Have you heard that saying that a lot of people begin to look like their pets? We don’t know if that’s true or not, but we do know there’s one sure-fire way to learn about people - and make a good impression while you’re at it!
You can learn a lot about a person’s personality by the way they talk about their pets. We asked our conference staff to share photos (with or without their pets) and descriptions of their pets.
We had all sorts of responses. We think you’ll love learning about our colleagues by learning about their furry friends.
We also asked them to tell you what they do by answering the prompt, “Call me for...” This is what they said.
My name is:
Rev. Nancy Hamilton
Call/email me for: information regarding clergy status changes or help navigating the process of becoming a licensed or ordained clergy member.
This is Roscoe. He is a golden doodle/ silver lab mix, which makes him a one-hundred-pound gold and silver mess!! He loves his good boy treats, his night-night treats, and “Roscoe, get on the couch, I am leaving the house treats.” He lets us know when he needs his water bowl filled, his food bowl filled, and of course his tummy rubs. He always wants to know what I am cooking, what I am eating, and where I am going. Life is never dull with Roscoe!
My name is:
Rev. Marla Lobo
Call/email me for:
I love connecting our churches, volunteers, children, and young adults in relationships for positive change. Let me know how I can help you connect!
This is our rescue dog Martin. He’s named after one of my heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin is the gentlest of souls. He is a friend to all humans and animals. He loves meeting people, especially children, long walks, and hugs. He is the faithful companion of his rescue fur sister Lily, barn cats Sonic and Liberty, and 5 chickens.
My name is:
Jena Barber
Call/email me for:
News, photos, editing, graphic design, and anything related to OKUMC publications!
This is Pekoe. He’s 50% cat, 50% tail. He lived in a car engine for five days before a group of four grown adults pulled him out, getting two bites (not me) and a million scratches (all of us) in the process, when he was 12 weeks old. Pekoe’s nicknames are Peeky, Beeboo, PeekyTeeky-Tavi, Pekoe Tico, etc., etc. We also have Bagheera (cat), Penelope (dog-horse combo), Stella (bulldog-piggy combo), and Mojo (just dog). Pekoe’s hobbies are being carried around on my shoulders like the conquering emperor he is, getting brushed, hiding in dresser drawers, and bullying the dogs.
My name is:
Madison Amber
Call/email me for:
Questions about benefits, retirement, human resources, or stories about Bruce!
Meet Bruce!
My name is:
KaitlynCantrell
Call/email me: if you need help finding specific registration forms sent by the Office of Connectional Ministries or the Board of Ordained Ministry, Annual Conference information regarding memoirs, display tables, and youth delegation information. I am also available to try to assist you when Derrek or Nancy are out of the office.
This is Klaus, our only cat. In 2018, we had planned to pick up a male kitten out of a litter found in a barn, but there had been a mix up with the kittens and we received a female. We are forever grateful for the mix up but she kept the masculine name she was given. We get all the wonderful things about a cat out of Klaus. She loves hunting and is a top tier mouser. She is the cuddliest of cats, but also loves playing with her fur sisters and staying active. One distinct feature about Klaus is that she has a patch of hair that sticks up at the top of her head making her a true unikitty.
Shyla is my first baby. I got her before I met my husband and before I had human children. She is 8 years old and is a mix between a Rottweiler and Pitbull. She is my protector, a snuggle bug and the most gentle and patient big sister. She loves summertime, her family and special treats. She is not a fan of the vet, nail trimmings or the mailman. My allergist once told me that I needed to get rid of my fur babies. As any sane person would do, I got rid of my allergist.
Aspen is the first fur baby my husband and I got together. She is a 7 yearold Great Pyrenees and quite small for her breed at 84lbs. While we don’t live on a farm, we live at a house with a family to protect. You can find her pacing and barking to make sure her presence is known. Another way she grabs your attention is physically. She has double dewclaws which give her the ability to grab things, almost like humans do. She loves spending time outside no matter the weather conditions.
Poppy is our youngest and smallest fur baby. She was given to us by my grandmother-in-law 5 years ago. She is a Morkie, but certainly has more of the Maltese features. She is extra sassy but her sister Klaus keeps her in line. She loves meeting new people, going for walks and wearing her sweaters. She does not like her paws touched and she will require that you carry her if the temperature is below 50 degrees.
While he is not an official member of our family, this is Harold, our local toad. His hard work around the house does not go unnoticed. Thanks to Harold, we have seen a decrease in bugs on the front porch. We enjoy watching him at night eating all the June bugs. Every spring, we hope to see Harold make his appearance but if he doesn’t he has left a million babies to carry on his legacy.
My name is:
Kathryn Witzel
Call/email me for:
Project Transformation.
As I scrolled Facebook on a day in October of 2012, one of the former students in our church posted a picture of his dog that was expecting puppies. Several months later this sweet pup was delivered to our home. Pippen captured our hearts from the first moments and eventually endeared herself to our other dog at the time. Having been an only dog for several years now, she rules the house, prompting us to get outside and enjoy our neighborhood with her on a leash. When the granddaughters come over, she works diligently to make sure nothing harms them and that any food that is dropped is quickly cleaned up. Squirrels, bunnies, and plastic bags beware as Pippen is constantly on the lookout for any invaders in our yard. She is often content to sit on a lap or alongside us as I read and Randy watches sports and she has a bed in the office to keep her company while I paint or create other types of arts and crafts.
My name is:
Wanda Coder
Call/email me for:
Questions related to our children/youth camps or for contact information for the campsites! Our sites handle their own calendars for retreats.
This is Sage! She loves to lounge all day and demands love and attention as you walk in the door. You must drop everything so she can have her “I missed you” pets. She is afraid of moving cars but loves going for rides. Sage is finally excited about squeaky toys which makes her dad and I so excited! Her stocking was very full this Christmas. Wherever you are, that is where Sage is going to be which is why we lovingly refer to her as our Velcro Dog.
Rev. Carlos Ramirez
Call/email me for:
a tour of my Star Wars collection.
The dog with the glasses is Chuy. In Mexico it is very common to name people Jesús. It is also common for names to have a nickname. In the case of Jesús is Chuy. I guess an apt dog name for a clergy couple! Chuy is a chunky Havanese with a friendly disposition only to his family. Any other person, well, he is not that cuddly.
The skinny one with black ears is Xochi (short for Xochitl that means flower). Xochi is a shih-poo (a new breed of shih-tzu and poodle). She is a busybody. Always chewing something, exploring something, barking and wanting to play. If she was a human, she could easily fit into the ADD category. She is very friendly. Both dogs are hypoallergenic because my wife is allergic to dog dandruff. In fact the doggies are actually Wendi’s dogs. They follow her everywhere she goes. They are always around her. It is very cute to see their interactions and the love they have for Wendi and Wendi for them.
My name is:
Sherry Helton
Call/email me for:
whomever you may need that is with the UMC office of Oklahoma as I should be able to transfer you to that person. I can also transfer you to the people with Circle of Care, as they are located in our building. If you need contact information for any of our District Superintendents and/or their assistants, I have that on hand. If you should need contact information for one of the pastors that serve our UM churches in the state of Oklahoma, I can find that as well.
If I were to introduce myself to someone’s pet, as I do not happen to have a pet of my own - I would probably say, “Good morning Pet So & So, we are so glad to see you today! How can we help you this morning? Perhaps you would know right away that I am the Receptionist/ Hospitality Coordinator for the Oklahoma Conference Office of the United Methodist Church located on the outskirts of OCU in Oklahoma City.”
My name is:
Dana Parker
Call/email me for:
Disaster response, missions.
There are no pets in our household anymore, and I like the ability to take off without worrying about who look after of our dogs. But I do have an old sewing machine that requires quite a bit of care and encouragement to keep running. It’s been a long-time companion and has shared lots of projects with me over the years!
My name is:
Rebekah Hasty
Call/email me for:
all things related to youth and young adult ministry, campus ministry, Board of Higher Ed & Campus Ministry, Annual Conference Council, ministry audits, Annual Conference planning, etc.
Hello, I’m Angus (Gus for short) Hasty. I’m a 2 ½ year old micromini goldendoodle. I came to live with my family when Gillian moved to Florida and Hayden moved to his apartment, so Mom calls me her “empty nest” dog. I love affection from my family, playing outside, chewing up my toys, and having play dates with my best friend, Ellie, the micromini goldendoodle next door. I’m rather shy around new people, but warm up quickly once I can tell they are nice. I’m a great guard dog because I sit at the front window and bark at all the strangers who like to take walks in my neighborhood.
Hello, I’m Nico Hasty. I’m a small 12-year-old domestic shorthair cat and have been a member of the family since they moved into their home. I put on a really sad face for my mom years ago and she brought me home from PetsMart. I pretty much run the house except for that blasted dog that mom got a couple years ago. He totally loves me, but I am kind and I, mostly, tolerate him. I like to roam the neighborhood and visit my other families until it’s time to rest and then I sleep at home around 20 hours a day.
My name is: Gary White
Call/email me for: accounting related questions.
While I don’t currently have any pets in OKC, my family has longhorn cattle on our property that are my pets when I visit them.
My name is: Tabitha Beckman
Call/email me for: editing videos, graphics, and Pre-Conference Workbook.
We are Maya and Styx. We recently moved to Albany. NY with our humans, Tabitha and Krithi. We like to go on hikes around our new home. We also love treats and snuggles.
My name is:
Rev. Roger Parker
Call/email me for:
The Gathering and Lighthouse churches.
All throughout my life, I’ve had dogs for pets, but not long ago, my oldest daughter acquired 2 two grey coated, green eyed cats from a local shelter. Since she does not have children and because they are brother and sister, I think of them as my grandchildren. Anya is a beautiful cat that is very introverted and Lexi is a handsome rascal. However, I love it when Anya comes and cuddles up to me when we are watching a movie and how Lexi loves to play and act silly. It never ceases to amaze me what kind of trouble he can find and how high he can jump. Both love their “grandpa”.
My name is: Wayne Wilczek
My name is Charlie. I will turn 9 in January. Wayne Wilczek, and his wife, Quen, work for me. Wayne drives me around almost every day, throws balls for me, makes my meals (often from fresh venison), and picks up after me. In return, I allow him an 18” portion of my Queen-size bed. I am loyal to my parents, and very leery of strangers. I am very active. I will chase a ball til I give myself a heart attack if Wayne doesn’t limit his throws. I seldom relax, but when I do it is often in a “road-kill” pose. You can reach out to Wayne at OKUMC if you have questions or concerns regarding Church Apportionments or payments to/ from others. He is also available to assist churches with finance procedures, HR/Payroll procedures, and general accounting processes. He will also discuss solutions to OSU sports and the Dallas Cowboys, if you are interested.
I am happy to introduce you to Bella. She is approximately 14 years old, some mix of German Shepherd and something else that gave her white feet and belly. Current white face is due to age; all of that was black when she was younger. She has a bad hip and sheds prodigiously, both when it’s about to be cold and when it’s about to be hot. Bella is a gentle spirit who found her best life during covid, when any work meetings happened outside, and she got to go along. One of her favorite spots currently is under the cabinet table in Little Rock, where she conveniently lies down to sleep right next to people’s feet and chair wheels and then protests when they move. She loves walks and sniffing all the sniffs, and she has pretty much been my personal fitness plan for about 13 years. She is reliably disobedient when off leash, with the selective hearing of a 12 year old boy. Bella has been fortunate to receive the hospitality of a number of persons and families over time who have welcomed them into their homes and onto their beds and couches, when I have to leave for travel. She is a good girl who gives love and joy, expressed through her eyes and doggy smile. While she hasn’t made the trip to Oklahoma yet, one of these days we will make that happen. There are many sniffs yet unsniffed there.
