Marlene Walker-Payne (Hawkins), a proud member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and a great-great-granddaughter of Chief White Antelope, passed away Sept. 1, 2025, at River Oaks Skilled Nursing and Therapy in El Reno. She was 86, just 17 days shy of her 87th birthday.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Jerry Don Smith, who was born Oct. 24, 1952, and passed away Aug. 27, 2025.
Jerry is remembered as a man who was stubborn in spirit, yet possessed a heart of gold.
Jerry spent most of his childhood in Calumet, where he graduated high school in 1970. He took great joy in watching old westerns and watching Family Feud.
Joy Keller Dye passed away peacefully Aug. 30, 2025, at St. Katharine’s in El Reno.
She was born Feb. 22, 1936, in Ryan, Oklahoma, to Leonard and Clemma Keller. She was a 1954 graduate of El Reno High School.
Joy married Darrell Dye on Jan. 1, 1960.
She was a lifelong member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her 16 siblings.
Joy is survived by her children, Carla (Ernie) Lanza, Jamie (Bob) Steinbruck, Curt (Angela) Dye and Steve (Tammy) Dye.
March 19, 1927 - August 20, 2025
Our beautiful mother, Betty Durham Cunningham, age 98, passed away Aug. 20, 2025. A lifetime resident of Oklahoma, she lived in El Reno while pursuing her teacher certification and moved to Oklahoma City to accept a teaching position in 1959.
She taught and was a role model for elementary students in the Oklahoma City school system for nearly 30 years.
Betty was the widow of Donald W. Cunningham, who died in the service of his country during the Korean Conflict.
Eunice Taylor passed away at the age of 90 in El Reno. She was born Aug. 9, 1935, to Ota R. Sanders and Ruth Stout Sanders.
Eunice was a 1956 graduate of El Reno High School. After graduation, she was employed at Hartford Insurance for a short time before being married to Leroy Taylor of Bridgeport, Texas.
They made their home in Bridgeport until Leroy’s death. Eunice then moved back to El Reno to be close to family.
Jackie Ebb Maine was born May 1, 1936, in El Reno to Bertha and Ebbie Maine. On Aug. 28, 2025, in El Reno, at the age of 89, Jackie was lovingly welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior.
A proud graduate of El Reno High School’s Class of 1954, Jackie continued his education at El Reno Junior College before enlisting in the Oklahoma National Guard. As a young child, Jackie was diagnosed with polio, yet he never allowed that challenge to hinder his determination for life. Instead, it shaped in him a quiet strength and perseverance that carried through all his years.
Dean Watson, age 82, left his earthly body on July 5, 2025, in Bethany, Oklahoma.
He will be dearly missed.
Dean was a gentle, caring, loving son, father, brother, grandfather and uncle.
He was born July 31, 1943, in Carnegie, Oklahoma, to parents, Delbert and Nella Faye Watson. He attended school in Mountain View and Clinton, where his mother taught high school English and his father was the principal of the elementary school. Story is they did not “go easy” on him, he would joke it was quite the opposite!
A graveside service for Marlene Walker-Payne will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8 at the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.
Marlene died Sept. 1, 2025, in El Reno.
Bernice Irene Ferrell was born April 29, 1933, on a small farm west of Alex, Oklahoma, to parents, Oscar and Mary Lavada Ferrell. She passed from this life on Aug. 24, 2025.
Bernice, also known as “Lefty,” learned life disciplines, starting at the early age of 5. She pulled and picked cotton with her own small cotton sack. As she grew, she also cut broom corn and hoed many weeds. She exhibited this tireless work ethic her entire life.
Rylan Jabonn Flurry died Aug. 24, 2025, in Cashion. He was born Feb. 12, 2003, in Grapevine, Texas.
In 2021, he graduated from Piedmont High School and went on to study at the University of Central Oklahoma, earning a bachelor of sociology degree. Rylan served in the 1-179 Infantry Regiment, which included a deployment to Africa, before transferring to the 1-279 Infantry Regiment of the Oklahoma National Guard. He was a member of Deer Creek Church of Christ.
