Services for Carrel Andrew Bryant, 86, of Francis, will be held at the Pontotoc County Agri-plex Convention Center at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 16; Rev. Earl Scroggins and Rev. Richard Bailey will officiate. Graveside services will be following at the Francis-Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Criswell Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15.
Carrel passed away Friday, May 10 in Ada.
Carrel was born east of Francis on Jan. 23, 1938, to Andrew (A.A.) and Lillie (Akins) Bryant. In 1960, he married Inas (Louise) Dew of Latta. A graduate of Byng High School, he went on to earn degrees in industrial arts and education from East Central University. He was a member of the Richmond Ave. Free Will Baptist Church in Allen.
Carrel taught at ECU for one year in the Manpower Program before teaching construction trades at Byng for 14 years. He was one of four who developed the statewide Coordinated Vocational Educational Training construction trades curriculum. Carrel and his students helped build the Byng School auditorium, plus numerous classrooms and shop buildings. He was proud of his many students who went on to develop successful careers in related fields.
His lifelong passion was for farming and ranching. He owned Bryant Farms and Bryant Pecan Co. Carrel served in numerous agriculture organizations. He served for more than 40 years on the Pontotoc County Fair Board — leading as president for two terms. He helped secure the funding for the Pontotoc County Agri-plex. The fair was dedicated to Carrel in 2003, and again to the Bryant family in 2016. He served on the board of the Pontotoc County Junior Livestock Show for numerous years and was one of the founders of the Southeast District Heifer Show.
He was twice president and director of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association. He was named the Oklahoma Pecan Grower of the Year in 1993.
He spent 40 years on the Pontotoc County Farm Service Agency County Committee. Carrel served on the board of the Pontotoc County Farm Bureau. The Bryant Family was the Pontotoc County Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year in 1991 and 2019 and was honored as the District Farm Family of the Year in 2019. He also served on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Hereford Association. He was proud that he, Louise and his two children all achieved Oklahoma 4-H Key Club membership.
Survivors include Louise Bryant, wife; Randy Bryant, son; and Lisa Bryant, daughter, all of Francis; and numerous nieces, nephews and children.
Carrel was preceded in death by his son, Carrel Bryant, Jr.; parents, Andrew and Lillie Bryant; sister, Edith Reynolds, and her husband, Dewey, Allen; Helen Ward and her husband, Bill, Branson, Missouri, and Francis; and Oneita Goodell and her husband, Lester, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and brother-in-law, Albert Dew, Ada.
Pallbearers are Joe Noble, Doug Peay, Jensen Peay, Billy Rice, Tim Scroggins and Larry Wheeler. Honorary pallbearers are Bill and Kenny Wheeler and Carrel's former students from the Byng High School construction trades and ECU Manpower programs.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
