Obituaries

Matthew Kyle Willey was born July 18, 1983, in Watonga. He passed away Sept. 3, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

Matt attended school first in Geary, graduated from Ponca City High School and later Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City. 

Matthew was employed by Mertz Manufacturing Company in Ponca City and was a specialty welder with plasma cutting projects. He also worked for Dexter Axle in El Reno. His other employments included security officer at Diamondback Correctional Facility in Watonga and a wildland firefighter with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes at Concho.

A celebration of life for Tony Lynn Reed will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Huber-Benson Funeral Home, with burial following in the El Reno Cemetery.

Tony passed away Sept. 5, 2024, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. He was born Jan. 4, 1960, in Lawton to David Reed and Helen (Lunsford) Chamberlain.

A 1978 graduate of El Reno High School, he was a welder with CMI Roadbuilding before starting his own business, Custom Welded Products.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman and member of the El Reno Cruisers for 10 years.

El Reno resident Nancy Keys died Sept. 7, 2024, at River Oaks Skilled Nursing and Therapy.

Services are pending with Huber-Benson Funeral Home. 

A memorial service for Robert D. Wilfong will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 9 at the El Reno Cemetery with Rev. Scott Keneda officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Robert died Aug. 21, 2024, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. He was born Oct. 15, 1946, in Joliet, Ill., to Samuel L. and Kathryn Elizabeth (Ladd) Wilfong. During his childhood, his family relocated to Houston, Texas, where he grew up and later moved to El Reno.

It is with great sorrow and sadness we announce the passing of Dana Kay Girard Churn.

Dana was born April 24, 1958, in El Reno. She passed away Sept. 2, 2024.

Dana lived in El Reno her entire life. She worked at Walmart, Cedar Lake and American Fidelity, where she made longtime friendships. She loved doing crafts and shared them with her family and friends.

Dana was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

Dana leaves behind to cherish her memory, her granddaughter, Peyton Kay Churn, who was a helping hand and was the light of her life.

Services for Joe Edward Wall, 84, of El Reno, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel.

Joe passed away Aug. 26, 2024.

Jonathan Dale Keepers, age 70, of El Reno, died Aug. 26, 2024, in Yukon. 

He was born in Enid, Okla., on Jan. 6, 1954, to Betty Lou (Bohn) and Vernon Dale Keepers. He moved with his family, living in Midwest City, Little Rock, Ark., Newhall, Calif., Amarillo, Texas, and Mustang.

Active in Speech and Drama, Jonathan graduated from Mustang High School in 1973. He married JoBeth Patterson on June 6, 1976, in Oklahoma City.

Graveside services for Mary June Pearson Cash Bell were held Friday, Aug. 23 at the El Reno Cemetery, under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home, Chickasha.

June passed away Aug. 20, 2024, surrounded by her children and grandchildren at her daughter Mary Beth’s home in Chickasha. 

Services for Tammy Carolyn Sarrett of Minco were held Tuesday, Aug. 27 at First Baptist Church in Minco, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery.

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

Tammy passed away Aug. 21, 2024, at her home in Minco. She was born July 10, 1961, in San Pablo, Calif. She graduated from Minco High School in 1979. Tammy worked throughout her life as a waitress for Don’s Bar-B-Que in Minco and later in custodial services with Minco Public Schools.

Services for Nila P. Michalicka will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28 at St. Joseph Church in Union City with Rev. Lance Warren and Deacon Lloyd Menz officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Nila was born June 19, 1936, in Comanche to Burl R. and Mattie C. (Ledford) Riddles. She graduated from Comanche High School. In 1959, she married Cyrill Michalicka and raised four sons, while residing on a farm in Union City where she raised various breeds of birds and bottle-fed many baby calves.