Obituaries

Zadan Levi Wolf Knight died Aug. 1, 2022, at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas, at the age of two months and 26 days. He was born May 6, 2022, in Midland to Kevin Knight and Ci’Leayah Shelton. His parents survive him.

He also survived by his paternal grandparents, Chris Knight of Midland and Elizabeth Knight and Terrence Pitts of Midland; maternal grandmother, Andrea Beaver of El Reno; paternal great-grandparents, Kenneth and Brenda Callahan of West Plains, Mo.; maternal great-grandmother, Mary Sankey of El Reno; and brother, Ace Sankey.

Our sweet daddy went to be with Jesus on Aug. 8, 2022.

Wendell was a lifetime resident of El Reno. After graduating from El Reno High School and owning his own gas station, he was a conductor for the railroad.

His favorite pastime was reading the Bible and spending time with his fun-loving kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. He loved gardening, woodwork and being at his farm.

He was a lifetime member of the El Reno Church of Christ at London and Macomb.

Robert Anthony Pastorello, 71, of El Reno, went to be with our Lord and Savior on July 31, 2022, after a lengthy illness.

Robert was born May 13, 1951. He was an Air Force veteran, serving in Vietnam and Korea.

He worked at Deaconess Hospital in education and compliance for 32 years.

Funeral services for Eldon Ray Ventris of Minco were held Thursday at First Baptist Church in Minco.

A private family burial followed at the Evergreen Cemetery, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Ray passed away Aug. 1, 2022, at his home in Minco. He was born Nov. 20, 1937, in Stillwater.

He graduated from Minco High School in 1955 and from Central State University in 1959 with a bachelor’s of science degree.

Billy Joe Hardin passed away on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at the age of 65. Bill was born Nov. 22, 1956.

He married his wife, Nancy, in 1975 and was a longtime resident of El Reno.

Bill began working at Cavin’s Paint-n-Body Shop in 1973 when he was only 17. In 2003, he bought the body shop from Harold Cavin. He took great pride in his work and enjoyed serving his customers. Bill and Nancy had two boys, B.J. and Wes, and adopted their granddaughter, Amanda (Aydin). Nancy was the love of his life, and his kids were his pride and joy.

Roberta Mae Shelley Grulkey, 87, was born in El Reno to Roy R. Shelley and Ollie Lee Lawson Shelley on Aug. 28, 1934, and passed away at her home on July 28, 2022.

Roberta was a lifetime resident and 1954 graduate of El Reno High School.

She married Carl C. Grulkey Sr. on April 5, 1956, and they were together for 51 years until his passing in 2007. 

Roberta enjoyed find-a-word puzzles, car rides, big foot hunting and spending time with her granddaughter, Crystal.

Funeral services for Rhoda Mae Youngbird Braxton were held Monday at the Emergency Response Center in Concho. Burial followed at Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Rhoda died July 27, 2022, at her home in Kingfisher. She was born May 9, 1941, in Concho. She was a homemaker and participated in Cheyenne Traditional Ceremonies. She was a member of the Native American Church.

Juanita L. Miklaucic Heckes, 75, departed her earthly life July 18, 2022, after braving a long illness.

Born May 29, 1947, in Walsenburg, Colo., Juanita was the youngest of seven children born to Joseph and Anna Miklaucic. She grew up in Lehigh, Okla., and graduated from Coalgate High School, Coalgate, Okla.

She married Irvin “Wes” Heckes and they enjoyed 48 years of travel and working together in all their businesses. They enjoyed many trips in their motorhome, flying to their lake home and airplane trips to fly-ins all over the country.

Funeral services for Kendall Lee Brown will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2022, at First Pentecostal Church of God in El Reno with Rev. Kevin Fouts officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the El Reno Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Kendall was born Sept. 22, 1938, in Rush Springs to Fred Lee and Mildred Bertha (Sorrels) Brown. He died July 26, 2022, in El Reno at the age of 83.