“Heaven’s getting sweeter all the time!”
Oleta May Ayers, 97, was born Aug. 8, 1925, near White Deer, Texas, and passed away in Edmond on May 6, 2023. Oleta was the daughter of Alvin (A.G.) Stamps and Adelia (Dilly) Cummings Stamps.
She grew up with five brothers and five sisters - two other sisters died in infancy.
Services for Jeffrey Kyle Ray will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 10 in the Benson Memorial Chapel, followed by burial in the El Reno Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.
Jeff was born June 30, 1972, in Okarche. He died May 4, 2023, at Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City at the age of 50.
Jeff graduated from El Reno High School where he was an accomplished wrestler, winning many titles and awards.
Lucienda Elaine Williams was born Feb. 13, 1947, in El Reno to Billy Valmer Devereux and Elcie Ester May (Long) Devereux. Elaine passed away at the home she resided in on May 1, 2023, due to complications from a stroke and a decline in health.
Elaine married the love of her life, Billy Joe Williams, on Dec. 1, 1964, until he passed on July 15, 2007. To this union they had three children, Christina, Billy and Christopher.
She lived the most vivacious life she could, always on the go, nothing slowed her down.
Norma Jean Havener, a longtime resident of El Reno, was born Feb. 9, 1936, in Mullhall. She died on Friday, April 28, 2023.
Norma was a public accountant and a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Norma is survived by her son, Stephen Dale “Steve” Havener of Leedey; daughter, N’Lisa Jeanine Havener of El Reno; sister, Lila Mae Porter-Pledger of Midwest City; six grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Elizabeth Anne Penwright of Crystal River, Fla., will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at Crystal River Village Community Center. Services are under the direction of Heinz Funeral Home, Inverness, Fla.
Todd Randall Murray departed from this earth on April 19, 2023, in El Reno at the age of 43.
Todd was born to parents, James “Randy” and Vickie on Feb. 6, 1980, in Okarche. He grew up in El Reno and was a graduate of the EHS Class of 1999. Todd loved to go camping and four-wheeler riding. Everyone knew Todd as a man with a kind heart, willing to help anyone. His goofiness gave a smile to those around him, and his giving spirit will be missed by everyone.
Charles Eugene (Gene) Brock died peacefully at his home in El Reno on April 23, 2023. Gene was born June 13, 1933, in Shawnee to his parents, Charles Word and Wavelyn Alvie (Webster) Brock. He grew up in Bowlegs and graduated from Bowlegs High School in 1951. He was an active member of the local 4-H Club where he raised cattle, pigs and sheep and grew multiple crops of wheat, corn and assorted vegetables on his one-half acre plot on the family farm.
Jackie D. Sanders was born in Union City on May 13, 1932, to Bill and Ruth (Drew) Sanders.
He was the third of five children. Union City was Jack’s home his entire life.
He graduated from Union City High School in 1950. He joined the Army National Guard, 45th Infantry Division. He was deployed in September of 1950 to the Occupation of Japan and was also stationed in Korea. He was honorably discharged in September 1952.
After returning home, Jack started farming and working for the Bureau of Prisons in El Reno until he retired.
Jacqueline “Jacque” Dolores (Medlock) Choate, 88, of McAlester, died Monday, April 17, 2023, at her residence.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 21 at Bishop Chapel of Memories with Rev. Rodney Briggs officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Jacqueline was born to Grover and Henrietta Medlock on Aug. 13, 1934, in Benton, Ark. She was raised in Benton and graduated from Benton High School.
Jacque married James Hubert Choate on Aug. 27, 1978, in El Reno. She worked as an office manager for the City of El Reno Municipal Courthouse.
Funeral services for Norma Jo Riggles were held Monday at the Watonga Emergency Response Center with Rev. Waylan Upchego officiating.
Burial followed at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Norma died April 12, 2023, at Post Acute Rehabilitation in El Reno.
She was born Sept. 15, 1938, in Clinton. Norma lived in Watonga during her working years as an LPN for the Indian Health Services in Watonga and El Reno. After her retirement she moved to El Reno.
She was a member of the Watonga Indian Baptist Church.
