Obituaries

Christopher Valmer Fredrick Williams was born Oct. 20, 1970, and passed away on May 16, 2023, in El Reno.

Chris loved fishing, welding and helping others. He had a funny sense of humor and a kind heart. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Graveside services for Jerry William Lee of Minco were held Tuesday, May 30 at the Swan Hill Cemetery in Ada, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home in Minco.

Jerry died May 23, 2023, at his home. He was born March 10, 1938, in Ada. He was raised in the Ada community and attended Ada High School, then joined the U.S. Army Reserves. He was employed as a diesel mechanic for over 50 years and later retired from Halliburton.

Robert Lee Arnold, 96, of El Reno, went to be with the Lord on May 23, 2023. He was born Feb. 11, 1927, in El Reno to F.E and Mable Corby Arnold. He graduated from El Reno High School in 1945 and attended Oklahoma A&M, now known as OSU.

Shortly after, he married Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Cherry on June 27, 1948. He then joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea, but was shortly called back to the States upon the announcement of his first daughter being born. He and Betty were the proud parents of Lynda and Richard Arnold.

Fannie was born Oct. 30, 1928, to Amos Bontrager and Katie Miller/Bontrager on a farm near Thomas, Oklahoma. She was the third of eight children. She died May 4, 2023, at Faith Hospice in Dallas, Texas.

Fannie married Walter J. Stelting on Sept. 24, 1947. They resided around Weatherford before they moved to El Reno, where they stayed until his death on April 11, 1990. They had and raised seven children.

Mary Elizabeth Leach passed away May 18, 2023, in Red Wing, Minn. Born Oct. 11, 1930, in El Reno, she married Bob Brandley in 1948 and they farmed in El Reno until buying a farm in Steel County, Minn., in 1956. They were later divorced.

She married David Leach in Owatonna, Minn., in 1969. They moved to Bigfork, Mont., in 1989 and later to Kalispell. David preceded her in death in 2014 and she returned to Minnesota.

Cleta Mitchell, 96, of Del City, entered fully into the presence of the Lord on May 18, 2023.

While she will be missed by many, we are blessed to know she is once again with her beloved husband and children.

Cleta entered this world on Aug. 19, 1926, in Yukon, born to Walter and Amanda Tinsley. She married Arthur Mitchell on Nov. 19, 1944, in Okarche, and they made their home in El Reno.

Ernest Edwin Fowler, known to friends and family as Ernie, went home to be with the Lord on May 12, 2023.

He was born Dec. 22, 1948, in Prescott, Ariz., to Chelcey and Eva Mae Fowler.

He was a 1967 graduate of Shawnee High School and joined the Army in 1968. He met his wife, Carolyn through her sister, Donna and his best friend, Tim.

Ernie and Carolyn married in July of 1973 and were with each other through all of life’s ups and downs.

Ernie was preceded in death by his brothers, Chelcey, James and Walter, and sisters, Yvonne, Freida, Ruby and Betty.

Shirley Perkins Brown, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2023, in El Reno. She was born Dec. 6, 1942, in El Reno to the late William M. Perkins Sr. and Ora Mae Brooks Perkins.

Shirley was a selfless, loving and generous woman who touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Shirley was a lifelong resident of El Reno, where she attended Booker T. Washington from first to 11th grade. She later completed her GED at the American School through correspondence.