James Elton Ferrell

Funeral for James Elton Ferrell, age 84 of Chickasha, will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at the Gateway to Hope church. Pastor Jerry Reed will officiate.

Elton was born the son of James Henry Ferrell and Velma Lois Nelson Ferrell on May 31, 1940, in Ninnekah, OK. He died at his home in Chickasha, OK on February 1, 2025 after a lengthy illness.

Elton was a post-polio survivor. In October 1951, at the age of 11, he contracted polio and was admitted to Crippled Children's Hospital where he stayed until Christmas. He was told he would never walk again and was sent home with braces, crutches, a wheelchair and other devices. He also had numerous unproven surgeries to help him walk. His dad bought him a bicycle and he figured out a way to ride that bike. He was a fighter all of his life. Janell told us that for his high-school graduation, he was not wearing braces when he walked across the stage wearing penny loafers and clothes an aunt had bought for him.

Elton opened his own business in the late 1960s selling garage and service-station equipment and was still calling on customers up until he was hospitalized in October. Square dancing came into his life in the 1970s and continued until his death. He made many life-long friends whom he still has today. He served as Oklahoma Square Dance Federation President in 1989 working on the national convention in Oklahoma City with about 23,000 participating dancers. He also made time to work with youth and high-school students. Young baseball players remember him climbing up the bleacher steps with his crutches to run the scoreboard. It was difficult for him but he did it to support the kids. If you don't already know, sometimes he had obstacles that got in his way but he would find a way to do it. He was stubborn and hard headed but that is how he survived 84 years. He would always find a way! Elton was part of the C B Club. He loved to travel and camp.

Elton was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of the home; his two wonderful children, Jim Ferrell, and Kim Hernandez and her husband, Joe Hernandez; his grandchildren Chris Hernandez and wife Erica, Kyle Hernandez and wife Kasey, and Kelsey Hernandez and partner Dante' Laws; great-grandchildren in age order MyKala Loftis, Ethan Cole, Kenzi Kroeger, Jayce Hernandez, Kyson Hernandez, Ellie Kate Hernandez and Hank Hernandez; siblings, Janell Looney, Royce Ferrell and wife Kathy, Joyce Butts and husband Jerry, and Kathy Greenway and Luis; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Interment will be in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.