Obituaries

Geniva Earl Couch, 96, passed away March 8, 2021, in El Reno. Geniva was born April 12, 1924, in St. Jo, Texas, to Floyd and Ruby Dudley.

In 1954 she moved to El Reno, and she loved it there so much that she decided to plant her roots there. Geniva and her husband, Norman started Couch’s Upholstery and retired at the age of 94.

She loved doing upholstery work and serving her community.

Geniva was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; three sons, Leon, Shorty and Earl Dean; three great-grandchildren; and siblings from New Mexico.

Services for Charles “Charley” James Blackowl Jr. were held Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in the Benson Memorial Chapel with burial at Concho Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Charley passed away March 4, 2021. He was born Aug. 30, 1983, in Lawton and was a lifelong resident of El Reno. Charley graduated from Riverside Indian School in May of 2002 and was a member of the Drop Team at Lucky Star Casino in Concho.

Charley is survived by his mother, Lisa Anquoe, and two sons, Curtis Youngbear and Avery Blackowl.

Johnny White, 63, of El Reno, passed away March 7, 2021. A full obituary for Johnny can be viewed at www.wilsoncares.com.

Funeral services for Carroll Forrest Thompson will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at First Christian Church with Rev. Colton Lott officiating. Burial will follow in the Geary Cemetery under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Geary.

Mr. Thompson passed away Saturday, March 6, 2021, at his home in El Reno at the age of 86. He was born Feb. 23, 1935, to Carroll Thomas and Thelma Louise (Dean) Thompson south of Geary. Forrest graduated from Geary High School in 1953.

Celebration of Life services for LaDonna S. Weir of El Reno will be held in May at Lake El Reno with her daughters to officiate. Cremation was under direction of Alpha and Omega Cremation Services. Call Angela at 580-701-3451 for service information.

LaDonna died Feb. 15, 2021, at her home. She was born Oct. 12, 1966, in Fort Smith, Ark. She was a jack of all trades and was known to help anyone in need.

How would it be to have the name Grace, be the perfect example of that name and pass through the gates to see our Savior?

That’s what happened Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, for Grace Marie Whitcraft.

A memorial celebrating her amazing life will be held Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, 1201 E. Rogers, El Reno, officiated by Brother Rod Young.

Grace Marie was the firstborn to Wilbur Harland and Lorene Lawrence in Peculiar, Mo., on Sept. 28, 1946. She later became “Sis” upon the births of little sister, Peggy and brother, “Little Harland.”

Barbara Joan (Lanier) Chronister passed peacefully into the arms of our Savior on Feb. 23, 2021, at the age of 90. She was born Jan. 8, 1931, in the small community of Sickles, Okla., to Floyd and Mattie (Armstrong) Lanier. Barbara grew up in the Sickles community where she graduated from high school in 1948 as valedictorian.

Kathy Jo Bassett, 59, lifelong resident of El Reno, peacefully passed away Feb. 21, 2021.

She was born July 13, 1961, in Okarche to her parents, Joseph and Katherine (Allen) Klohn.

She was raised in El Reno and graduated from El Reno High School in 1979. After high school, she furthered her education at Redlands Community College, receiving her associates degree in Child Development.

A majority of her life Kathy was a homemaker, becoming a mom and raising her four children, who meant the world to her and loved dearly.

Lorene (Big Eagle) Rolette, Cheyenne-Kiowa, passed away on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the age of 81. She was born to her parents, John Big Eagle and Sarah Ataumbi-Big Eagle in El Reno on Dec. 4, 1939, and given the name Singing Woman.

Sharon Griffin, 78, passed away Feb. 12, 2021. She was born in Pratt, Kan., to George Henry and Anna Marie DeVaney Seely. Sharon is one of six children, Georgia Ann Seely, Thad Seely, Stanley Joe Seely, Martha Marie Bass and Christie Jane Hubbard.

She was married to the love of her life, her husband, Jim Griffin, for 46 years.

Sharon had three children, Sherri Ann Arens, Judith Lea Reaves and James Terry Griffin.