Funeral service for Smokey Stover (Norman V.), 98, of Oklahoma City (since 1995) and previously of Lawton, Oklahoma will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, February 18, 2023, in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Brock Bingaman of All Saints Community Church Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (www.allsaintsokc.org) officiating.

Private family interment will follow.

The service may be viewed by following the livestream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

Smokey Stover passed away peacefully in hospice care on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was born December 19, 1924, in Morrilton, Arkansas to Walter Arville and Roxie (Mallett) Stover who had been married in 1921. Smokey grew up in the Morrilton, Arkansas area. He built ships in the Seattle/Tacoma shipyards for the war effort in WWII from 1942 to 1945.  He served in the US Army from December of 1948 thru 1951, including service in the Army of Occupation in Japan. He was married to Ruth Dayvault Stover from September 10, 1995, until her passing on October 18, 2021. Their last several years were spent happily living at the Statesman Club independent living facility in Oklahoma City.

Smokey worked for the US Fish and Wildlife for some 26 years, initially in Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Canyon Texas, and later at the Treasure Lake Job Corps facility at Indiahoma, Oklahoma, just west of Lawton teaching at-risk young men craftsman career skills. He retired in 1986 to a joy filled retirement of 37 years.

Smokey enjoyed fishing, family, gardening, home repairs & maintenance, serving others with a joyful heart, and especially greeting adults and children at the church entrance to help them feel welcome in God's house. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to many. His gentle, kind, non-confrontational spirit was an admirable and rugged role model of rare character traits. He was humble and grateful and quick-to-smile.

Smokey is survived by his children, Deborah Norlene Winfrey and husband Dennis, Arleta S. Stover, Ruth Ann Guiney and husband Kevin, Michael Tolbert Wade and wife Sharla, Guy Page Dayvault and wife Susan, Jay John Dayvault, and Wanda Dayvault Duncum; twelve grandchildren including, Aubrey Stover, Drew Stover, Rusty Stover, Beau Winfrey, Dr. Brandon Winfrey, Ross Guiney, Jessica Guiney, Mikel Paul Guiney, Duncan Wade, Nate Paul Dayvault, Jason Joseph Dayvault, Steve Kyle Duncum; twelve great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

He was preceded to heaven by his parents; three wives Guylene Brice Stover of 13 years, Lois Anita Stover of 26 years, and Ruth Dayvault Stover of 26 years; and two brothers, L.D. Stover, and Harrison Stover.