Archie Leo Heffington

Archie Leo Heffington passed away on Thursday, October 5 in Marlow at the age of 97.

Funeral Services for Leo will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10 in the First Baptist Church Chapel with the Rev. Lynn Parkhurst officiating with burial to follow in the Marlow Cemetery. Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral and Cremation Services have been entrusted with all services and arrangements.

Archie Leo Heffington was born on August 24, 1920, in Rosebud, Arkansas, to Henry L. Heffington and Bertha King Heffington. Leo was the seventh of eight children. He attended school in Searcy, Arkansas before moving to Saxon, Missouri where he loved to play baseball and basketball after school.

During his teenage years, Leo moved to Marlow, where he met and fell in love with Wanda Regina Kern, daughter of Bryan and Clara Kern. On January 12, 1939, they married. The couple borrowed $15.00 from his grandfather to get married, and promptly paid the debt when they received $15.00 from Leo’s father as a wedding gift.

The couple settled down in Cox City, just east of Marlow. They leased a plot of land and Leo began farming with only a few mules, one cow, two heifers, a sow, and a dozen hens. Their bounty slowly increased, and in 1949, they moved closer to Marlow, and purchased 160 acres. The land became their home place and the backdrop for a new chapter in their lives.

Leo and Wanda raised their three children, Donna Kay, Kern, and Teresa, on the land that would ultimately become Hell Creek Ranch. Blood, sweat and tears brought success. In 1958, Leo and Wanda received the Stephens County Farm Bureau Family of the Year award, and they were selected for the award once again in 1993. Today, the ranch spans across much of Stephens County, covering over 1800 acres.

Leo was dedicated to the Marlow community. He was a long time active member of the Fifth Street Baptist Church, and he served on the Stephens County Fair Board. He appreciated the importance of assisting young people in the community and regularly volunteered to help educate and mentor members of the local FFA Chapter. He was named an Honorary Chapter Farmer for his devotion to the group.

Leo loved spending time with his family and friends and he and Wanda routinely hosted card and domino games, fish fries, and holiday celebrations at their Marlow home. The traditional Heffington Family Fish Fry was the result of Leo’s favorite pastime - fishing with his wife Wanda on their ranch. Leo was a respected rancher and businessman, and contributed much to the Marlow community.

Leo is preceded in death by his parents, Henry L. Heffington and Bertha King Heffington; his wife, Wanda, of almost 72 years; sisters, Vergie Benton, Thelma Cook, Norma Davis, and Maudie Heffington; and his brothers, Thurman Heffington, Oather Heffington, and Delbert Heffington.

He is survived by his children, Donna Kay Sago and husband, Roger Sago of Marlow; Kern Heffington, also of Marlow; and Teresa McClennen and husband, Craig McClennen of Chickasha. In addition, he is survived by six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, with the youngest born on his birthday.

Pallbearers will be Phil Fleetwood, Ricky Heffington, Ross Troutman, DeWayne Heffington, Randal Burton and Craig McClennen. Honorary pallbearers will be Glenn Ray Heffington and Ed Benton.

Online condolences may be made at www.CallawaySmithCobb.com or find us on Facebook at Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral and Cremation Services.