Charles Everett Poarch

Charles Everett Poarch was born in Kingfisher, OK, on Jan. 5, 1935, to Hazel and Weldon Eugene Poarch, Sr. and passed away Oct. 5 in Yukon, OK.

From adventures with his 13 brothers and sisters to working with the Royal Ambassadors to move cinder blocks for building Watonga’s First Baptist Church in 1948, his childhood was full.

He attended Cordell Country School and then graduated from Watonga High School in 1954. He attended OSU before joining the Oklahoma National Guard.

He married Laurel Whisler on Aug. 8, 1964, and for 57 years, they served the communities where they lived, operated the local lumberyard and were active church members.

He served as a trustee and deacon for FBC Watonga for many years, and while he was on the Building Committee, the church added the Family Life Center. As a member of the Lions Club, he was instrumental in starting the annual Scholastic Banquet in the early 1980s.

He enjoyed shooting the breeze with the men who hung out at Long Bell and C&L Building Supply, but his favorite activity was bragging about his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Lauren Li Poarch, brothers Valgean (Barbara) Poarch, Bob Poarch, Ken (Teresa) Poarch, Jimmie Dale Poarch and Weldon Eugene Poarch, Jr., sisters Patricia (Loyd) Franks and Billie (Tom) Felton; brothers-in-law Amil Koetter, Melvin Espy, Ralph Carter and Melvin Carter; and sister-in-law Judy Poarch (#1).

He is survived by his wife Laurel, of Yukon; sons Greg (Nancy), of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Scott (Kelly) of Frisco, TX; and daughter Dayna (Don), of Yukon; grandchildren LeeAnn Poarch, Max and Sam Poarch, and Anna, Jeremy, Jackson and Spencer Rowe; sisters Wilba Koetter, of Albuquerque, NM; Eloise Espy, of Watonga; Carol Wight, of Enid; Anita (Tom) Reeder, of Gravois Mills, MO: Jodene Carter, of Covington; brother Gerald Poarch, of Costa Mesa, CA; and sisters-in-law Patricia Poarch, of Pickton, TX; and Judy (Tim) Curtin (#2), of Watonga; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be Monday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 301 N. Noble Ave., Watonga. Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Wilkinson Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Watonga Lions Club Scholarship Fund, 208 N. Noble Ave., Watonga, OK 73772.