Obituaries

Helen Eileen Smithwick passed away May 10, 2023, in Kingfisher at the age of 76. Helen was born to parents, Walter Myers and Wanda Myers on Nov. 29, 1946, in El Reno.

She graduated from El Reno High School in 1965. She raised three children, Wanda Sue, Mike and Richard, whom she loved very much.

She spent over 40 years as a beautician. She loved her clients and would go to their home or to the hospital if they could not come into the beauty shop to get their hair done.

She owned a shop at Grace Living Center for over 20 years.

Rhona Mae Donigan of Magnolia, Texas, was called home to heaven on May 9, 2023. For the last five years, Rhona resided in Magnolia with her daughter and family, but always considered El Reno to be her home. Rhona was born in Nebraska to her loving parents, Hugh and Violet Duckworth, on Sept. 29, 1929. She was the mother to James, Carolyn and David Norris, whom she loved dearly.

Funeral services for Murray MedicineBird were held June 3 at Geary First Baptist Church with Rev. Waylan Upchego officiating.

Burial was in the Sunset Cemetery in Geary, under the direction of Turner Funeral Home.

Murray passed away May 30, 2023, in Geary. He was born June 14, 1950, in Clinton.

He graduated from Chilocco Indian School and attended SIPI Trade School. He retired from Goodyear where he was a tire builder supervisor and worked at Sugar Creek Casino in his later years.

Christopher Valmer Fredrick Williams was born Oct. 20, 1970, and passed away on May 16, 2023, in El Reno.

Chris loved fishing, welding and helping others. He had a funny sense of humor and a kind heart. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Graveside services for Ethel Irene (Choat) Gooden will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the Geary Cemetery, under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Hinton. Viewing will be Saturday, June 3 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. at Geary Turner Funeral Home.

Ethel passed away May 29, 2023, at the River Oaks Nursing Home in El Reno. She was born June 19, 1927, in Mt. View. She was a cook in several different industries including schools, nursing homes, hospitals and for individuals. She was a member of the Coleman Chapel Nazarene Church.

Graveside services for Jerry William Lee of Minco were held Tuesday, May 30 at the Swan Hill Cemetery in Ada, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home in Minco.

Jerry died May 23, 2023, at his home. He was born March 10, 1938, in Ada. He was raised in the Ada community and attended Ada High School, then joined the U.S. Army Reserves. He was employed as a diesel mechanic for over 50 years and later retired from Halliburton.

Robert Lee Arnold, 96, of El Reno, went to be with the Lord on May 23, 2023. He was born Feb. 11, 1927, in El Reno to F.E and Mable Corby Arnold. He graduated from El Reno High School in 1945 and attended Oklahoma A&M, now known as OSU.

Shortly after, he married Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Cherry on June 27, 1948. He then joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea, but was shortly called back to the States upon the announcement of his first daughter being born. He and Betty were the proud parents of Lynda and Richard Arnold.

Fannie was born Oct. 30, 1928, to Amos Bontrager and Katie Miller/Bontrager on a farm near Thomas, Oklahoma. She was the third of eight children. She died May 4, 2023, at Faith Hospice in Dallas, Texas.

Fannie married Walter J. Stelting on Sept. 24, 1947. They resided around Weatherford before they moved to El Reno, where they stayed until his death on April 11, 1990. They had and raised seven children.

Mary Elizabeth Leach passed away May 18, 2023, in Red Wing, Minn. Born Oct. 11, 1930, in El Reno, she married Bob Brandley in 1948 and they farmed in El Reno until buying a farm in Steel County, Minn., in 1956. They were later divorced.

She married David Leach in Owatonna, Minn., in 1969. They moved to Bigfork, Mont., in 1989 and later to Kalispell. David preceded her in death in 2014 and she returned to Minnesota.

Cleta Mitchell, 96, of Del City, entered fully into the presence of the Lord on May 18, 2023.

While she will be missed by many, we are blessed to know she is once again with her beloved husband and children.

Cleta entered this world on Aug. 19, 1926, in Yukon, born to Walter and Amanda Tinsley. She married Arthur Mitchell on Nov. 19, 1944, in Okarche, and they made their home in El Reno.