Bobby "Bob" Gene Cantrell

Bobby “Bob” Gene Cantrell

Funeral Services for Bobby “Bob” Gene Cantrell, 83, of Lone Grove, are scheduled for 2 PM, Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at the Rexroat Baptist Church with Bro. Jim Roebuck officiating. Interment will follow at Keller Cemetery. Services are under the direction and care of Alexander Funeral Home of Wilson.

Bobby “Bob” Gene Cantrell was born November 22, 1932 in the Keller Community north of Wilson, OK to the late Mr. Joe and Cora (Taylor) Cantrell. He departed from this life in the early morning hours at home on the ranch November 5, 2016 with the grace of an angel.

Bob began his working career at an early age as a floor hand on drilling rigs climbing to the position of tool pusher for Goff and Leeper all over Oklahoma and Texas. In 1968 Bob struck out on his own and started Cantrell’s Backhoe Service excavating for independent oil companies and eventually working primarily for what is now known as Exxon Mobil in the Dillard field digging the greater majority of pipeline for the company. Bob had a god given talent for remembering the location of pipelines he and even others had dug when no one else could. In later years after retirement he was often called upon to aid in locating such pipelines for Exxon Mobil.

Bob retired to the ranch he had built from the ground up in 1994 looking after the livestock and land he grew to love so much. There was never a thing he could not fix and taught many friends the talent of so many things that he could repair himself and never hired a job out.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, siblings; Lorena “sis” Ballard, Billy Joe, Almoth “Son”, and J.B. Cantrell, and son in law; Jim Russell.

He is survived by his wife of the home Cheryl (Conwell) Cantrell, children; Ronnie Cantrell and wife Sandy of Reed Springs, MO, Diane (Cantrell) Smith and husband Monty of Dillard, OK, Carla (Cantrell) Whitener and husband Gary of Wilson, OK and Kevin Cantrell and wife Tanya of Big Sandy, TX, grandchildren; Chandra, Lorrie, Stephanie, Nicole, Daniel, Jennifer and Monica, 13 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. Bob is also survived by his favorite canine companion Belle.

Bob left to this world his favorite brother R.A. Cantrell and wife Jean of Fillmore, CA. Extended family Tim and Patty Crabtree, Lonnie and Brenda Knowles, Chase and Shantel Shores and Bobby and Debbie Southerland whom he love so much.

We would like to acknowledge our deep appreciation to the nurses, doctors, and staffs of Mercy Cancer Center, Mercy Hospital and Fresenius Kidney Clinic whom cared for him so intensely for the past three years. In particular our deep appreciation goes out to his RN Olga Gaston, RN Michael Dollar and Dr. Rhadika Medipalli of the Fresenius Medical Clinic Team. In Bob’s final day for his wrap up of business we appreciate the dignity that Cross Timbers Staff left with him in making it possible for him to complete his journey.

Pallbearers will be Tim Crabtree, Greg Allen, Chase Shores, Devlin Ford, Dan Corr, and Lonnie Knowles.

A family visitation is scheduled for 6-8 PM, Tuesday evening at the Alexander Funeral Home Chapel in Wilson.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, Bobby Gene requested that we all “Pay it Forward” by taking time to visit an elderly or incapacitated relative or friend.

Online condolences may be made at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org.