C.L. Charlie Loransie Edwards

Ratliff City - Funeral Services for Mr. Charlie Loransie “CL” Edwards, 89, of Ratliff City will be 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Ratliff City, Rev. Glynn Baker will officiate. Family visitation will be Friday, July 1, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Alexander Funeral Home in Ratliff City, Oklahoma.

Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.

Mr. Edwards died Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at his home. He was born August 7, 1926, in Russellville, Arkansas to the late Mr. Charlie Loranzie, Sr. and Mrs. Arizona Bell (Taylor) Edwards. He graduated from Joy High School in 1944, a year early and was the valedictorian of his class.

Immediately after High School, Mr. Edwards served in the U. S. Navy during World War II as an Electrician’s Mate, Third Class. He was assigned to the USS New Mexico, (aka BB40) and received the top score in marksmanship. He was discharged on June 9, 1946, after serving honorably for 2 years.

After serving his country, Mr. Edwards returned to Wynnewood, Oklahoma and drove his motorcycle to Stillwater to attend Oklahoma A&M for three years where he majored in Electrical Engineering.

In 1949, Mr. Edwards was digging ditches for 25 cents an hour as a contract worker for Mobil Oil Corporation. When he asked if he could get hired by Mobil, he was told they only hired married men so he saved his money for an engagement ring and went back to the Supervisor and told him if he would hire him he could fix that by getting married. He was then hired by Mobil in 1950. He retired in 1988 as a Meter Tender after 38 years of service.

Mr. Edwards met the love of his life, Dorris Lanett (Scott) Edwards at church and later that night they went to a friends house and played “spin the bottle.” Dorris gave CL the kiss of his life and they were married three years later on May 19, 1950 at the Baptist preacher’s house during a thunderstorm with hail in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. They moved to Ratliff City in 1951 where together, they built their home.

He enjoyed music and playing by ear the guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, juice harp, until his last day. When Mark and Marsha were young, he would wake them up in the morning singing, “You are my sunshine.” He was a talented woodcraftsman and loved making beautiful furniture and tree houses for his grandchildren who called him PaPaw.

He was a member of the Ratliff City Baptist Church and was baptized in the 1960’s.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 7 sisters and 1 brother.

He is survived by his wife, Dorris Edwards of the home; son, Mark Edwards (Debbie) and grandchildren Jeana Kilcrease (Danny) of Silver City, OK and Tracy Jones (Jeremy) of Ratliff City, OK and great grandchildren, Jamy Kirkpatrick (Hoot) of Fox, OK, Preston and Ashlee Porterfield, Braydan Kilcrease, and Parker, Mabry, and Malorree Jones, and great great grandchild Jaycee Kirkpatrick; daughter, Marsha Lackey (Bryan) of Ardmore, OK, and grandchildren Leah Lackey of Parker, CO and Halee Lesch (Chris) and great grandchildren Estella and Luke of Erie, CO.

Bearers will be Lee Forshee, Dewey David Gandy, Paul Harris, Jeremy Jones, Bryan Lackey, and Paul Lackey.

A special thanks to Tammi Waddle, Brittany Carrol, Ashlee Porterfield, Dorothy Beams, Cross Timbers Hospice of Ardmore, and Ideal Home Health Care for their kind felt care and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Ratliff City in his memory.

Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to alexanderfuneralhome.org.