E.L. "Sonny" Salmon

On September 13, 1927, E. L. “Sonny” Salmon was born to George and Ida (Palmer) Salmon in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was raised in and around Muskogee most of his life. Sonny was one of five children and the oldest of three boys. His siblings are Georgia Crossland, Opal Fugate, Bob Salmon, and J. W. Salmon (deceased). He began school at Howard Chapel in the Gooseneck Bend area and later attended Alice Robertson Jr. High and Muskogee Central High School. In 1943, the family moved to Collinsville, Oklahoma where he attended his junior and senior years of high school in 1943-1945. While in high school, Sonny played fullback on the football team and was named All-Conference and honorable mention for All-State. After high school, Sonny joined the United States Navy from 1946-1948. He was at sea most of the time on several different ships. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Muskogee and attended Northeastern State College. While attending Northeastern, he was a light heavyweight boxer on the college boxing team. Sonny was in the “tire business” for 35 years. He and his brother, Bob and brother-in-law, Jay Crossland were partners in Salmon and Crossland Tire Co and later became Salmon Tire Co when Jay was bought out. On November 24, 1961, Sonny married Marie Renard. Their marriage lasted for forty one years until Marie was taken by cancer. Between them, they raised four children, Curtis Salmon, Tracy Salmon (deceased), Richard Salmon, and Jackie Cragg. Sonny’s loves were his family, his church, hunting quail and pheasant, and raising and training pointer bird dogs. Sonny met and later married Karlene Ladtkow Davis on June 30, 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ida Salmon; his wife, Marie; son, Tracy Salmon; daughter-in-law, Kyla Salmon; great grandson, Neiko Rankin; brother, J. W. Salmon; brother-in-law, Jay Crossland; and sister-in-law, Bunny Salmon. Sonny is survived by his wife, Karlene, of the home; children, Curtis Salmon, Jackie Cragg, and Richard, Salmon all of Muskogee; grandchildren, Dustin Salmon and wife Nicci of Muskogee, Whitney Rankin and husband Charley of Edmond, OK, Kristi Pickering and husband Ty, and Kenny Wright all of Muskogee; great grandchildren, Gabriel Salmon, Carlee Salmon, Lanee Salmon, Kyleigh Rankin, Zander Rankin, Mason Pickering, Taylor Pickering; brother, Bob Salmon; sisters, Georgia Crossland, Opal Fugate and husband Chuck; sister-in-law, Delores Metzger and husband Ray; and special nephew, Steve Salmon and wife Debbie; many other family members and friends.

E.L. "Sonny" Salmon

September 13, 1927 - August 9, 2014