Marilyn Marie Darnell

Funeral service for Marilyn Marie Darnell, age 85 of Chickasha, will be held at 10am, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the College Heights Baptist Church.  Dr. Bryan Haynes will officiate.

Marilyn was born in Naples, Oklahoma, on December 1, 1938, to Elmer and Mary Barrett.  She died on January 25, 2024, at her home in Chickasha.

Marilyn married Albert Elmer Darnell at the College Heights Baptist Church on June 14, 1958.  She was a charter member of College Heights having come from Michigan Avenue as a teenager.  As a charter member, she served in many capacities including teaching second-grade Sunday School for decades and cooking at Falls Creek for 50 years.  She had a passion for kids and feeding people with her home cooking.

Marilyn was a 1957 graduate of Chickasha High School, a 1961 graduate of Oklahoma College for Women (USAO) and a 1974 graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

She taught kindergarten for a total of 38 years: Four years were at a private kindergarten at College Heights and 34 years were at Chickasha Public Schools.  All 34 years at Chickasha were at Southwest Elementary having had morning and afternoon classes resulting in teaching thousands of students.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, siblings J. M. Barrett, Larry Barrett and infant brother Elmer Barrett, Jr., son-in-law Gary Ledbetter and her husband of 63 years, Albert Darnell.

Marilyn is survived by daughter, Mary-Lynn Ledbetter, sons James Edward Darnell (Becky) and Michael Darnell (Miche’).  She is also survived by grandchildren Cari Magee (Matt), Michael Ledbetter, Sarah Winter (Ethan), Leah Rue (Michael), Cooper Darnell and Kennedy Darnell.  She is also survived by great-grandchildren Velvet Magee, Ivy Winter and Ellie Winter.  She is also survived by sisters, Wanda McMasters and Sue Alford, and a host of extended family and friends.

A very special thank you to Lifeline Home Health and Central Oklahoma Home Health for their loving care.  Memorial contributions may be made to College Heights Baptist Church designated Children’s Ministry and Youth Falls Creek.

Viewing will be Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 7pm. Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.

Stuart Meltzer

Funeral service for Stuart Meltzer, age 83 of Chickasha, will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at the USAO Alumni Chapel in Chickasha.

Stuart Meltzer was born on June 27, 1940 in the Bronx, New York. He died on January 19, 2024 in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

Stuart graduated from Hunter College in 1960 with a B.A. in foreign languages.  He earned an M.A. in foreign languages and literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1964.  He did further study at UNC and the University of Wyoming.  He began teaching at the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts (now USAO) in 1968 where he taught until his retirement in 2010.  Throughout his career, he influenced countless students. Stuart was a dedicated Republican and served as a 4th District Republican Chairman from 1984-1996.  He was also active in the Chickasha Community Theater.

He was preceded in death by his parents and long-time companion, Marvin Chester.

He is survived by a sister, Cheryl Mapou; two nieces, Jocelyn and Tracy; special friends he considered as family, Brenda and Chris Brown and their children, Rachael, Elijah and Zoe; Annick Bellemain, Marcia Vliet, Jan Hanson and Jeanette Loutsch; and many other friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the USAO Stuart Meltzer Scholarship Fund or the Chickasha Animal Shelter.

Burial will be at Fairlawn Cemetery. Services are under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.

Richard Lee Quillin

Funeral for Richard Lee Quillin, age 55 of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at Full Gospel Church.

Richard Lee Quillin, a beloved son, brother and father, passed away on January 18, 2024, in Chickasha. He was born on November 10, 1968 in Oklahoma City to Rick and Shirley Quillin.

Richard's life was defined by his unwavering love for others and his commitment to serving those in need. His involvement with the Salvation Army exemplified this dedication as he selflessly gave of himself to help those less fortunate. He connected with people from all walks of life and offered them comfort during their most challenging times. When he wasn't busy helping others, he would be hanging out with his beloved family, making incredible memories that will last for generations.  Richard will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Family, friends and colleagues admired his dedication and strangers were touched by his acts of kindness they may never forget.

Richard is preceded in death by his brother Kevin Quillin, his mother Shirley Quillin, multiple aunts, uncles and cousins with whom he is now reunited.

Survivors include his father Rick Quillin, brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Kristin Quillin, daughter and son-in-law, Tiffany and Edy Tjung, daughter Peyton Quillin, three grandchildren: Recca Tjung, Kairi Tjung, and Rylee Flanagan and several loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.

Charley Bill Cockrum

Funeral service for Charley Cockrum, age 93, of Chickasha, will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at the Main Street Church of Christ in Alex.

Charley was born the son of Thomas Edward Cockrum and Blanche Edith Cockrum (Geary) on February 21, 1930, in Henderson, Arkansas.  He died on January 5, 2024, in Chickasha.

As a youth, Charley and his family moved to Missouri.  He graduated from high school in Bakersfield, Missouri, in 1947.  After graduation, he went to work for the Corp of Engineers building the Bull Shoals Dam.  He married Agnes Maynard in 1949.  In 1952, they moved to Bakersfield, California, where he worked for 76 Union Oil.  He and Agnes divorced in 1966.  In the late 1960s, he moved to West Plains, Missouri.  He met Eva Watson and they were married in 1972.  He and Eva farmed and ranched and he also hauled fertilizer.  He lived in Missouri until 2020 when he had to move to Chickasha after being injured by falling off a ladder at the age of 90 shaking walnuts out of a tree.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Watson Cockrum, his father and mother, brothers Thomas Edward Cockrum, Jim Cockrum, Henry Cockrum and sister Mary Cockrum Lamb.

He is survived by one son, Charles Dwayne Cockrum and wife Janice of Chickasha, one daughter, Barbara Mitchusson and husband Don of Bradley, one step-son, Charles Watson and wife Vicki of West Plains, Missouri and one brother, Harvey Pete Cockrum of Harrison, Arkansas. He is survived by grandchildren Colton Cockrum and wife Casey of Memphis, Tennessee, Dawn Buffington and husband Lance of Tulsa, Lisa Mitchusson and husband Denny of Pocasset, Toni Mills and husband J. R. of Edmond and Daniel Mitchusson of Oklahoma City.  He is survived by great-grandchildren Coleman Cockrum, Callie Cockrum, Valerie Davis, Nikki Davis, Trace Brantley and wife Michaela, Jared Cole and Kaylee, Nathan Mills, Connor Mills and Andrew Mills.  He is also survived by great-great-grandchildren Ryder, Jaxson and Zaxton.

Burial will be in the Bradley Cemetery.  Services are under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank Brookdale Assisted Living, Choice Hospice, and Around The Clock for the care they provided.

Jimmy Eugene Yoder

Memorial service for Jimmy Eugene Yoder will be held at 1:30pm, Thursday, January 11, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Chickasha, OK.

Jimmy Eugene (Harris) Yoder passed from this life into the loving arms of Jesus on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Jimmy was born on October 25, 1931, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Alvertice Mae (Westfall) Harris and George Thomas Harris.

His younger days were spent in Chickasha, Ninnekah, and eventually Fletcher, OK, where he graduated from high school and met the love of his life. He joined the US Navy and served in the Korean War on the USS Marshall, DD 676. Toye convinced him that she was “the one” when she wrote letters to him when he was serving overseas. Upon his return from war, he married Toye Walker and entered into civil service. He then attended College at Cameron and Central State University and got a Bachelor of Science degree. He became a Mathematics teacher in Lawton, Oklahoma. Eventually, Jim became a computer analyst at the Federal Aviation Administration where he worked with computers that were as large as a large room.

Jim loved the outdoors. He had a large garden and orchard for many years and often grew the family’s fruits and vegetables for the year. He also raised cattle and was a wonderful artist creating many oil and watercolor paintings. Jim is known for his quiet manner; however, he loved having family around him. Jim loved the mountains and spent many summer vacations with his family in Colorado camping, fishing for trout and sightseeing. Jim extended his love for the outdoors to his grandchildren. He took them to the lake, camping, boating and swimming when they were young.

Jimmy told of the time when he was 15 that he invited Jesus into his heart at the invitation of a lady for whom he was working. Although he was quiet about everything, including his faith, he insisted that he was a child of God.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Toye Yoder, his parents Alvertice Westfall Jones, his father George Thomas Harris and stepfather Cullen Jones.

He is survived by children James Yoder and his wife Gina, Jan Yoder Harrison and her husband David. His grandchildren are Maegan Womble, Jeremiah and Joshua Yoder, Hannah Keepers and husband Kris, Emily Roberts and husband Nathanael, Autumn Stark and husband Tyler, Tabitha Toye Harrison, Lacy Thompson and Mark Baxter. His great-grandchildren are Isaac and David Keepers. He is also survived by his sister Nettie Fisher and husband Bobby; their Daughter Lauren Smith and husband Travis and their children Ethan and Alleigh Smith. Jim is also survived by many loving family members on Toye's side of the family.

Cremation arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.