JOHN SILER

W.J. “John” Siler…

…Was born on February the 14^th, 1920 to Ernest & Leora Siler in the community of Banner, Oklahoma. He moved to his eternal home on April 3rd, 2018 at the blessed age of 98 years old.

 Johnnie graduated from El Reno High School and then ventured to California where he joined the Merchant Marine during WW II, where he was able to travel the world.  It was while in California that  he met and married Lorraine.  They had two daughters, Millie and Mamie Rae. He lost Mamie Rae and Lorraine in a tragic flood in 1955.  He continued to raise his daughter Millie in El Reno and ran his hamburger establishment known as ‘Johnnies Grill’. In 1959 he met and married Murel Johnson, who became his co-worker and best friend & mate for the next 57 years. John had Millie, and Murel had a daughter, Valorie. In the next few years, their family grew to 6, as they had Rene’, then two years later, Risa.  In 1967, John sold his business, and bought a ranch in Shady Point, Ok and began a new chapter in his life raising cattle.  A few years past when he branched out into another business venture and opened one of the first Chicken Hut franchises in Poteau, Ok.  It was always a family adventure, as each one in the family worked in either ‘the grill’ or ‘the hut’, at some phase in their lives.  John was a man who worked hard for the family he loved.  He was dedicated to their well-being, no matter the sacrifice. Before having the ranch, he loved to garden.  People would make a special drive around the block to view his beautiful flower beds at their first home in El Reno.  The roses were his pride and joy! Once on the ranch, he enjoyed working the cattle, working the hay fields, and teaching his girls to learn to drive a tractor and ride a horse to move the cattle. Yet on any Saturday, in the fall of the year, he was cheering on his favorite football team of Oklahoma Sooners!

 He was a man of integrity and faith, who worked hard to pass on his work ethics to the next generation.  We will never know the full impact of the many lives he influenced. 

Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, Lorraine Siler, and daughter Mamie Rae. His wife of 57 years, Murel W. Siler, his brothers, Melvin Siler, Marvin Siler, Dwight Siler and an infant brother Delbert.  His sisters, Velta Griesel and Ima Jean Crouch, and his son-in-law, Dana Burkett.

He leaves behind him one brother, Donald E. Siler and wife, Corinna, of El Reno, four daughters, Millie Baber and husband Marvin of Colorado Springs, CO, Valorie Brown and husband, Monte of Hodgen, Ok, Rene’ Burkett of Austin, Tx., Risa Hollinger of Poteau.  Grandchildren, Sean and Brittany Baber, Charles ‘Sam’ and Sonja Brown, John Jared Brown, Jamie and Jeremy Pearson, Heidi and George Emmons, Devin and Stacey Burkett, Bonnie and Derrick Lee, Abby Love Walker, Justine Hollinger and Mackenzie Buchanan, twenty-two great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren, as well as a host of other dear nieces & nephews and other family members and, at 98 years old, still had a host of friends around him.

 Services will be held on Friday April 6, 2018 at 10:00am at Covenant Church, Poteau, OK. The family will be at Evans & Miller Funeral Home on Thursday night from 6-8pm to visit with family & friends. There will be a 1pm service at the DAV in El Reno Saturday with interment following in El Reno Cemetery.