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Laurel June (Whisler) Poarch was born June 6, 1939, on the family farm northwest of Watonga, OK, to Everett Wayne and Della Juanita (Chastain) Whisler and passed away November 17, 2024, at home in Yukon, OK, surrounded by her family.
She spent her childhood growing up in the country. After the sudden death of her mother, Laurel and her siblings went to live with their aunt and uncle, Clara and Taska Taylor, on their farm outside of Watonga. She attended Enterprise Country School until the fourth grade and graduated from Watonga High School in 1957. She moved to Oklahoma City and attended Draughon’s School of Business, obtaining an executive secretarial degree. She worked at OG&E until 1964 when she met and married Charles E. Poarch and returned to Watonga.
They spent the first few years of their marriage in Kingfisher, OK, and Lawton, OK, before making their home in Watonga to raise their three children.They spent nearly four decades volunteering and working in the community and serving in the First Baptist Church, and nearly 15 years operating their business, C & L Building Supply.
Laurel was very active in the community, serving with Extension Homemakers, working at the Watonga Chamber of Commerce, teaching at the church, and enjoying gatherings with her Lunch Bunch ladies. As chamber director, she not only led a team of dedicated volunteers in organizing the annual Watonga Cheese Festival but also traveled the state championing economic development initiatives to benefit the community.
After retiring from the chamber in 2002, she remained active in the community but spent more time caring for her grandchildren. They eventually moved to Yukon to be closer to family and became involved in Yukon Church, where she enjoyed attending the weekly Ladies’ Bible Study. Despite her own health struggles and caring for Charles as his health declined, she continued to maintain a flower garden, visit regularly by phone with family and friends, exchange many letters with her cousin, and cheer on her beloved Thunder and Sooners.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, aunt and uncle, granddaughter Lauren, and sister Beverly Loveless.
She is survived by sons Greg and wife Nancy Poarch, of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Scott and wife Kelly Poarch, of Frisco, TX; daughter Dayna and husband Don Rowe, of Yukon; grandchildren LeeAnn and husband Press Johnson; Max and Sam Poarch; and Anna, Jeremy, Jackson and Spencer Rowe; brother Sewell and wife Teresa Whisler, of Watonga; sisters-in-law Wilba Koetter, of Albuquerque, NM; Eloise Espy, of Watonga; Anita and husband Tom Reeder, of Gravois Mills, MO; Jodene Carter, of Covington, OK; and Patricia Poarch, of Pickton, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thank you to Russell-Murray Hospice for providing such compassionate care. Services will be Monday, Nov. 25 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. Visitation will be at the funeral home Sunday, Nov. 24 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Watonga Lions Club Scholarship Fund at 208 N. Noble Ave., Watonga, OK 73772, or Russell-Murray Hospice. https://rmhospice.org/donate-now/
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