Russell Jack Rylant

Russell Jack Rylant was born to Merle Jackson and Gordie Russell (Griffin) Rylant on September 2, 1929 at Temple, OK and departed this life in Lawton, OK on June 23, 2014 at the age of 84 years, 9 months and 21 days. Jack grew up at Temple, graduating from THS in 1947. He married Hazel Cox at Burkburnett, TX in 1950 and to the union 2 children were born. Jack went to work for Civil Service at Sheppard Air Force Base and then on to Fort Sill all the while living in Temple. He ended his 31 year career in Oklahoma City where he worked 5 years with the Small Business Administration, retiring in 1981. Jack had married Bobbie Jones in 1970 and she passed away on February 11, 1994. The couple made their home in Oklahoma City for a time before moving to Lawton where they enjoyed several more years together. Jack married Frances Faye Sanders on September 21, 1994 at Ardmore, OK. From Lawton they moved to Temple where they made their home from 1997 to 2013 when moving to the Brookridge Retirement Community in Lawton. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Temple. Through the years he enjoyed running greyhounds, quail hunting, boating and RVing. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bobbie; and a granddaughter Deidre Witt. Survivors include his wife, Frances Faye, of Lawton; a daughter, Diane Walton and husband David of Forney, TX; a son, Andy Rylant of Stillwater; a sister, Merlene Bean of Temple, OK; 3 grandkids and their spouses, Dodie and Scott Gilliland of Forney, TX, Sky and Christa Rylant of Edmond, OK, Jenna and Daxton Sinclair of Edmond; 4 great grandchildren, Chandler, Hannah, Emma Kate and Farrah Love, and 2 on the way; he is also survived by Frances Faye's kids and grandkids, Sandy Thomas of Temple and Jimmy and Sherry Moates of the Tulsa area; five grandkids and 10 great grandkids; other relatives and many friends.