Raymond Renfro

Raymond Earl Renfro, 89, of rural Fairfax, Oklahoma, a man whose life was a tapestry woven with love, hard work, and passion, breathed his last on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, surrounded by his family in the warmth of his home. Raymond’s journey began on July 17, 1934, born in the Pawnee Hospital as the cherished son of Marshel and Blanche (Douglass) Renfro.

He attended school at Ralston, graduating in 1953, furthering his education at Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater. During this time love blossomed, leading him to join hands in marriage with Montalu Martin on April 14th, 1956, in Burbank. This union stood strong for 68 years, blessed with the joys of four children - Tamra, Greg, JoLu and Duke.

In 1957, Raymond answered the call to serve his country and spent two honorable years in the Army. His military journey took him through training at Ft. Hood, Texas. When his oldest daughter Tamra was 10 days old, he was shipped to Germany for 18 months – he went over on the Upshur, back on the Patch. This was during peace time, he and his Army buddies traveled seeing the World’s Fair in Brussels and skiing in Switzerland. He was still in contact with two of these lifelong friends. He enjoyed conversing about his experience in the Army and was immensely proud of his military service as he was a very patriotic man.

He was a diligent worker at a young age, his dad was a truck driver and businessman, he had Raymond and his brother Sonny, driving trucks at age 12, sitting on boxes to touch the pedals. They were ornery and adventurous boys, and he regaled in sharing tales of their adventures while running the streets of Ralston including delivering newspapers on their bicycles, earning spending money of .01 per paper. Another adventure he told was going with his Dad and Sonny to Arkansas for a truck load of peaches, he and Sonny rode in the bed of the truck, chunking peaches at all the cars they passed, getting into a little bit of trouble over that. He worked hard his entire life, and had a deep love, affection and respect for his mom and dad, brother Sonny and sister Ramona. His illness took his short-term memory away, but he could reminisce about his childhood as if it were yesterday,  eventually those memories were taken away by his illness also. 

Raymond went to work for Indian Electric Co-op in 1956 as a laborer, after his service in the Army was over, he returned to work for Indian Electric as a lineman. In 1969 he was named acting Superintendent of the Fairfax area. Retiring after four decades of dedicated service, Raymond embraced a life filled with fishing trips, rounds of golf, creative projects alongside travels with his beloved wife. Upon being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and homebound, his wife Montalu whom he referred to as his “little Princess” became his primary caregiver.  
 
A good athlete, Raymond excelled in sports playing basketball, baseball and in later years taking up golf. He was ambidextrous, using either right or left hand equally, loved to fish, hunt, golf, and was an avid photographer of wildlife as well as a fair carpenter who always had a project going.  Raymond and grandson Ross built a cannon, and it worked! He could build about anything out of anything & we had a term for him if it could not be fixed, he would “Raymondize” it,  according to his nephew Gordon. 

Family was paramount to Raymond, and he created cherished memories with them through shared experiences far and wide-- usually in a camper or travel trailer-- either attending bluegrass festivals, camping for the weekend at Keystone Lake, sightseeing the Grand Canyon or visiting different states including Missouri, Arkansas Tennessee, New Mexico, Colorado to name a few.

He served as a member of the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Dept. and participated as a longtime member of the Kah Wah Z Country Club. He also assisted with building the Pavilion at the Ralston Riverside Cemetery along with mowing and upkeep of the cemetery for many years.

Raymond is predeceased by his parents, sisters Faith Renfro and Ramona Brown, brother Sam “Sonny” Marshel Renfro, Jr., daughter-in-law Shannon Renfro. He is survived by his wife, Montalu, children, Tamra Bowman (King), Greg Renfro, JoLu Mashburn (Mike) and Duke Renfro.  Grandchildren – Dalton Bowman (Krystal), Callie Bowman, Ross Bowman, Amy Brown (Scott), McKayla Mashburn, Kaleb Renfro and Shay Renfro, great grandchildren, Hunter, Dailyn, Tayven, Emery, Avery, RanDea Jo, Chesney, Harley, Joseph and Lindy, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held 12pm to 4pm, Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Hunsaker Wooten Funeral Home Chapel. A graveside service will be at 2pm, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Ralston Riverside Cemetery Pavilion. Pastor Lewis Bernard will officiate with interment to follow.     

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Elara Care Hospice staff, nurses and caregivers, for their excellent service and compassionate care during challenging times. 

In memory of Raymond’s enduring spirit, memorial contributions may be made to the Ralston Riverside Cemetery,% Kyle Beavers, 347 N 2nd Street, Ralston OK 74650 or the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department, %City Hall, PO Box 399, Fairfax OK 74637.
 
To share condolences or reminisce about Raymond’s life journey, please visit www.hunsakerwootenfuneralhome.com