Obituaries

Sherry Wood, cherished mother, granny, sister, cousin and friend, peacefully passed away Sept. 24, 2024, at the age of 78. Her legacy of love and kindness lives on in her daughters and grandchildren.

Sherry was born Aug. 27, 1946, to Clarence and Lillian Simpson in Amarillo, Texas. Known for her generosity and exceptional crochet skills, she found joy in every stitch she crafted.

As granny, Sherry delighted in hosting Easter egg hunts and Christmas gatherings that will be treasured for generations to come.

Services for Levi Lesley Mitchell of Minco will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Hazel Dell Baptist Church, with burial following at the Niles Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Levi passed away Sept. 18, 2024, at Binger Nursing and Rehabilitation. He was born July 3, 1941, in Purdy, and was raised in the Minco community. He was a longtime truck driver.

Services for Joe “Tinker” Merritt of Minco will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Minco First Baptist Church, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Tinker passed away Sept. 18, 2024, at his home. He was born Sept. 4, 1933, in Minco and was raised in the Minco community, graduating from Minco High School in 1951. He was employed with Tinker Air Force Base, retiring in 1987 as an item manager. He was a member of Minco First Baptist Church.

Most people only dream of leaving the kind of legacy that Everett Cooper Lees left and having the kind of impact that he had on everyone he met, from his parishioners to the Diocese of Oklahoma to the owner of his favorite sandwich shop.

He made everyone he met feel like a friend - because they were now.

Countless people have said Everett changed their life - maybe even saved their life - just by being himself.

He listened without judgment. Cared without conditions. Supported without strings attached. It was obvious that he would become a priest, just not to him.

Merle Wayne Chapel passed away Sept. 10, 2024, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 in the Benson Memorial Chapel with burial following in the El Reno Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Merle was born March 11, 1944, in El Reno and was a lifelong resident of the community.

Patricia Kay Steffen, age 80, of Mathis, Texas, and Antigo, Wis., died Sept. 10, 2024, at Aspirus Langlade Hospital. She was born June 29, 1944, in El Reno, the daughter of the late Kermit and Joan (Halbert) Scott. She married Ray Steffen on Aug. 28, 1964, in a country church near El Reno.

Pat was a graduate of Okarche High School. She was a bookkeeper for several small businesses over the years.

Carol Lee Schweitzer, age 89, entered eternal rest on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in El Reno with her beloved children at her bedside. 

She was born in Guthrie, Okla., on Dec. 21, 1934, to Randolph and Gladys Kastner. She moved to Yukon when she was in elementary school. Her parents owned the Gibble Gas Station on Highway 66 just west of Yukon. She grew up with her brother, Earl Kastner and sister, Dorcas Roberts. She graduated from Yukon High School in 1953. She loved playing the flute in the Yukon Miller Band.

Funeral services for Nancy Lynn Keys of El Reno will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 in the Huber-Benson Chapel with Rev. Mark Fryer officiating. 

Mrs. Keys passed away Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at River Oaks Skilled Nursing and Therapy Center in El Reno. She was born July 25, 1948, in El Reno to her parents, Alvin and Cora (Dresser) Koert. She was a 1967 graduate of El Reno High School and member of the Ellison Avenue Methodist Church. 

Graveside service for Barbara Hathaway was held Thursday, Sept. 12 at the El Reno Cemetery with Rev. Scott Keneda officiating. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home. 

Barbara died Sept. 7, 2024, at Integris Hospice House in Oklahoma City. She was born Sept. 26, 1945, to Robert and Gene Strohl in Champaign, Ill.

She was a graduate of Champaign High School. Champaign was also the location where she met Glen Hathaway. Glen and Barbara were married March 21, 1965. They moved to El Reno in 1977. 

Matthew Kyle Willey was born July 18, 1983, in Watonga. He passed away Sept. 3, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

Matt attended school first in Geary, graduated from Ponca City High School and later Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City. 

Matthew was employed by Mertz Manufacturing Company in Ponca City and was a specialty welder with plasma cutting projects. He also worked for Dexter Axle in El Reno. His other employments included security officer at Diamondback Correctional Facility in Watonga and a wildland firefighter with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes at Concho.