Obituaries

Carolena Kaye Cox Estes went to meet her Heavenly Father on July 15, 2026.

She was at peace in her home with her family surrounding her.  

She was born in El Reno on July 28, 1940. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandma and MaMa K and will be terribly missed.  

She was baptized 12/5/1954 at the First Baptist Church of El Reno. She then transferred her membership to the First Christian Church of El Reno on November 14, 1976. Her favorite song was “Amazing Grace,” which she played beautifully on the piano.

Memorial service for Darrell D. Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 29 at Wesley United Methodist Church.

Darrell died July 21, 2026, at his home in El Reno.  

Funeral services for Catherine Janelle Morlan were held Thursday, July 23 at the Concho Emergency Response Center with Rev. James Black officiating. Burial followed in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.  

Catherine died July 17, 2026, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. She was born March 23, 1970, in Clinton, and graduated from West Carrollton High School in Ohio. She was an auditor and supervisor at Lucky Star Casino.

Services for Kenneth Wayne Kinder of Minco will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 21 at Canaan Baptist Church, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery in Minco. Services are under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Kenneth died July 17, 2026, at his home in Cogar. He was born Nov. 11, 1944, in Cogar and was raised in the Cogar community, attending Binger schools.

He had worked construction, as a steelworker and in the oil fields. He was a member of Canaan Baptist Church.

Funeral services for Victoria Aissa Johnson of Midwest City will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at Huber-Benson Funeral Home with burial in the Concho Cemetery.

Victoria died July 13, 2026, at SSM St. Anthony-Midtown.  

Funeral services for Katherine “Kat” Brown of Geary will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 17 at Geary First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Geary Cemetery under the direction of Turner Funeral Home.

Kat passed away July 8, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was born Sept. 4, 1931, in Geary, and graduated from Douglas High School. She later graduated from Lear Siegler Business School in Oklahoma City and began a long career with Liberty National Bank. After retirement, she returned to work for several years at the Watonga Family Care Clinic.

Funeral services for Sheila Marie Azhnick Birdshead of Oklahoma City were held Thursday, July 9 at Concho Community Hall, with burial following at Concho Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Geary. 

Sheila passed away at her home on Saturday, July 4, 2026. She was born July 8, 1978, in Oklahoma City. She worked as a cashier and blackjack dealer at Black Hawk Casino before later working at Lucky Star Casino. 

Catherine Nash Dougherty was born to Evans and Jean Nash in Oklahoma City on March 9, 1947, and passed at her home in Hinton on June 28, 2026. 

She spent her childhood exploring the natural beauty of 1950’s Nichols Hills with her sisters, Nancy and Patricia. This idyllic experience fostered a love of nature that she would share with her children and grandchildren and carry into her writing and conservation efforts.

Phyllis Boardman was born May 26, 1947, and passed away peacefully on July 1, 2026, surrounded by her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dick and Lillie Mae Murphy; her brother, Richard Murphy; and her sister, Pat Wilson.

Phyllis was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in El Reno.

She is survived by her loving husband, Thomas Boardman; her sister-in-law, Robbie Boardman; her sons, Darren Ruston and his wife, Melissa, and Brian Bond; and her daughter, Jamie Vincent and her husband, Mark, all of El Reno. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Christine Victoria Yoder died June 22, 2026, at her home in El Reno. She was born in Oklahoma City on Aug. 31, 1962, to L.D. and Hazel Bell (Cole) Yoder. 

Vicki is survived by her husband, George Bryan Sykes; daughter and son-in-law, Kristen and Kale Neufeld of Englewood, Colo.; brother, Tim Yoder of El Reno; and a granddaughter, Ellie Neufeld.

A memorial service for Vicki was held Monday, June 29 at Huber-Benson Funeral Home with Rev. Lance Warren officiating.