Elvin Lee Hartzell, 79 year old Woodward resident, passed from this life on February 16, 2020 at the Alliance Health Woodward after a lengthy illness. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 21, 2020 at the Elmwood Cemetery with Reverend Gregory Brown officiating.
Elvin Lee Hartzell was born April 28, 1940 to Melvin (Pete) Sr. and Jewel (Winters) Hartzell in Chester, Oklahoma. He attended Woodward schools, graduating in 1958. He married Beverly Hickey in Woodward, Oklahoma. To this union, two daughters were born: Carolyn and Cynthia. He joined the United States Army Reserves - serving for eight years. Marriage ended in divorce in 1963 but 54 years later, they reunited and were married at the Woodward County Courthouse by Judge Don Work who told them I don't want to see you in my courtroom again, sentencing them to marriage as long as you both shall live. They celebrated three years of marriage bliss on February 9, 2020.
Elvin Lee was a hard working man and a good friend, lending a helping hand wherever he could. He enjoyed the farm life and rural living. He was a retired electrician who worked for Rural Electric Cooperative starting out as a lineman working up to Director of Operations. He opened his own business, Hartzell Electric here in Woodward- operating for many years before moving it to southeast Oklahoma.
He enjoyed mowing cemeteries and also for his church, Trinity Lutheran Church. He loved to garden and make improvements to their small farm with many projects still on his to-do list. He was a man to make lists! He enjoyed horses and cattle and other livestock with those interests beginning in FFA as a teen. He was an avid coin and antique collector.
He is survived by wife Beverly Hartzell of the home and 12 grown children: Carolyn Lawson and David, Cynthia Plummer and Jackie, David Hartzell and Heidi, Shelly Clevenger, Christy Teel and Eric, Michael Carriger, Ashley Carriger, Amie Dadwal, Ashley Sanchez and James, Amber Anderson, Junior McManus and Amanda; 19 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; his siblings: Jackie Wilson and Jeff, JoAnn McCune and Galen, June Hogsett, Dean Hartzell, Pat Plummer; brother-in-law: Louis Hickey and Maryann and sister-in-law Alva Hickey; many other loved ones and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents, Melvin (Pete) Sr. and Jewell Hartzell, step-father, Jack Plummer, infant sister Carolyn Sue Hartzell, brothers, Melvin Hartzell, Jr., Bill Plummer, Frank Plummer; brother-in-law, Frank Hickey and in-laws, Lester and Louise Hickey.
Elvin Lee now resides in Heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.