Obituaries

Funeral services for James Wayne Pedro Sr. were held Monday at the Concho Emergency Response Center with Rev. Waylan Upchego officiating. Burial was in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

James died Jan. 19, 2022, at Oak Hill Care Center in Jones. He was born Nov. 17, 1938, in Clinton. A former resident of El Reno, he was a grant writer for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. He was involved in tribal ceremonies and tribal politics including serving as tribal chairman.

Jeff Charles Walker, 64, passed away Jan. 19, 2022, in Oklahoma City. He was born in Okarche to Albert and Marlene Walker. He spent most of his life in California, moving back to Oklahoma in 2003 and settled in Fort Gibson, Okla.

Jeff married Judy L. McClaskey on April 24, 1993.

He enjoyed boating on Lake Arrowhead, Calif., gardening, being in nature and especially cooking and grilling. Jeff was a spiritual man and found God in nature.

Monte Joe Fuller, 58, formerly of El Reno, passed away from complications of COVID-19 on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in Spokane Valley, Washington.

Services for Rickie Ruth Winters were held Friday in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Deacon Max Schwarz officiating. Burial followed in the El Reno Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Rickie died Jan. 18, 2022, at her home in El Reno. She was born Jan. 19, 1943, in Arkansas at Coppers Gap in the Township of Houston and moved to El Reno in 1976 from Fort Smith.

Rickie was a homemaker and a member of Sacred Heart Church. She enjoyed gospel and country western music, crocheting, and painting by numbers.

Timothy L. Duty of El Reno passed away Jan. 12, 2022. No services are planned.

Timothy was born Aug. 8, 1959, in Huntington, W.Va. He was an Army veteran and worked in home remodeling.

Timothy is survived by his son, Kyle Duty, and brothers and sisters, Bill Duty of Milwaukee, Wis., Jeanette Houchin, Jaymz Akins and Tony Akins, all of El Reno.

Timothy was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Duty, and his mother, Patricia Akins; his wife, Helen Duty; and daughter, Amanda Jones.

Funeral services for Phyllis Carol (Armstrong) Garrison will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21 in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Viewing will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Phyllis passed away Jan. 8, 2022, in Oklahoma City. She was born May 5, 1947, in El Reno to Fellice “Jimmy” and Opal (Fletcher) Armstrong.

Phyllis married Gary Gene Garrison in Gainesville, Texas, on April 22, 1983.

Phyllis worked as a lunch assistant for El Reno Public Schools. She enjoyed shopping, spending time with family and traveling.

Joseph Walter Geis, 89, of Geary, passed away Jan. 14, 2022, in Blanchard. He was born Oct. 21, 1932, in Scotland, Texas, to Lawerence and Anna (Poirot) Geis.

He married Shirley Holdaway on May 30, 1952, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and from this union came their children, Joe and Deanna. Their family attended church at Sacred Heart in El Reno.

At the age of 17, Joe was employed with the Rock Island Railroad until his retirement. He enjoyed OU football, playing his guitar, farming, hunting and fishing. He especially loved spending time with his family.

Graveside services for Florene (Beckner) Jacobs were held Monday at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in Okarche. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Florene passed away Jan. 12, 2022. She was born at home Jan. 21, 1931, in Piedmont and grew up on a farm.

Florene attended Piedmont High School and upon graduation, she trained at a comprehensive trade school. After completion, Florene worked as a “Kelly Girl” or temp worker for WesBanco Bank and then 7-Eleven where she stayed on in the corporate offices.

Services for Gregory Lee McKelvey of Minco were held Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Minco, with burial following in the Evergreen Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Greg passed away Jan. 13, 2022, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon. He was born Feb. 6, 1949, in Chickasha. Greg was raised in the Minco community, graduating from Minco High School in 1967.

He farmed most of his life. He was a member of First Baptist Church.

Betty J. Haller of El Reno met her Savior in Heaven on Jan. 10, 2022. She was born Oct. 6, 1932, in Stuttgart, Ark., the oldest child of Otto George and Stella Marie Rubach.

She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Betty was a 1950 graduate of Stuttgart High School. In 1948, she met the love of her life, Joe H. Haller. They were married March 15, 1952.

Betty retired after many years of service with Canadian County. She was the Election Board secretary for Canadian County for many years.