Michael Monzell Calfy

Funeral Services for Mike will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the Church of the Nazarene, Walters, OK, at 10:00 a.m. Interment in Walters cemetery under the direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home, Walters. A prayer service will be held at the Church of the Nazarene, on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.

Michael (Mike) Monzell Calfy, Sr (affectionately known as “Pappy”) was born to Victor Lee and Zella Mae (Myers) Calfy in Walters, OK on June 16, 1943, and departed this life at his home in Walters, OK, on March 17, 2026, at the age of 82 years, 9 months, and 1 day after a courageous battle with heart and lung disease and cancer.

Mike attended Walters school until the 11th grade. At harvest time, families would pull their kids out of school to work in the cotton fields. When Mike returned to school he was told he would automatically be failed, even though his grades were passing, due to new education laws regarding absences. Even though he never received a diploma, he proceeded to become a successful business owner and contractor.

Mike married Lena Ann Chockpoyah on July 6, 1962, in Walters, where they made their home and raised their 4 children. In his early years, he pulled cotton with a gunny sack for “$1 a hunnerd” and helped Claud Daniel gather watermelons for 30 cents an hour. He later worked in the oilfield and went on to farm and do carpentry alongside his brother Jim. In the late 1960s, Mike, together with his brothers Frank and John, founded Calfy Bros Building Center on Broadway, later building its current location in 1975. Over the years, he spent much of his time constructing tribal housing, serving as the lead builder of his crew and, in his own words, a “workaholic.”

He enjoyed camping, fishing, and boating while his kids were growing up. He also enjoyed and participated in competitive bowling. He has always loved gardening. Every year he spent hours plowing and planting a huge garden of corn, squash, beans, turnips, beets, pumpkins, and watermelons to share with others.

In the mid 1990’s, he began attending the Emerson 1st Church of the Nazarene. Lena followed him to Emerson and became their pastor. He was later baptized by his wife at Emerson.

He was adopted as an “honorary” Comanche by elders Martha Wereyavah, Helen Goodeagle, Phyllis Frederick, and Ruth Simmons. During this time, he began studying and learning the Comanche language. While taking classes he befriended June Tahpay, who originally told him white men can’t sing Comanche but ended up inviting him to sing with her. He has spent the last 30 plus years singing Comanche hymns and cultivating a genuine love for the Comanche tribe and language.

He is preceded by parents Victor and Zella Calfy, his wife Lena Calfy, 6 brothers; Bill, Vic, Rex, Jim, Frank, & John Calfy, and two sisters; Aluretta Tunnell and Zella Mae Jarrell.

He is survived by 4 children and spouses, Mike Jr. and Lori Calfy of Edmond, OK, Shiela and Dan Swanner of Oklahoma City, Fonda and Jim Keesee of Walters, Chris Fletcher and Brittanni of Walters, OK; a sister, Ila Cowan; 3 sisters-in-law Jeanie Rickets, Geraldine Gray, and Jessie Foster; 2 brothers-in-law, Eddie and Rose Chockpoyah and Fred Chockpoyah; 15 grandchildren, Victoria Calfy, Danny Swanner, Dylan Swanner, Robert Hardy, Brandon Keesee, Chase Keesee, Jordan Keesee, Amy Calfy, Leanne Calfy, David Calfy, Rommel Amante, Olivia Fletcher, Hagen Fletcher, Kinley Fletcher, and Parker Fletcher; 8 great-grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation Committee at 1608 NW Euclid Ave, Lawton, OK 73507