Obituaries

Wake services for Rutherford C. “Babes” YellowEyes of El Reno will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, with funeral services at 1 p.m. Saturday, both at the Concho Emergency Response Center.

Burial will be in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Babes died May 18, 2024, at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was born June 12, 1957, in Clinton.

He was raised in Watonga and attended Fort Sill Indian School, Haskell Indian Nations University and Oklahoma University. He participated in the Sun Dance.

Mildred Katherine Hau Lodes of Okarche passed away May 19, 2024, at Golden Age Nursing Home in Guthrie. She was born June 15, 1933, in Oklahoma City. For many years she worked as a floral designer in El Reno and Kingfisher.

Mildred is survived by her children, Daniel Lodes, Mary Isbell, Michael Lodes and Sharon Stotts; sister, Patricia Barrett; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Maxine Celia Wiggins of El Reno passed away May 16, 2024.

She was born July 26, 1930.

Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Funeral services for Michelle Arlene Hines will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Huber-Benson Funeral Home with burial in the El Reno Cemetery.

Michelle died May 12, 2024, at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was born Sept. 24, 1968, in El Reno.

She is survived by her children, Matthew Maloy and Dorothy Ashley, both of El Reno and Desi Maloy of Eufaula; brothers, Fletcher Dal Handley Jr. of Yukon and Wes Handley of California; sister, Marlene Handley of Okmulgee; and eight grandchildren.

Longtime El Reno resident Roger A. Swagerty Sr. died May 11, 2024, at River Oaks Skilled Nursing and Therapy in El Reno. Roger was born June 21, 1957, in Lancaster, Calif. His career as a truck driver spanned 40 years.

He is survived by his son, Roger Swagerty Jr. and wife, Stephanie of Porter; four daughters, Michelle Swagerty and fiancé, Patrick Butler of El Reno, Janelle Pistocco of San Diego, Calif., Jamie Pistocco of Kingfisher and Jennifer Dean and husband, Eddie of Kingfisher; sister, Donna Krause-House of El Reno; 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Lloyd Neal Salsman, 74, went to be with his heavenly father on Friday, May 10, 2024.

He was born Oct. 15, 1949, in El Reno to Norbert and Margaret Salsman.

Funeral services for Alfred G. Jones (Gene) will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 17 at Huber-Benson Funeral Home with Pastor Craig E. Johnson and Bishop Micolous Griffis officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the El Reno Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Alfred was born Oct. 9, 1944, to J.C. and Lillie Jones in El Reno. He was a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church.

Alfred attended Booker T. Washington first through 12th grade.

Loula Theresa (Callais) McKeithe earned her wings on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at St. Katharine Drexel Retirement Center in El Reno.

Terri, as she was known, was born Oct. 15, 1943, in Cut Off, La., to Theophile and Victoria (Vizier) Callais. Terri graduated from LCO Larson High School in Cut Off, and after graduation, joined the U.S. Air Force. While in the military, she served as a stateside medic during the Vietnam War.

Larry Dean Kosarek of El Reno passed away May 6, 2024. He was born July 21, 1958, in Roswell, N.M.

He was in the business of making stained glass for over 40 years.

Larry is survived by his brother, Robert Kosarek of San Antonio, Texas; and sisters, Sheryl Boykin of Royse City, Texas, and Colleen Bidwell of La Vernia, Texas.

Claudine Melton died peacefully at her home in El Reno on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Born Nov. 14, 1928, in Hobart, Okla., Claudine was preceded in death by her husband, Jack A. Melton in 2018.

Following her education in Pampa, Texas, Claudine completed San Jacinto Beauty College in Amarillo, Texas.