Obituaries

Michael Scott Wills was born to Ardith Jane Wills and Armel Leon Wills on Oct. 30, 1967, in Ponca City, Okla., and went to be with the Lord on Jan. 20, 2025, at the age of 57 years and three months at the Watonga Mercy Hospital. He passed after a sudden illness.

Mike attended schools in El Reno, Maple and Greenfield. He graduated from Greenfield in 1986. He went into farming and ranching with his grandfather the day he graduated. He learned most of his grandfather’s ways and practiced them until his death.

Memorial services for Matthew Wayne Mitchell of Minco will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at First Baptist Church in Minco, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Matt died Jan. 8, 2025, at his home in Minco. He was born Nov. 18, 1966, in Chickasha. He lived throughout Oklahoma the majority of his life. At the age of 19, Matt joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served over 20 years, retiring in 2012.

Funeral services for Louise Hope McNew will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at El Reno First Baptist Church.

Viewing will be held at Wilson Funeral Home on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

Services for Steven Howell are pending with Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Steven died Jan. 17, 2025, at St. Anthony Healthplex in El Reno.

Services for Joyce Baustert are pending with Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Joyce died Jan. 16, 2025, at her home in Okarche.  

A memorial service for Kenneth Wilson Posey will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at First Baptist Church of El Reno with Pastor Grant Findley officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Ken died Jan. 14, 2025, at his home in El Reno. He was born in Ardmore, Okla., on Aug. 18, 1941, to Mickey and Louise (Wilson) Posey. He earned a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master of Education Administration Degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Sandra was born May 7, 1940, to Cleo and Sarah Leona (Stretch) Heitzman in Wichita, Kan.

She grew up in El Reno, where she graduated from El Reno High School. Then came the love of her life, Donald L. Stuart.

Together they had a love that lasted until his final resting day on July 30, 2016. Along with this love story, Sandra gained three stepdaughters, April Jones of El Reno, Deanna Cain of El Reno and Tammie Parker of Sheridan, Wyo. Sandra is survived by her one and only daughter, Darla Cline. 

Funeral services for Rev. Robert McKinley Simpson Jr. will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the Gib Miles Emergency Response Center in Geary with Rev. Rudy Tartsah Jr. officiating.

Burial will follow in the Geary Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Turner Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Charles Phillip Ganote of Oklahoma City will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at the Concho Emergency Response Center with burial in the Concho Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Charles died Jan. 8, 2025, at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was born April 28, 1982, in Weatherford. He worked in security for the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.

Randy Lee Popham died Jan. 1, 2025, at his home and had lived in El Reno over 30 years.

Randy was born Jan. 3, 1958, in Charleston, S.C. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a painting contractor and a gun parts dealer.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn Knight Davis; sister, Debbie Pendergast; and brothers, Terry Popham, Billy Popham and Ricky Davis.

Randy is survived by Jeri Popham, Shawn Pugh and J.P. Jones; sister, Cathy Davis; and three grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Huber-Benson Funeral Home.