Our Sympathy Extended to the Family of Lonnie Ray Farmer

Funeral services for Lonnie Ray Farmer, Jr., a Stringtown resident, were held Monday February 26, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Stringtown, OK with Bro. Bartt Bradford officiating. Burial was in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Stringtown. Brown’s Funeral Service in Atoka was in charge of arrangements.

Lonnie was born October 11, 1940 to Lonnie Ray Sr. and Odessa Mae (Wilson) Farmer at Lodi, CA and passed away February 20, 2024 at his home, Navahoma, in Stringtown, OK at the age of 83 years, 4 months and 9 days. He attended Miller School and graduated from Stringtown High School where he drove a school bus during his senior year. He went on to attend SOSU where he received a bachelor’s and master’s Degree in Education.

Lonnie married Ida Helen (Claw) September 18, 1974 at Holbrook, and they celebrated almost 50 years together before his passing. He taught school in Norwalk, CA for a year, in Lane, OK, Many Farms, AZ then went on to teach at the Navajo Reservation. He taught at the Nazlini Boarding School. While at the Nazlini Boarding School he was principal. He built closed circuit tv network there.

Lonnie worked with the army surplus to build a bridge over the Nazlini Wash. The bridge was named Farmer Bridge in his honor. He left the Nazlini Boarding school to help run a trading post with his wife. They sold the trading post in 1984 and moved back to Stringtown to live on their property called Navahoma to begin ranching and farming. Lonnie substituted at Stringtown School during this time.

He then went to Mack Alford Correctional facility as a case manager and teacher.

In 1988 they moved to Chinle,AZ to the old home place and started a business called Sunshine Builders, selling housing materials and construction. He started his own construction crew to help build houses. Lonnie did renovations on community buildings and schools, then went back to Many Farms Schools as the principal. He retired from teaching in 2005. Lonnie was a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. He enjoyed farm work, prospecting for gold, camping and spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife, Ida Helen Farmer of the home in Stringtown; children Karen White and husband Donald of Venus, TX, Denise Bell of Keller, TX, Jennifer Farmer and Lonnie Ray Farmer III and wife Sarah all of Coalgate; grandchildren Eric, Emily and Kyle Spanial, Abigail and Adyson Stevenson, Harlee Farmer, Shakota Ray Farmer, and Alex Farmer; close friend, Jason McGuire of Stringtown; brotherin- law, Leonard Claw; sistersin- law, Dorothy Salabyie, Hazel Gorman, Ruthie Guchapin, Geraldine Gonnie, Calandra Davis, along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie Ray Sr. and Odessa Mae (Wilson) Farmer; granddaughter, Cierra Farmer; brother-in-law, Milton Claw and sisters in-law, Bernice Claw and Sophia Claw.

Casketbearers were Sam Miller, Michael Burns, Bryar Wilson, Johnny Wilson, Shawn Miller and Ronnie Bell.

Honorary bearers were John Wayne Farmer, Jackie Farmer, Terry Snow and JD Wilson.

Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.