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John Michael Latimer
March 12, 1944 - August 30, 2021
John Michael Latimer (“Mike”) 77, of Amarillo passed away August 30, 2021.
He was born on March 12, 1944, in Sulphur Oklahoma to Osborn and Vesta Latimer. He grew up in Wynnewood Oklahoma where he was part of a large family. He was a Boy Scout earning the rank of Eagle Scout.
On January 21, 1966, he married Janis Williams and they shared 51 years together raising three children. Mike served in the United States Airforce from 1966 to 1974. After which he began working in the Aerospace industry with much of that time being spent at Boeing working on the Stealth Bomber.
During this time, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology and a Master of Science in Engineering Technology from Central Washington University.
He retired from Boeing in 2003 and moved to Amarillo to be closer to his grandchildren. He played a significant role in their childhood and could often be found driving kids to and from school and other activities. When asked what they will remember most about their grandpa, the response was he was one of the smartest people they ever knew, that he could fix anything and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.
He loved talking about genealogy and his ancestors. His roots were unique in that on one side he was Native American and a proud member of the Choctaw Tribe and on the other side his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War. He was always willing to share stories about his family. These stories will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his two daughters Denise Leard and husband Charles; Nancy Buck and son John Latimer, Jr. Sisters Sandy Ledford and Marilyn Edwards and husband Gene. Grandchildren Daniel Fletcher and wife Maddison, Michael Fletcher, Zachary Fletcher, Jacob Fletcher and wife Kim, Katherine Fletcher, and Darian Verner. Great Grandson, Brooks Fletcher. Many nieces, nephews and friends who will deeply miss him.
A celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Jimmie Lou Gallion
July 12, 1939 - September 7, 2021
Jimmie Lou Gallion, a resident of Wynnewood, OK, was born on July 12, 1939 in Pauls Valley, OK. She passed away in Norman, OK on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at the age of 82. Jimmie married Ricky Gallion on January 19, 1979 in Gainesville, TX.
Anyone who knew Jimmie saw her love for the Lord reflected in the love and compassion she showed for those around her.
She loved anything and everything about her family, always looking forward to the next family gathering. Attending sporting events of her children and grandchildren led to many cherished memories.
Jimmie was an avid storyteller reflecting on her favorite stories that brought her the most joy throughout her lifetime.
Her life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32- “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
She was preceded in death by her mother Leeta Mae and a brother Robbie Elliott.
Jimmie is survived by her husband Ricky of their home in Wynnewood; her three daughters - Donna Evans and husband Chris of Wynnewood; Rhonda McNeil and husband Michael of Ardmore; Brandi Bell and husband Brady of Argyle, TX; seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and a brother - Danny Elliott of Lindsay, OK.
Visitation was held on Friday, September 10, 2021 at DeArman Funeral Home in Wynnewood from 5 to 7pm.
Services were held on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Wynnewood officiated by Rev. Jarrod Kendall with burial following at Oaklawn Cemetery in Wynnewood.
Please send online condolences to www.dearmanfuneralhome.com
Charles Ray Butler
June 3, 1948 - September 10, 2021
Charles Ray Butler (Pauls Valley, OK) passed away on September 10, 2021, leaving this world a little better than he found it by offering love and care to those around him.
True to form for Coach Butler, he defied the odds of a terminal brain tumor diagnosis in 2004, living another 17 years before it ultimately took his life. He passed away at home, in a room that was full of the stories and testimonies of how he had made a difference in people’s lives. He was 77 years old.
Charles grew up and graduated high school in the small town of Allen, OK. Perhaps his initial claim to fame was his small role in a documentary film (“Born Hunters”) about a bird dog his dad trained, but he was mostly known in town for being a stellar athlete and overall good guy.
He attended Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, OK on a football scholarship and was a starting player all 4 years.
It is most notable, however, that he met his lovely wife, Fran, while he was there. He later obtained his Master’s in Education at ECU.
Charles began his coaching career in Holdenville, OK. He and his young family then moved to the Gulf Coast area where he left his mark in Gulf Breeze, FL by starting the first ever football program at the local school.
He later returned to his hometown of Allen, OK as a coach and teacher. He finished his career at Wynnewood, OK, where he taught and coached for 21 years. Coach Butler was inducted into the OK Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Northeastern State University Hall of Fame, and was the recipient of their “Spirit of Excellence” award in 2017.
If he wasn’t playing or coaching or watching sports, he was usually hunting or fishing, or maybe playing ping pong.
While the plaques and awards of championships line the walls of his home, these are not the stories that echo the loudest. It is the stories of how Charles made people feel that linger on in the hearts and minds of his family.
There are countless stories of how he helped shape the character of young student athletes through his attention to them beyond their athletic ability. He showed care to the kids that he knew were struggling with things beyond academics.
The community of coaches talk about his consistent integrity and work ethic. His friends at church and around town share stories of how his kindness and friendliness and compassion made a difference in their day. Even in the last months of his life, he became the champion of silly jokes as he tried to make every nurse or doctor or lab tech’ laugh. And it worked.
He engaged people through kindness and humor until the very end, making everyone’s heart feel a little bit better, even if just for a moment. For him, this is what it meant to be like Jesus.
Throughout it all, his wife, Frances Elizabeth Cissna Butler, was by his side. They weathered all the hard things of life together for 55 years, ending it all with complete assurance of their love and devotion to each other.
Charles and Fran have 2 daughters: Amie Lampkin resides in Washington, OK; Bethany Butler Myers (and husband Doug) resides in Kansas City. They have 8 grandchildren: Tylor Lampkin (wife Alyssa), Kale Lampkin (wife Mika), Dagan Wilcox (husband Tanner), Creed Myers, and Lochlan Myers. They have 6 great-grandchildren: Teagan, Rigby, Ripkyn, Lilli, Daisy, and Kane.
Charles was preceded in death by his son-in-law, James Lampkin, which broke his heart. Also, by his hardworking father, Harve Australia Butler, who helped hone Charles’s toughness; his very sweet mother, Joan (Vinson) Butler, who planted the seeds of kindness in his heart; and in recent weeks, his brother-in-law, Tom Whitaker.
Charles was a devoted big brother to his siblings: Dean Butler (Bakersfield, CA, with wife Brenda) and Janice Butler Whitaker (Waxahachie, TX)
Charles’s family invites you to help celebrate his life on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 10:00am, at the First United Methodist Church in Pauls Valley, OK. Interment will be in the Allen Cemetery under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home.
To honor Charles, donations can be sent to the Coach Butler Scholarship fund at the State Bank of Wynnewood (117 S Dean A McGee Ave, Wynnewood, OK 73098), or via Venmo: @CoachButlerScholarship.
You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com.
Joy Fern Goggans Alexander
December 17, 1937 - September 11, 2021
Joy Fern Goggans Alexander, of Wynnewood, passed away September 11, 2021 in Sulphur, Oklahoma at the age of 83 years.
Joy was born December 17, 1937 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to William Carey Goggans and Cora Elizabeth Goggans-Thomas.
She attended school in Pauls Valley and is a graduate of the Pauls Valley High School. Later she worked at various jobs in Pauls Valley. She was most known for her position as Clerk for the Garvin County Treasurer’s office.
On February 14, 1964, she and Wendell E. Jones were married. Wendell preceded her in death on August 27, 1988.
She and Bob Alexander were married in Pauls Valley on July 14, 1989. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Carey Goggans and Cora Elizabeth Hukill Goggans Thomas, husbands, Glen Clark and Wendell Jones, and brother, Darwin Goggans.
She is survived by her husband, Bob Alexander of Wynnewood; brother, Travis Goggans of Norman; children, Glenna Clark Keller and husband, Michael, of Pauls Valley; Julie Jones Moore and husband, Boyd, of The Woodlands, Texas; Janice Alexander Dixon and husband, Eugene, of Wynnewood; Daryl Alexander of Watonga; and Sandra Alexander of Wynnewood; grandchildren, Avery Moore, Cade Moore, Jacob Keller, Ethan and Lorin Dixon, Logan Leverett, Heather Leverett, Morgan Leverett, Hailey Elmore, Shanie Alexander, Cressa Keller, and Brandon Keller; as well as a host of great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Joy was full of life and laughter and lit up every room she walked into. She was well known in this community and had an outpouring of friends. There was nothing that made her happier than spending time with her family and the people she loved so dearly.
She had a giving heart and was always cooking, visiting or sending a sweet card to someone in need. She was a doer, a giver, and “never let grass grow under her feet.”
As Joy said countless times, “you have to be a friend to have a friend.”
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 17, 2021 at 10:00am at Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home Chapel officiated by Pastor Dwayne Johnson. Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home.
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the family’s guestbook at www.stufflebeanfuneralhome.com.
In leiu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be given in memory of Joy to the American Cancer Society.
