Melvin Ray McCormack was born Oct. 14, 1958, in El Reno, the middle child to Melvin L. McCormack and Beverly Rafferty. He was also the biggest child. His father always said that he would always remember how big he was at birth because he weighed 10 pounds, 14 ounces, which was the same as his birthday.
Edwina Nell “Sissy” Blackowl-Melendez, 57, made the journey to be with her beloved son, father and brothers on Saturday, April 25, 2020. Sissy was born in El Reno on Feb. 26, 1963. She was raised and surrounded by a large family that consisted of two daughters and seven brothers along with her father, Clarence “Scorp” Blackowl and mother, Ann Sidonia (Osage) Blackowl.
Bobby W. Fulgham died April 24, 2020, at his home in El Reno, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Jan. 26, 1950, in West Point, Miss. His family relocated to the Berwick, Pa., area when Bob was approximately 6 months old.
Bob proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1976. He married Donna Keena in 1983. During their marriage, they traveled and lived in numerous locations including Pennsylvania, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Texas, before returning to Oklahoma in 2016.
Vincent Cedric Lederer was born July 14, 1929, in Oklahoma City to Francis Cedrick Lederer and Orpha Nell Lill.
Vincent passed away April 6, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.
Vincent married the love of his life, Betty Jean Brown on the 4th day of September, 1953.
He was blessed to gain a host of family members, since Betty had a large family.
Private graveside services for Tiffany Lynn Garrett of Maysville will be held in the Pocasset Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home of Minco.
Tiffany passed away April 23, 2020, in Pocasset. She was born Dec. 12, 1986, in Oklahoma City. Tiffany was raised in the Pocasset community and graduated from Am/Po schools in 2006. She was working on her bachelor’s degree from Mid America Christian University in Oklahoma City. She moved to Maysville in 2017. Tiffany was a member of Pocasset First Baptist Church.
Private services for Margaret Nell Pawnee will be held Wednesday in the Concho Cemetery with Rev. Gerald Panana officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.
Mrs. Pawnee died April 24, 2020, at Post-Acute Rehabilitation Center in El Reno. Margaret was born Feb. 17, 1934, in Concho. She was a homemaker and lived most of her life in Calumet. She was a member of the Native American Church. A traditional woman, she went through the Northern Arapaho Sundance a number of years and was one of the first fancy war dancers.
Sandra (Sandy) Leigh Whitley was born March 23, 1967, in Oklahoma City. She lived most of her life in El Reno, graduating from El Reno High School. She received an associate degree from Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City. She was a night shift supervisor at the Oklahoma City Transitional Center.
Sandy enjoyed traveling, visiting with friends and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Sandy died April 16, 2020, at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Private graveside services for Charles Michael Sykes, 77, of Chickasha will be held in the El Reno Cemetery.
Charles Michael Sykes, known as Mike, was born Jan. 19, 1943, in Oklahoma City to William Boyd Sykes and Olar A. (Rallans) Sykes. He passed away Monday, April 20, 2020, in Chickasha.
Mike grew up in El Reno and graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in 1961. He joined the United States Army in December of 1962 and was an 82nd Airborne Division combat veteran in the Dominican Republic in 1965, and finished his military service in 1965.
Private graveside services for Jerry Lou Phelps of Minco will be held in the Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.
Jerry passed away April 18, 2020, at her home in Minco. She was born March 8, 1945, in Lawton and was raised in Oklahoma City.
Her family moved to Minco in 1961, and she graduated from Minco High School in 1963. Jerry was a homemaker and later was employed with Minco schools as a cook for 12 years. She then went to work at Mariemont Industries in Chickasha, where she retired. She attended First Baptist Church.
Private graveside services for Thomas Dwain Russell of Minco will be held in the Friendship Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.
Mr. Russell passed away April 18, 2020, at his home in Minco. He was born Oct. 9, 1945, in Pocasset.
Tom was raised in the Waynoka area, attending Waynoka schools. The family moved back to Minco in 1966. Tom served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam.
He was employed as a diesel mechanic for Roadway Trucking, retiring in 2009. He was a member of Canaan Baptist Church.
