Funeral services for Loy Bernard Luekenga, 87 yearold Colony, Oklahoma resident, were held Thursday, February 23, 2017, 10:00 a.m., at the Church of Christ in Colony, with Bruce Mayfield officiating.
Burial followed in the Bethany Cemetery, under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home.
Loy was born November 5, 1929, east of Colony, Oklahoma, to Ben Henry and Jenny Lynn (Graham) Luekenga and passed away Monday, February 20, 2017, at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He was raised in Colony and attended Colony Schools.
Loy married his sweetheart, Grace Ginevra Richmond, in Dill City, Oklahoma, on March 7, 1948.
Their very special, life-long friends, Leland and Mary Lee Crissman were the best man and matron of honor at their wedding.
Loy and Grace made their home northeast of Colony for many years, where he farmed the “home place” before moving to town, in 1972.
He enjoyed farming nearly his entire life, starting at the age of 17 and continuing until December, of 2016.
Loy’s passion for his career was evident in his bountiful crops of peanuts, cotton, and wheat. He was a resourceful farmer, making the most of his land and equipment.
Loy valued honesty, simplicity, hard work, and was a selfless man.
He supported his community by serving as mayor for 33 years, retiring in 2015, and was a long time member of the Colony Fire Department.
Loy was an active school board member of Colony Schools, and later helped organize the merging of Colony and Corn public schools into Washita Heights school, serving on that board as well.
He was an active member of the Church Of Christ and received his Lord through baptism in 2003.
Loy loved to talk about the early days with his good friends and family. He enjoyed recalling his time playing sports at Colony Schools.
Loy’s happy heart and positive outlook on life will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by two daughters, Sandra Dickerson and husband, Danny of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and Karen Epperly and husband, Raymond of Colony, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Angie Dickerson of Edmond, Oklahoma, Kristi Gabriel of Edmond, Oklahoma, Amber Lawles and husband, Jason Lawles of Weatherford, Oklahoma, and Brad Epperly of Orange, California; five great-grandchildren, Bayli, Bentli, and Blayke Lawles, and Gavin and Grant Gabriel; and special nephew, Mark Richmond of Austin, Texas, his children, Atticus, Gemma, and Beckham Richmond, and their mother, Vicki Richmond of Austin, Texas.
Loy was preceded in death by his parents; wife; one brother, Gene Luekenga; and two sisters, Murl Mulder and Ruby Bottom.
Memorials may be made to Westview Boys Home in Hollis, Oklahoma, or the American Heart Association.