Top Banner for Leroy Henderson Obituary
Leroy Henderson Obituary

Brought to you by McNeil's Funeral Home

Leroy Henderson

Mustang, Oklahoma

July 21, 1937 - March 21, 2023

Plant a Tree

Leroy Henderson Obituary

Everette LeRoy Henderson, 85, died Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at his home in Mustang, Okla. Leroy was born July 21, 1937, in Curtis, Okla. He was the first of four sons born to George Everette and Ruth Francis (Baxter) Henderson. When he was a toddler, the family moved north of Mooreland to the farm where he and his brothers, Ron, Larry and Duane, were raised. In 1943, Leroy started school in the one-room Dillon School, literally walking a mile each way to and from school as a six-year-old. When the Dillon School closed, Leroy transferred to Freeze Out School for one year before attending the new Sunnyslope School. When he was starting the eighth grade, Leroy and his brothers began attending Mooreland Public Schools. Highlights of his time in school at Mooreland included FFA, which he said helped him grow up, driving a pickup with a camper shell and 8-10 students on an FFA fishing trip to Colorado as a sophomore and taking shop class where he learned woodworking and drafting. After graduating from high school in 1955, Leroy and his brother, Ron, spent the next year rebuilding and customizing a 1946 Ford. They would take the two-tone Ford to drag races in Dallas. Not to race, but because it attracted a lot of attention. Then, spurred by the interest in drafting he had developed in high school, Leroy attended LeTourneau Technical Institute, in Longview, Texas. He graduated with an associate degree in mechanical engineering. Leroy then joined the Army Reserves, training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After six months in the Army Reserves, he went to work at Oswald Industries, in Garden City, Kansas. He then moved to Enid, Okla., to join the George E. Failing Company as a draftsman. In June 28, 1963, he married OvaJean Campbell at the Woodward First Assembly of God. They made their home together in Enid. Their son, Bruce Leroy, was born April 18, 1964, in Enid. The family moved to Fairview, Okla., in 1965, when Leroy went to work for Waldon Inc., as a mechanical engineer. Daughters, Martha Jean and Julia Sharon, were born in 1966 and 1968 respectively. The family moved to Mooreland in 1969, when Leroy and his father, Everette, started Henderson Manufacturing Inc. They designed and built livestock and flatbed trailers, as well as flatbeds for pickups. After several years of production in Mooreland, they moved the company to the west side of Woodward. Years after he had closed the business, Leroy would receive calls from former customers around the country wanting to purchase a new Henderson trailer. Leroy was also a member of the school board for several years while his children were attending Mooreland Public Schools. On October 21, 1981, Leroy married Floretta (Perrin) Dewald at the Mooreland First Assembly of God. This marriage added three daughters, JoRetta Pennington, Cindy Reddick and Katie Delaney, and their families to his life. Leroy went to work for W.R. Grace and Co., in Woodward. Over the years, he traveled several times to Trinidad and Tobago to implement the same processes he had established in Woodward at the W.R. Grace facility there. In 1987, Leroy went to work for CMI, in Oklahoma City, which later became Terex. He and Floretta made their home in Yukon, Okla. Then, in 2005, the couple moved to their present home in Mustang. While working at Terex, Leroy and a coworker were awarded a United States patent for a control system for cutter drum, Patent No. US 8,465,105 B2. A good Christian man, Leroy was raised in a strong faith-based family and home. He grew up attending the Dillon Church and then the Mooreland First Assembly of God. When he moved back to Mooreland in 1969, he raised his family in the Mooreland Assembly of God, serving as a Sunday School teacher and the church secretary for many years. After moving to Yukon, he and Floretta joined The Bridge church in Mustang, where he remained a member until his passing. Leroy was welcomed to heaven by his son, Bruce, and daughter-in-law, Cheryl (Smotts) Henderson; his parents, Everette and Ruth; brother, Larry, and sister-in-law, Janette; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Floretta; daughters, Martha J. Henderson, of Grove, Okla., Julia S. Henderson, of Grove, Okla., JoRetta Pennington and husband, Lon, of Oklahoma City, Cindy Reddick and husband, Carroll, of Carnegie, Okla., and Katie Delaney and husband, Greg, of Anadarko, Okla.; grandchildren, Carroll Ray Reddick, Jr. and wife, Candice, of Carnegie, Darroll Reddick and wife, Blake, of Carnegie; Robert Reddick and wife, Amanda, of Perkins, Okla., Jacob Pennington, of Oklahoma City, Logan Pennington and wife, Carissa, of Edmond, Okla., Jonathan Pennington and wife, Jen, of Edmond, Chad Pennington and wife, Shawnda, of Bethany, Michkala DeForest, of Virginia Beach, Va., Amber Morris and husband, Aaron, of Las Vegas, Nev., Michael DeForest and wife, Ashley, of Oklahoma City, Jeffrey Delaney and fiancée, Kristen, of Anadarko, and Mark Spear and wife, Ariel, of Anadarko; great-grandchildren, Jordan Searl and husband, Alex, Ryan Reddick, Lillie Reddick, Kadyn DeForest, Reagan Delaney, Easton Reddick, Aspen Reddick, Thea Pennington, Elly Pennington, Myla Pennington, Barron Pennington, Bishop Pennington, Gregory Jude DeForest, Ryan Spear, Kyrie Spear, MacKenzie Pennington and Cameron Pennington; and great-nephew, Tylan Whitlock, as well as brothers, Ron, and wife, Taia, of Georgetown, Texas, and Duane and wife, Ollie, of Mooreland; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the chapel at The Bridge in Mustang with Dr. Ken Isom officiating. A graveside service and burial will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 24, at the Mooreland Cemetery, in Mooreland, Okla.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Leroy, please visit our Tree Store.

Everette LeRoy Henderson, 85, died Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at his home in Mustang, Okla. Leroy was born July 21, 1937, in Curtis, Okla. He was the first of four sons born to George Everette and Ruth Francis (Baxter) Henderson. When he was a toddler, the family moved north of Mooreland to the farm where he and his brothers, Ron, Larry and Duane,

Events

Service

Thursday, March 23, 2023

2:00 pm

The Bridge Assembly of God

1116 W State Hwy 152 Mustang, OK 73064

Graveside

Friday, March 24, 2023

2:00 pm

Mooreland Cemetery

Main Street Mooreland, OK 73852

Tribute Wall