retreat.”
“You have your bedroom, you have your sitting area,” she said. “You have an area where you can have your morning coffee upstairs.”
There also is a study with bookcases and an electric fireplace.
Robinson said she expanded the bathroom counter and put in a walk-in shower and a Jacuzzi bath.
“I kept the skylight in the bathroom because that was always such a joy to walk into that nice big bathroom,” she said. “It creates natural light.”
FEATURED HOME ROBINSON
The downstairs suite, done in aqua and coral hues, has a beachcomber style.
Artist MaryBeth Timothy panted murals in downstairs rooms.
Robinson said “there were different personalities in every one she put in there.”
A bathroom mural features a giant
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:
Pleasurable activities abound in the backyard’s pool, lawn and cabana.
A jellyfish floats above fixtures in a guest bathroom.
An outdoor smoker, fireplace and grill offer dining opportunities. Statuary cranes stretch in a poolside garden.
jellyfish.
“It looks like you’re underwater when you’re there,” Robinson said.
A downstairs sunroom features a beach scene behind the daybed — perfect for reading on a rainy day.
A sliding door opens onto the backyard pool, surrounded by flower beds.
Robinson recalled putting every color of azaleas in the beds. They now feature lantanas, banana plants and decorative grasses. There is a xeriscape garden with river rocks.
A cabana features a bar, television and an open space facing a pool. A brick barbecue is at one side.
Enchanted by Turn-of-the-Century GEM
McQuay’s journey to rehabilitate a historic Muskogee home
When Coby McQuay laid eyes on her future turn-of-thecentury home on Boston Avenue, she was instantly enchanted.
McQuay was riding out the 2020 COVID lockdown on a houseboat on Lake Eufaula
and enjoying the lake life when she came across the listing for the home she is now proudly rehabbing in historic Kendall Place.
“It was the only house i looked at,” she said.
“I came up here in my swimsuit and my cutoffs, called the realtor, and she came right over.”
By Wendy burton • Photos by Mandy Corbell
Coby McQuay’s west-side beauty features a mix of her eclectic artistic vision and turn-of-the-century charm.
FEATURED HOME M c QUAY
TOP LEFT: Potted flowers and vines create a charming outdoor space.
TOP RIGHT: The front porch of the Boston Avenue home offers a cozy sitting area for guests.
BOTTOM: Coby McQuay often entertains guests in her charming backyard.
McQuay, who was born in Muskogee and lived many of her early years between Muskogee and Checotah, fell in love but the house was already under contract. “Then I got a text over Labor Day weekend that the deal fell through. So I came up ad bought the house — and I didn’t even tell anybody.”
The house is situated on an elevated lot with brick steps down to the street, mature trees shading the walkway and porch, and lovely older homes on either side.
The two-story home features nearly 3,900 square feet, including the full basement, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and three living areas.
McQuay’s research leads her to believe that it had to have been built by Joseph Dickmann between 1900 and 1904 while Muskogee was in Indian Territory. Dickmann was a builder who built the Barnes building downtown, which is no longer standing, and who died in 1967, she said.
He sold the home to Jean Boehm, who raised her daughters there, and McQuay is only the third owner of the more than 120-year-old house.
“It’s very important to me to keep this house original. It has great bones and, luckily, a lot of it was been left original,” she said.
The exterior has been covered in vinyl siding,
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which McQuay plans to remedy someday. But the 8-foot-tall entry door with glass panes and multi-paned floor-to-ceiling window in the foyer are original to the house. Inside are the original wood floors, plenty of windows, also all original, and extensive molding — including picture rails around the top of most rooms.
“They certainly knew what they were doing when
“They certainly knew what they were doing when they put in picture rails — these plaster and lathe walls are hard as rock and hard to put a nail in.”
— Coby McQuay
they put in picture rails — these plaster and lathe walls are hard as rock and hard to put a nail in,” McQuay said.
The main living area boasts an ornate brass gas fireplace and a built-in large bay window with storage seating lines one entire wall. Off the living room is a small room with a different wood floor that McQuay believes might be an enclosed section of the original porch. She has turned it into a quaint sitting area that
ABOVE: The living room features original wood floors, built-in shelving and a window seat.
BELOW: A sculpture by artist Christopher Mantle sits next to the ornate fireplace in the living room.
has many of her eclectic collection of art and antiques on display.
On the left of the main living room is the formal dining room with another living area attached. She has also filled this small room with quirky, unique pieces of art and other items.
“It’s very important to me to keep this house original. It has great bones and, luckily, a lot of it was been left original.” — Coby McQuay
Two paintings, a buffalo and a teepee on rouchcut canvas cloth were painted by artist Christopher Mantle, who was then an up-and-coming artist and who today is known for his buffalo paintings and who has an art gallery in Tulsa.
The vibrant colors of the paintings pop vividly against the walls and ceiling of the little room that McQuay painted “Hale Navy.”
In the dining room, McQuay has several bright paintings by a street artist she met in Seattle. “I was at a conference about 20 years ago and walking down the
ABOVE: The television room features vintage furniture and vivid paintings by Christopher Mantle.
LEFT: The upstairs bathroom has been redone in Italian marble tile.
FEATURED HOME M c QUAY
sidewalk, saw this guy painting on some kind of roofing paper,” she said. “He calls this wood blocking, and I brought home six of his paintings.”
Fond of browsing junk stores and antique shops wherever she goes, McQuay has many eye-catching pieces throughout her home. She’s trying to
The largest bedroom upstairs features the original coved ceiling, paneled doors, and wood floors.
LEFT: The dining room includes antique furniture and modern art along with the original built-in shelving and picture rails.
BELOW: What was once a screened-in porch is now a small sitting room off the living room.
keep the house as true-to-era as possible, she said. In the long central hallway downstairs, she left the fluer-de-lis wallpaper that was clearly very early but in decent shape and painted it the palest pink.
The downstairs bathroom has been updated with Italian marble floors and
deep black-painted walls. The kitchen is a work in progress that McQuay intends to renovate someday. “I’m going to do black-and-white checkered marble floor, but I haven’t decided what to do with the walls yet,” she said.
Two bedrooms round out the downstairs area filled with interesting art and
ABOVE:
furniture. In one room, a gold-painted metal bed and ornate dresser are point of pride for McQuay. “This was my grandparents’ bed when they got married, then my mother used it growing up, then my daughters did. It has been in my family for 78 years,” she said. “My youngest daughter is taking this bed to Oklahoma State University in a few weeks.”
Upstairs are three more bedrooms and another full bath that McQuay had
redone with Italian marble floors and a walk-in shower. It has a skylight in a dormer that adds natural light to the room.
Perhaps the only strikingly modern part of the home is the in-ground pool in the cozy backyard. McQuay and her daughter painted it pink.
“Oh it always surprises everyone, especially because the water changes it so it’s a crystal blue in the sunlight and deep turquoise when shaded — but it really is completely painted pink,” she
said. “My daughter and I crawled in there and pried out all the old caulking in the seams ourselves, then recaulked it and painted it.”
She said she hadn’t planned on having a pink pool — she wanted a mural painted in the pool at first. “Then we were planning a pink-themed party for my daughter’s 18th birthday and graduation that was coming up,” she said. “And then I just decided, well, I’m going to paint this pool pink.”
RIGHT: McQuay’s backyard is filled with cozy furniture, pots of flowers, a treehouse, and fun lighting.
BOTTOM LEFT:
Fun lighting and comfortable seating await guests.
BOTTOM RIGHT: The pink-painted pool glows vibrantly in the evening hours.
FEATURES
» ADDRESS: 2005 McGill Circle, Eufaula.
» ASKING PRICE: $599,900.
» SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,752.
» ACREAGE: 0.57 acres.
» BEDROOMS: Four.
» BATHROOMS: Three.
» HEATING AND COOLING: Electric heat, central heat and air.
» OTHER AMENITIES: Vaulted ceiling, three gas log fireplaces, pool, storage building with carport.
» FLOORS: Tile.
» SCHOOL DISTRICT: Stidham,
» INFORMATION: Rod Canterbury, RE/MAX Advantage, (918) 558-5856.
Experience luxury living WITH STUNNING LAKE VIEWS
Spacious home boasts high-end features, scenic
surroundings
Enjoy luxury along with a lake view in this spacious home northwest of Eufaula.
Tall oak trees tower over the house that overlooks the lake from a peninsula.
Driveways in front of the house have enough room
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos
for a travel trailer and boat. The front yard, which juts like a peninsula on a corner boasts a fountain.
The house is topped with a high-pitched red tile roof.
“The most expensive and safest roof you can get,” said Rod Canterbury of Re/Max Advantage.
rod Canterbury
Oaks tower over the pitched tile roof on this Eufaula property. The driveway is large enough for a travel trailer.
submitted by
A colorful walk and columned front porch lead to a grand entry.
The 2,753-square-foot house features a spacious, open layout with rooms that encourage versatility. A creamy tile floor throughout the house offers a sense of unity.
“I like the openness of the house and I like the tile,” Canterbury said. “It’s a lake house, but you do not have to worry about all the sand. You can fire up the vacuum and it picks up the sand.”
A room to one side of the foyer can be a formal dining room or a study. An arched picture window nearly fills one wall.
On the foyer’s other side is a sitting room or living room with its own fireplace — one of three gas fireplaces in the house.
The two rooms open onto a spacious kitchen that features granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
ABOVE: Whether as a dining room or an office, a front room offers a good view.
BELOW: The grand entry opens onto an array of different rooms.
A copper accent on the ceiling adds a splash of color to a living room.
The spacious kitchen opens into a large family room.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
A family room features built-in bookshelves and cabinets, plus one of three fireplaces.
Canterbury said the kitchen has a commercial quality gas stove.
A kitchen island can double as a dining area. Stools can belly up to the overhanging counter.
“It’s got a sink so you can have a wet bar,” Canterbury said.
A pantry by the laundry area was built as a tornado safe room.
“It’s got a sink so you can have a wet bar.”
— Rod Canterbury
“You can get five in there,” Canterbury said.
The kitchen opens to family room. Built-in bookshelves and cabinets are on both sides of the home’s second fireplace. The family room opens onto the big back patio.
Two bedrooms and a bath are on one side of the family room.
The living room opens onto the master suite, which includes a third fireplace. The bedroom has a patio entrance.
“The master is just immaculate,” Canterbury said. “It’s huge. It’s got a sauna tub.”
The master bedroom features abundant windows, plus patio access.
A spare room can be used for exercises, sewing or crafts.
His and her walk-in closets are on either side of the hall to the master bath. The closets have clothing racks that can be raised or lowered, Canterbury said.
The master bath has his and her sinks and a walk-in shower.
The garage has a room that could be a workout room, sewing room or craft area.
“The master is just immaculate ... It’s huge. It’s got a sauna tub.” — Rod Canterbury
A broad back covered patio is big enough for two ceiling fans. It features
an outdoor kitchen with a sink, smoker and grill.
The patio looks onto a cloverleaf
TOP RIGHT: The walk-in shower features a variety of tile.
ABOVE: A second bathroom features a walk-in shower.
ABOVE: Luxuriate in a spa bath in the master bathroom,
RIGHT: A pantry doubles as a safe room big enough for five.
BELOW: The laundry has its own sink and garage access.
The patio spreads along the backyard and features its own built-in kitchen.
Lake Eufaula inlets surround the neighborhood, which has public access.
The backyard offers an array of activity options, including a patio, kitchen and pool.
shaped pool surrounded by trees and garden spaces.
“They put the pool in three years ago, so it still has a warranty on it,” Canterbury said.
The property also has a storage area with a carport. Canterbury said the neighborhood has public access to the lake.
Eufaula Municipal Airport is within a couple miles. Eufaula shopping and entertainment is just on the other side of U.S. 69.
LEFT: A pool installed three years ago still is under warranty.
BELOW: The house has space for a variety of watercraft and lawnmowers.
LIVING WITH Patrick & Shanna
Muskogee Mayor Patrick Cale and his wife, Shanna, sit with their three long haired Chihuahuas. Cale said Sugar Bear, left, is a real sweetie and Buttercup, center, wants all the attention. Then there's Honey Bun. "She barks at dinnertime and when there's other people around," Cale said. "But the way she communicates is to sit in front of you and just stare."
Photo by MandyCorbell
Sharla McDaniel proudly displays a plate of her home-cooked barbecue.
Passion ignites family legacy
Sharla McDaniel cooks up success with father’s inspiration, mother’s skills
JACK’S Just Another Country Kickin’ Sauce was born of a passion Sharla McDaniel inherited from her father and mother.
“My dad got very sick when I was about 8, and he wasn’t able to work so he was home with us kids — there will still four of us at home. I had eight siblings,” she said. “So he taught me how to cook.”
But her true skills came from her mother, McDaniel said.
“Dad taught me how to cook, but I learned how to cook from my mother,” she said. “There is a difference!”
McDaniel was 14 years old the first time she made barbecue sauce from scratch.
By Wendy Burton• Photos by Mandy CorBell
Tongs pull a rack of ribs out of the smoker, perfectly seasoned with JACK’S Just Another Country Kickin’ Sauce.
Ribs in various stages of preparation and smoking, seasoned with Sharla McDaniel’s homemade dry rub and mustard. McDaniel, who also uses her own seasoning on spaghetti meat, has perfected her recipes for JACK’S Just Another Country Kickin’ Sauce and dry rub over the years.
“One summer day I was barbecuing and went to the kitchen to get the sauce. But there was none,” she said. “So I went to the cabinet, grabbed some spices and stuff, and started putting it all together.”
She carefully honed her recipe over the years since, sharing bottles with friends and family but not sharing her recipe with anyone.
“Nobody knows it but it is written down. My kids already know that when I go, they have to carry this on,” she said. “It’s near and dear to my heart, and they will need to carry it on.”
She has created her own seasoning, too, that she uses as a dry rub, on chicken, pork, and beef — she even uses it to season her spaghetti meat, she said.
“I love how food is seasoned,” McDaniel said. “I don’t want food I have to put salt and pepper on — I want that perfect seasoning.”
In 2012, McDaniel entered the annual Soul Food Cookoff held at the Muskogee Civic Center, and JACK’S was born soon after.
Another vendor at the contest asked her if she was bottling her sauce. He gave her a card to a manufacturing
company and encouraged her to look into the possibility. Then he competed with her for the win.
“They were announcing the winners and it was just the two of us standing there at that point, and he kept saying, ‘oh, you don’t know barbecue, you don’t,’” McDaniel said, laughing. “So when I won for my brisket, I just leaned over and gave a him a look.”
She said she had no plans at first to try to have her sauce sold commercially.
“But the idea kept resonating in my mind, and six months later I had it in the bottle,” she said.
Betty Blackwell
RE/MAX &ASSO CIATES
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Ensuring her beloved father is remembered through her success, McDaniel named her sauce after him, Jack Jackson, and put his picture on the label.
Then she started selling at special events, trade shows, state fairs, and local stores.
After she incorporated in 2018, McDaniel learned that she could sell her sauce on the Walmart website, and she began doing that in 2021. Unfortunately, in 2022, her bottling manufacturer abruptly closed and she was unable to find a replacement.
“So in 2023, I formed another business: JACK’S Manufacturing and More,” McDaniel said. “I have a commercial property with a building and so I’m applying for grants to help with funding the business. I’ll manufacture my own sauce and seasoning, offer services to other businesses, and rent out my commercial kitchen.”
She also dreams of inspiring the youth in the community through education.
“I substitute teach and Cherokee Elementary is right in my backyard. I want to teach kids about gardening and basic cooking skills,” she said. “I hope they’ll come over and learn this.”
For now, McDaniel is only sharing her delicious sauce and seasoning with family and friends, but she’ll be updating the business’s Facebook page, “Jacks BBQ Sauce & Seasoning” as the work on her manufacturing facility progresses.
McDaniel proudly holds up a plate of cut ribs, showcasing her years of culinary experience, passion for cooking, and dedication to her family’s recipes.
Sharla
CLASS OF 1964 REUNION
Marcia Zaroor-Owen, Muskogee native, hosted their 60th class reunion at her home in Honor Heights. It was the Class of 1964 Muskogee Central High School.
Photos by Manut Buapet
JOHN VECCHIO DINNER
‘’There is nothing I value you more than friends just getting together for conversation, sharing their family accomplishments, vacation plans or what they planted in their front yard Just plain simple conversation, we don’t seem to have much of that anymore.’’ — John Vecchio
Photos by Mandy Corbell
JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCES
Several hundred people gather to celebrate the anniversary of when Texas slaves were notified of their freedom on June 19, 1865.
Photos by Ronn Rowland
FREEDOM CELEBRATION
Church holds Freedom Celebration as a way to pray and celebrate the USA.
