Ronald LeRoy Wesner died peacefully on Feb. 25, 2019 at Corn Heritage Village, Corn.
Ron was born to Jess and Lillian Wesner on July 26, 1928, in Cordell. Due to Jess’ military service, Ron attended school in Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma. He ran track, was on the tennis team and football team.
Ron graduated from Cordell High School in 1946. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of the Navy ROTC and was later commissioned as a midshipman after he completed training as a Navy pilot in Pensacola, Fla.
During his time in Norman, he met and fell in love with Eleanor Joy Houk. They married on May 31, 1952.
Ron graduated from the University of Oklahoma law school in 1953. He, Eleanor and their son, Mark, moved to Jackson, Miss., where son, Bruce, was born.
Ron worked as an attorney for Gulf Oil Company before returning to Cordell and joining his father at the law firm, then known as Wesner and Wesner, later becoming Wesner, Wesner and Rainbolt with the addition of Charles P. Rainbolt in 1978.
Following Eleanor’s death in 1991, Ron married Harriet June Turner on July 14, 1993. Upon his marriage to June, Ron lovingly took on the role of step-father to June’s children and was Grandad Ron to her grandchildren. He retired from Wesner, Wesner and Rainbolt on March 1, 2004, after 50 years of practice.
Ron was a life-long member of First Presbyterian Church in Cordell where he served as an elder. He was civically active in Cordell and western Oklahoma. He served as city attorney of Cordell for 30 years and as attorney for Kiwash Electric Cooperative for many years.
He was widowed a second time when June died on March 18, 2016.
Ron was an avid trout-fisherman, bird-watcher, gardener, and OU football season ticket-holder. He enjoyed music and travel. He enjoyed the company of a wide circle of friends.
He was also an advocate for civil rights.
Ron was a gentle man with a wry sense of humor. Those who miss him include his family with Eleanor, son, Mark Wesner and wife Carol Waters of Cordell; son, Bruce Wesner of Cordell; grandaughter Melissa Feroli and husband, Kylie Lawson, of Purcell; grandson Jeff Wesner and wife, Chelsea of Vermillion, S.D.; great-grandchildren, Ellie, Andrew, and Kate Feroli of Purcell and Lily and Isla Wesner, Vermillion, S.D.; step-grandaughter, Rachel Waters of Oklahoma City; and step-grandson, Micah Waters of Cordell; step-great-granddaughters Kenzie and Payton Lawson of Purcell.
His family with June Turner includes stepson, Greg Turner and wife, Karen of Cordell; stepdaughter, Patricia Holman of Tucson, Ariz.; stepdaughter Kathy Courtright and husband Mark, of Tulsa; and stepson Dan Turner and wife, Rachel of Wills Point, Texas; step-grandaughters Kelsey Criswell and husband David, of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Sara Turner of Oklahoma City; step-grandaughter Farrah Underwood and husband, Scott, of Phoenix, Ariz.; step-grandson Collin Holman and wife Stephanie, of San Antonio, Texas; step-great-grandsons Kale Courtright and wife Savannah, of Grand Prairie, Texas; Keith Courtright and wife Michelle, of Tulsa; Kye Courtright and fiancée Lydia Rakutt, of Chemnitz, Germany; step-great-grandchildren Katie and Emily Turner, of Wills Point, Texas; Aspen and Willow Underwood, of Phoenix, Ariz.; Ashton and Aiden Holman, of San Antonio, Texas; Steven, Jackson, and Carson Courtright, of Grand Prairie, Texas; Maisie and Merritt Courtright, of Tulsa; and Kenna Criswell, of Ft. Collins, Colo. He is also survived by his sister Gretchen Garrison, of Springlake, Mich.; brother Charles Wesner and wife, Lyntha, of Norman; brother-in-law Joe Houk and sister-in-law Carolyn, of Fairview; sister-in-law Chris Houk, of Oklahoma City; as well as many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service was held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2019, at Lawnview Cemetery in Cordell.
Services are under the direction of Ray & Martha’s Funeral Home, Cordell.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cordell Academic Foundation and Corn Heritage Village.