Larry Ryel

Larry “Joe” Ryel was born March 26, 1942 in Hutchinson, Kansas to Lowell and Edna Lee Ryel and passed from this life on September 26, 2020.  Joe attended school at Driftwood, where he played in the state basketball tournament, and graduated in 1960.  In 1961 he married Laura Butler and to this union three children were born: Terry, Tamara and Timothy.  Joe and Laura began their lives together in Oklahoma City where Joe attended Draughon’s School of Business and also trained with IBM in Tulsa.  When he was sent to work at General Electric, he said, ”You could walk for days and not see out a window.”  As a result of this experience, Joe and Laura moved back to the farm.  Joe had many jobs through the years, including carpentry with Lanta McIntire, hay hauling, farming, ranching, fertilizing, mechanic work at Kirkpatrick’s, trucking and custom hay baling with Gary Goeken, but custom harvesting was his passion.  After working with harvest crews, Joe finally bought his first combine, a C II Gleaner in 1974.  Twelve year old Terry and Joe followed the harvest north that year making enough money to add on a cab for the combine for the second year.  The family worked together on the harvest, making many years of memories and friends.  Joe retired from following the harvest in 1988.  In 2009 Joe and Laura sold Silver Top Ranch and moved to Cherokee.  Joe spent retirement enjoying golfing with the noon crew and gambling.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Laura of 57 years; his parents; his son, Timothy, and brother, J.D.

He is survived by his son, Terry Ryel and wife, Sandra of Cherokee; daughter, Tamara Goeken and husband, Gary of Cherokee; brothers, Jack Ryel and wife, Blanche of Broken Arrow, Ronnie Ryel and wife, Donna of Tulsa; sister, Neva Egner and husband, Dan of Alva; grandchildren, Shelby and Jared Bates of Alva, Sadie and Stephen Cockrum, Jacob Goeken, Alison and Brian Gustus, all of Cherokee; great grandchildren, Adler, Hazen, Kelton, and Truett Bates; Stanten and Sawyer Cockrum; Carter and Lauren Gustus.

Funeral service for Joe will be Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Cherokee First Baptist Church.  Viewing will be Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be given to Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children through the funeral home.