March 2020

Tuesday evening, Fire Chief Kent Lagaly provided a letter to the El Reno City Council announcing his plans to retire from the position he has held for 18 years. The letter said Lagaly’s retirement would be effective March 31. By Wednesday afternoon, Mayor and Acting City Manager Matt White announced Lagaly has agreed to serve as assistant city manager.

A memorial celebration for Keith Edward Schemmer of Kingfisher will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020, at the Federated Church at 400 W. Fay Avenue in Kingfisher. Services are under the direction of McNeil’s Funeral Service, Mustang.

Mr. Schemmer died at home on Feb. 18, 2020. He was born in Kingfisher on June 8, 1953, to Frederick and Mary Jane (Mackey) Schemmer. He graduated from Kingfisher High School in 1971. Keith worked for different companies over the years, primarily Pioneer Telephone, Schweitzer Gypsum & Lime and P&K Equipment.

Jeannie (Loyall) O’Neal was called home to the Lord on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. She passed away at her home in Mustang that she shared with her loving daughter, Kimberlie, and grandson, Preston “P.”

Jeannie was a lifelong resident of El Reno, born March 7, 1944, to Gerlenas and Henry Loyall. She graduated from El Reno High School in 1962. After graduating, Jeannie got a job at Citizen National Bank where she spent many of her adult years. Jeannie then moved on to become a clerk at the Canadian County Assessor’s Office where she eventually retired.

Funeral services for Patricia (Pat) LaFoe were held Friday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Weslaco, Texas.

Pat died March 9, 2020, in Ria Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas. She was born Oct. 2, 1944, in El Reno. Pat was a lifelong resident of the Calumet area. She graduated from Calumet School in 1962. She married Raymond J. LaFoe Jr. on Nov. 30, 1963. Pat became a teacher and taught for more than 30 years. After retiring, Pat and Ray moved to Weslaco, Texas, in 2000, and made their home there.

Graveside services for Ruby Faye Garrett were held Tuesday in the Yukon Cemetery.

Ruby passed away March 4, 2020, at 88 years of age. She was born in Mustang.

Ruby was a former El Reno resident and still owned a farm in El Reno.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Wright of Lindsay.

After three seasons, the help-wanted sign is back out for the El Reno High School boys basketball program.

Kale Simon handed in his letter of resignation last week for his coaching duties only, and will stay on as assistant principal at Roblyer Learning Center, said El Reno Superintendent Craig McVay.

“His resignation will be voted on at the April school board meeting,” said McVay.

El Reno Athletic Director Rodney Haydon said Simon’s decision caught him off-guard. Simon was his top choice to replace him as the Indians coach at the end of the 2016-17 season.

A body found Wednesday morning in Union City was being investigated as a possible homicide, although authorities said the exact determination of death would be made by the state medical examiner.

Union City police were contacted shortly before 9 a.m. by a motorist who reported seeing the body of a woman on the side of the road. The body was found near SW 44th and Gregory Road.

In a radio interview, Brook Arbeitman, OSBI public information officer, said investigators were using 3-D cameras to process the scene.