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Vernon Leroy Choate © Enid News and Eagle 07-20-2021 Submitted by: Glenn
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March 20, 1937 - July 16, 2021
Vernon Choate, 84-year-old Woodward resident, passed away on Friday, July 16, 2021, in Woodward. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Donnetta Hunter officiating. Burial will follow at the Pond Creek Cemetery. Arrangements were made under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.
Vernon Leroy Choate was born on March 20, 1937, in Enid, Oklahoma, to Elwood Leroy and Ida Lou Ella (Kelly) Choate. Vernon lived in Pond Creek, Oklahoma, before moving to Santa Ana, California, in the mid-1940s. When he turned 13 years old the family moved back to Pond Creek. Vernon graduated from Pond Creek High School in 1955. Vernon enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955 and served in the Reserve until 1963. He attended the University of Oklahoma for a semester then transferred to Phillips University in Enid. On September 2, 1956, Vernon was united in marriage to Emily Sturm. To this union they were blessed with two children, Michael and Kelly.
Vernon worked at Failings in Enid as a mail clerk from 1956-1959. He moved to Pond Creek in 1959 and began working for Lou's Body Shop with his dad. He also worked at Baileys Chevrolet as a body man. In 1963 he worked at ONG as a dispatcher and later became a utility service worker. He spent a number of years at different locations for ONG, including Enid, Alva, and Shattuck. In the early 1960s Vernon was in a band with his brothers, Danny and Harry, his cousin, David Crabtree, and his friend, Tommy. They were known as Brother Vernon and the Rockin' Saints. Vernon was named the local manager for ONG in Shattuck in 1983. After his retirement in 1995, Vernon managed the Shattuck Golf Course for a short period of time. He also washed dishes at Charlies Bar and Grill for his son David.
In July of 1979 Vernon married Maria Craft. Maria added three children to the family, David, Jeff, and Elizabeth, whom he raised as his own. Vernon enjoyed OU football, golfing, playing cribbage, playing cards, spending time with his friends and family and making homemade wine. He loved to take his family to the family cabin in Taylor Park, Colorado, that he built alongside his father.
Vernon was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He entered his Apprenticeship in November of 1967, passed to Fellowcraft in December of 1967, raised to a Master Mason in 1968, and attained the honor of being a Scottish Rite Mason for 50 years in 2018. He was a 32 degree Mason. He was a member for 53½ years. He was also a member of the Alva and Woodward Moose Lodge. While in Enid, he was a Cub Scout Leader, Peewee Football Coach, and the PTA President at Monroe Elementary. In 2015 he moved to Enid and lived with his son, Michael. In 2017, he moved to Providence Place in Woodward where he remained till his passing.
He is survived by his sons, Mike Choate and wife Janice of Enid, David Craft of Gage, and Jeff Craft and wife Emalee of Cleveland; daughters, Kelly Cornejo of Woodward and Elizabeth Craft of Skidoo, California; brothers, Danny Choate and wife Carroll of Natoma, Kansas, Harry Choate and wife Ginger of Enid; sister, LouElla Gillpatrick and husband Jack of Yukon; grandchildren, Cameron Cornejo, Casey Cornejo, Gina Huenergardt, Michael Winterbank, Amber Winterbank, Crystal Winterbank, Trevor Parkhurst, Micah Craft, Jasmine Craft, Carlee Martinez, Peyton Craft, Jamie Kunz, Zachary Craft, and Zoey Craft; and great-grandchildren, Carson Cornejo, Connor Cornejo, Beckett Cornejo, McKayla Charmasson, Teagan Charmasson, Tate Charmasson, McKinlee Huenergardt, Izabella Winterbank, Dannica Winterbank, Greyson Winterbank, Madden Winterbank, Ethan Gartrell, Emma Kunz, Bradley Reynolds, and Rianna Reynolds.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Jimmie Choate; and a grandson Brandon Reynolds.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital, with Billings Funeral Home accepting contributions.
Remembrances may be shared online at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com.
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