Obituaries

Longtime El Reno resident Nadine Arvella Harsey died Jan. 2, 2026, in El Reno. 

A vigil service for Dean will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16 in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Deacon Louis Nix officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church in Union City on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Lance Warren officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Dean, as she was known to family and friends, was born in Calumet on Feb. 21, 1938, to Herb and Hazel (Haggy) Wartchow.

Funeral services for Geneva Tusing Blue were held Saturday, Jan. 3 at the All-Tribes Baptist Church in Geary with burial in the Geary Cemetery.

Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Geneva died Dec. 28, 2025, at her home in El Reno. She was born Oct. 18, 1949, in Hinton. She was a secretary for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in the Farm and Ranch Program and a member of Welch Memorial Baptist Church, Geary.

Born in El Reno, Oklahoma, in 1941, Harvey Phillip Pratt, White Thunder (Vopenonoma’e), often spoke of those who are called to “run toward the fire” and help others who are in danger. In a military and law enforcement career that spanned more than half a century, he resolved to run toward the fire. 

Cecilia “CeeCee” Rose Vietzke, age 90, passed away peacefully Dec. 19, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born March 14, 1935, to William E. Fryrear and Ann Zajic Fryrear.

CeeCee was a woman of strong character - blunt, charismatic, and never afraid to speak her mind. Those who knew her knew exactly where they stood, and they also knew they were deeply loved. Her family was the center of her world, and she loved them fiercely and without reservation.

Services for Janet Gail Hornberger are pending with Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Jan died at her home in El Reno. She was born Jan. 21, 1956, in California. 

Fred W. Freeman passed from this earth and went to be with his Lord on Dec. 24, 2025, at the age of 83 in Oklahoma City.

Fred was born Sept. 9, 1942, in Meridian, MS, to John and Wilma Freeman. Fred attended Enid High School and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1965 (Philippines).

Fred retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone after 34 years of service.  

Fred married Shirley (Oblander) on Dec. 8, 1968, in Woodward. This union of 57 years was blessed with two sons. El Reno was home for more than 40 years before making a new home in Mustang.

Marjorie Mowery, daughter of the late Ernest Haworth and LaKada Pauline Gaylord, was born Oct. 10, 1942, in Fairview, Oklahoma. She attended several public schools and graduated from El Reno High School in 1961. In her early 30’s, Marjorie was diagnosed with cancer and she almost lost her life. God wasn’t done with her, and she lived and professed his love from that time forward. She joined First Baptist Church where she was a dedicated member.

Anna died Nov. 29, 2025, at her home. She was born May 11, 1949.

Anna is survived by her son, Oliver Barnhart and his children, Briley, Jaden and Alexa; brothers, Frank and Gabriel Castro; sisters, Millie Lehde, Hilda Griffin, Dorothy Jarvis, Eunice Wedman-House and Jacque Straub; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

It was Anna’s wish to be cremated, with a private service.

Kaiden William Hood-Statton was born March 24, 2005, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Kennith Wayne Statton and Hollye Annette Hood. He passed away Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, at his home in Geary, Oklahoma, at the age of 20.  

Kaiden attended Head Start and kindergarten in Geary and later attended Calumet Schools before moving to Houston, Texas. He graduated from Spring Woods Senior High School in Houston.

Graveside services for Sarah Frances Hatcher, a former Minco resident, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Evergreen Cemetery in Minco, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Frances died Dec. 9, 2025, in Yukon. She was born April 26, 1923, in Lexington. She worked at the Minco Senior Citizens Center for many years and was a voluntary EMT for the Minco community. She was a member of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church in Minco.