Obituaries

William Thomas Manning, known by most as “Bill,” from El Reno, Okla., was 94 years old when he passed away peacefully on Friday, March 31, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on Sept. 23, 1928, in Oklahoma City, Bill attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse south of present-day Banner School and graduated from El Reno High School in 1946.

Bill was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church (El Reno), where he married his wife, Laverne Kappus on Jan. 18, 1949.

Betty Jo Rothrock Lockler was born in Mexia, Texas, on Sept. 20, 1947, to Joseph and Bessie Rothrock. She was welcomed by two siblings, James Homer and Laura. Later Betty Jo got to welcome Sandy, Joe and Charles to round out her siblings. 

Betty passed away peacefully in her home on April 1, 2023.

Her services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 6 at Trinity Baptist Church in El Reno.

Lucy Melvina Snyder died March 30, 2023, at Integris Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon.

She was born Sept. 6, 1945, in Elk City. A member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes, she was a dressmaker specializing in bead work and traditional tribal clothing. She was a veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War.

Bonnie Bell (Matthews) Wilds, 95, lifelong El Reno resident, passed away peacefully at her home on March 27, 2023.

Bonnie was born Jan. 13, 1928, to C.C. Matthews and Myrtle (Lucas) Matthews in El Reno.

Bonnie was a graduate of El Reno High School and attended Oklahoma A&M (OSU) for two years. Her work experience included the telephone company, Ashboook Insurance Agency, J.C. Penney, Dillard’s and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, from which she retired. During her long working career, she was also a farmer’s wife and busy mother. She just loved the farm.

Former El Reno resident Mary Jane (Barnard) Hawkins, 85, of Grand Junction, Colo., passed away March 21, 2023, at Hope West Hospice Care Center after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Frank Fredric Rott, age 79, was born in Oklahoma City on Aug. 17, 1943, to Clarence Rott and Helen Kouba Rott. He was the oldest of four children. He was raised on the family farm northeast of Yukon. There he helped build the family home, farmed wheat and raised cattle and many other farm animals.

Frank graduated from Yukon High School in 1961. He was actively involved in FFA, achieving the status of Master Farmer.

Abigail “Abby” was born June 5, 1957, to Wesley and Clara Louise Pelsue in Joplin, Mo. She spent most of her youth in Joplin where she had a passion and strong love for animals. It all started with her horse Velvet and her collection of toy horses that she would later pass down to her own children.

Services for C.R. Williams of Pocasset will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Friendship United Methodist Church southwest of Minco, with burial following at the Friendship Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home, Minco.

Lyndal “Lyn” Ray Westmoreland passed away March 20, 2023, in El Reno at the age of 64.

Lyn was born to parents, J.H. and Cherry Lavonne Murphy Westmoreland on Oct. 9, 1958, in Ardmore. Growing up in Marietta, he graduated from Marietta High School in 1976. Lyn continued his education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in Speech Education and a minor in English Education. While continuing to further his studies in theater and speech, Lyn obtained his master’s of science degree from East Texas State University in 1982.

Eric John Hufnagel was born Sept. 22, 1992, to Clayton and Christi (Schroeder) Hufnagel. He passed away March 23, 2023, at his home in Okarche as a result of a seizure.

Eric spent most of his life battling Crohn’s disease and the debilitating pain that often accompanied it. Many who knew him were never aware of the daily struggles that existed in dealing with this “hidden illness.”