Charles "Leo" Smithson

Charles Leo Smithson, 88, passed away in his home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. He was born on May 24, 1935 in Braggs, OK to Tim and Maggie Smithson. He lived in the Braggs area until the age of 8 when the family moved to Warner. He graduated from Warner High School in 1953. After high school he enlisted in the Air Force and proudly served his country for the next 5 years. 1953 is also the year he started dating Margaret Sue Mullens. Three years later they married on September 8, 1956. Leo was stationed in France at the time and he got leave to come home and get married. After the wedding he returned to France to complete his enlisted time in the Air Force. Margaret had moved to Tulsa to attend school while Leo was stationed in France. When Leo’s time in the Air Force was complete he also moved to Tulsa and went to work at Sears making about $50 per week. While in Tulsa, their first child, Charles Andrew was born on June 25, 1958. Leo decided pretty quickly that he needed to make more money for his family so he enrolled at Connors College in Warner under the GI bill. He moved his family back to Warner so he could attend school and Margaret was working at Griffins Grocery. Leo went on to Northeastern State College in Tahlequah and graduated in 1962. After graduation he became employed by the Oklahoma Department of Public Welfare in Muskogee. He remained employed there until his retirement in 1987. Their second child, Cynthia Ann, was born on March 13, 1963. In late 1990 Leo began his next full-time job when he started caring for his grandchildren while their parents worked. Margaret was still working full time at Connors until 1995 when she also retired to care for their grandchildren. They were happily married until Margaret’s death in 2006. In 2007 Leo married Barbara Bullard and they have enjoyed 17 years of marriage. They have many memories together sharing children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Leo was community minded and truly loved the Town of Warner and the people making up the town. Some of his community involvement was the Warner VFW where he was a member for over 10 years. He also proudly served on the Warner school board for over 25 years. He along with others started the Warner Senior Citizens Association and remodeled an old building in downtown Warner which is used as a community center. Leo was also a member of the Muskogee County Excise Board for over 10 years. He has been taking care of Warner Memorial Cemetery and Bennett Cemetery in Warner for over 40 years. He was a member of Warner First Baptist Church for over 50 years and spent many years working in the church nursery. He was a recipient of the Foreman Carlisle award. Leo loved watching all kinds of sports and regularly attended Warner ball games for football, basketball, baseball, softball and track. He enjoyed watching games for over 60 years and missed very few games in all that time. He loved serving on the football chain gang for many years. He was a loyal OU Sooner fan and spent many Saturdays watching his Sooners with family and friends. He enjoyed gardening and sharing what he grew with family and friends. He was an avid coin collector and saved coins for all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren gifting them with great collections. His favorite hobby by far was fishing and he could catch a fish in a dried-up mud hole. He was fortunate to enjoy fishing trips with family from Florida to Canada and everywhere in between. Again he loved sharing what he caught with family and friends. Leo made a difference in so many lives and he could always be counted on for good, sound advice. He offered us steadfast support and unconditional love without judgment. He will be missed by many. Leo was proceeded in death by his parents; his first wife, Margaret; his siblings, Earl, Clinton, and Kermed Smithson, Janie Reed, Minnie Nichols, Patsy Kranz and Gertrude Brown. He is survived by his wife, Barbara of the home; siblings, Eugene Smithson and Edna Points; his children, Chuck and Shari Smithson and Cindy and Randy Stidham; grandchildren, Sarah and Dustin Goad, Gage and Kinsey Stidham, Brooke and Kamie Stidham, Tim and Emily Smithson; great-grandchildren, Addilyn and Easton Goad, Leo Stidham, Levi Stidham, Blaikley, Sawyer, Cooper and Shepard Smithson; as well as family he gained when he married Barbara, her children, Mark and Dorothy Bullard and Bryce and Donna Bullard; grandchildren, Bailey and Derek Frailey, Sheena and Noah Morgan, Colton and Lauren Bullard and Shiloh and Darien Bullard; Sheena and Shiloh’s mother, Cindy Bullard Jackson; great-grandchildren, Zach and Kash Frailey, Allie, Hudson and Gracelynn Bullard, Boone and Bear Morgan and Willow Bullard; he also has numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Warner Memorial or Bennett Cemetery. A celebration of Leo’s life will be 11AM, Friday, February 9, 2024 at Warner First Baptist Church with Pastor Jusin Villines officiating. Interment will follow at Warner Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers are Leo’s grandchildren, Sarah Goad, Gage Stidham, Brooke Stidham, Tim Smithson; Bailey Frailey, Sheena Morgan, Colton Bullard and Shiloh Bullard.

Charles "Leo" Smithson

May 24, 1935 - February 6, 2024