Obituaries

Joel Dewayne Wakefield, 70, of Chandler, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Oklahoma City. Joel was born June 12, 1951, in El Reno to Jack Wakefield and Carrie (McAffee) Wakefield and lived there until he moved to Chandler in 1989. Joel married his high school sweetheart, Carol Owens in February 1971.

He worked for the railroad for 10 years and joined the 45th Infantry Brigade 1970 where he served 38 years. Joel retired from active duty as a Master Sergeant (E-8) in 2009 after serving one year in Iraq during Iraqi Freedom.

An all-night wake for James Daniel Whitlow will be held Monday, May 30 at the Concho Emergency Response Center beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with interment at the Concho Indian Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home. His aunt, Rev. Joan Swallow, will officiate the wake and funeral services.

James passed away May 18, 2022, at his home in Northglenn, Colo. He was born June 14, 1956, in Chicago, Ill. He was raised in Kingfisher but also lived in Tulsa, El Reno and Denver, Colo.

Douglas Campbell, 84, of El Reno, passed away May 21, 2022. He was born Sept. 23, 1937, in Geary to Bert (Eagle Bird) and Myra (White Buffalo) Campbell.

He was one of the original members of the Star Hawk Society. He was also one of the original parents who first started the graduation banquet for Kingfisher High School graduates.

Douglas was also one of the designing persons for the Cheyenne and Arapaho emblem that is used today. He also worked on the Alaskan pipeline in the 1970s.

Funeral services for Charles Eugene (Ram) Pendley of Tuttle were held Friday at the First Assembly of God Church in Tuttle with Rev. Larry Harris officiating. Services were under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home in Minco.

Ram died May 24, 2022, at the Select Specialty Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was born Sept. 26, 1944, in Minco. He was raised in the Minco community until moving to Tuttle in 1957.

Ram started in the oil and natural gas industry as a young man and was a bit distributor until his retirement.

Gerald W. Van Horn passed away May 20, 2022, in El Reno surrounded by his family.

Gerald was born July 22, 1933, in Green Bay, Wis., to Clifford and Pearl Van Horn.

He graduated from Green Bay West High in 1952. He attended Northwestern University on a football scholarship.

Gerald accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and felt the calling to the ministry. He graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

Gerald faithfully served as an ordained minister for over 60 years in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.

Linda Gale Gray (Grandma) of Fort Cobb was born Feb. 2, 1948, and passed away May 17, 2022, at the age of 74.

Linda graduated from El Reno High School in 1966 and then married the love of her life, Herschel Gray. They had been married for 55 years.

Linda worked for over 25 years at Park View Hospital where she made a lot of lifetime friends. Later in life she loved to color in coloring books and colored many masterpieces.

Graveside services for Kristy Barnes Hamper of El Reno will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 23 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City. Services are under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors.

Kristy died May 13, 2022, peacefully at her home. She was born May 15, 1967.

Kristy is survived by her father, Walter Barnes; brother, Michael Barnes; her daughter, Gracie Hamper and her son, Miles Hamper.

Memorial service for Joyce L. Payne will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21 at First Baptist Church with Pastor Clay Parrot officiating.

Joyce went to be with Jesus on May 14, 2022. Joyce was born March 6, 1948, in Cherokee. She loved animals and worked as a veterinary assistant at the Canadian Valley Animal Clinic in El Reno before attending school to pursue a career in grooming that spanned over 25 years. 

Funeral services for Shelby Nuzum-Pennel will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Wilson Funeral Home with burial following in the El Reno Cemetery.

Shelby was born Dec. 11, 1955, in El Reno to Roy and Margie Nuzum and passed away May 9, 2022, in Oklahoma City.

Shelby graduated from El Reno High School in 1974. She worked various jobs throughout her life including, JC Penny, Dave Markly Ford and Bostick Motors. She most recently worked at Rick Jones, where she was employed for 33 years.

Funeral services for Florence Larene Mark of El Reno were held Wednesday, May 18 at First Christian Church, with burial following in the El Reno Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home.

Florence passed away peacefully May 13, 2022, with her family by her side. She was born Dec. 1, 1932, in Hinton to Charles Marshall and Frances Ruth Smith.

On Jan. 20, 1950, she married her true love, Joe Edward Mark.