Obituaries

Services for James Alan Elder Sr. will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Curtis Steffler officiating. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

James died Nov. 8, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was born Oct. 17, 1960, in El Reno. He was employed by Borel Brick.

James was preceded in death by his father, Danny Tammen; his mother, Jamie Sue (Palmer) Cavins; brothers, John Elder and Jarred Tammen; sister, Marty Elder; and grandparents, Exie Robertson Palmer and Lloyd Palmer.

Memorial services for Carson Ray Mills of Cogar will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 at Canaan Baptist Church in Minco.

Carson died Oct. 26, 2023. He was born April 21, 1970, in Midwest City.

He grew up in Cogar and attended school in Binger, graduating in 1988. He attended college at Oklahoma State University and El Reno Junior College. He lived in Cogar, Stillwater, El Reno and Shawnee during his life.

Carson was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2020. He continued to stay active with his hobbies until he was no longer able.

Noel Kent Allen passed away Nov. 6, 2023, at 81 years old. Noel was born Nov. 3, 1942, to parents, Vernon and Ada (Thomas) Allen.

Growing up, Noel attended several schools including Central School, El Reno High School and Redlands Community College, and eventually joined the Army.

Services for Richard Byron Whiteman were held Nov. 9 at Huber-Benson Funeral Home with Mark MeGehee officiating. Interment was in the El Reno Cemetery.

Rick passed away Nov. 2, 2023. He was born Aug. 23, 1953, in Okarche. He grew up in El Reno, Oklahoma City and Houston, Texas. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City and attended Oklahoma State Technical Institute specializing in automotive and diesel mechanics. Rick worked at a variety of restaurants in the Oklahoma City area and in construction work.

Services for Verna Lou Wheeler of Yukon were held Nov. 2 at Covenant Community Church in Yukon, with David Ray of Yukon Church of Christ officiating. Interment followed at the Lone Wolf Cemetery.

Services were under the direction of Peoples Cooperative Funeral Home, Lone Wolf.

Verna passed away Oct. 29, 2023. She was born Feb. 13, 1944, in Granite, and graduated from Lone Wolf High School.

Fritz Joseph Cerne Jr., 77, of El Reno, passed away Nov. 5, 2023.

Cremation services were under the care of Wilson Funeral Home.

Wake services for Carl Heap of Birds will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, with funeral services at 12 p.m. Saturday, both at the Emergency Response Center in Concho. Burial will follow in the Concho Cemetery under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home.

Carl Heap of Birds, whose Cheyenne name was Sun Bear, died Nov. 3, 2023, in Ada.

He was born May 5, 1961, in Wichita, Kan., where he was raised.

Services for Alisha Dawn Kirkland will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Benson Memorial Chapel with Ginger Lemons officiating.

Alisha died Nov. 6, 2023, at her home in El Reno. She was born Feb. 14, 1980, in El Reno.

A lifelong resident, she graduated from El Reno High School in 1999.

Her kindness radiated in her life and work. She loved her job as a senior personal banker working for Interbank for 23 years.

Ralph William Rickner was born Feb. 25, 1940, out west of Concho to James Gilbert Rickner and Vonda Atkinson Rickner. Vonda married Clyde Thomason in 1954. Grandparents included Sally and Nelson Atkinson and William Bert and Rilla Townsend Rickner.

Ralph passed away Oct. 28, 2023, in Fort Smith, Ark.

Ralph was born the second of five sons, though the first son, Donald Ray, died at 6 months old of pneumonia. Ralph’s youngest brother, Gary and his wife, Nan are here with us today. 

Wake services for Agnes Ann Halley of Minco will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Union City. Mass of Christian Burial is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at St. Joseph’s, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home.

Aggie died Oct. 30, 2023, at her home in Minco.

She was born Aug. 4, 1937, in Minco and was raised in the Minco community, graduating from Minco High School in 1955.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Altar Society.