Mass of Christian Burial for Johnnie Victor Arney, Sr., 92 year-old Weatherford, OK resident, will be held on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Saint Eugene Catholic Church with Father Christopher Tran officiating. A private family burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home. A Rosary Service will be held Monday, October 15, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in The Chapel of Lockstone Funeral Home and the family will receive friends.

John was born on September 24, 1920 to Emory and Fannie (Mabry) Arney in a covered wagon near Sikeston, Missouri, as the family was returning to Leedey, OK from a visit to relatives in Iowa, and passed away October 12, 2012 in Weatherford. John grew up on the family farm east of Leedey along with seven brothers and one sister. In 1942, he graduated from the Southwestern Institution of Technology with a B.A. in Education/Commerce. John served in the Army from 1942 to 1946 and was attached to the Army Air Corps as a chemical warfare instructor. At the end of the war he returned from the European Theatre and taught basic literacy to other returning soldiers.

John married Barbara Frazier on July 24, 1945 in Amarillo, TX while on a thirty day leave. Barbara returned with him to Durham, N.C. that fall. Later they would live in Clinton, OK where John was a house painter. They moved to Norman, OK where John graduated from the University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1948. Borrowing $100.00 from his older brother Evertt in 1949, he bought a desk and law books and hung out his shingle in Weatherford, OK. He served over 50 years in private practice, 25 years as Arney & Arney with his brother Sid, and as City Attorney of Weatherford and Corn. In 2008, John was recognized by the Oklahoma Bar Association for 60 years active membership. He was pleased to have served five generations of many families as his clients.

John is survived by two sons, John Arney, Jr. and wife Fredda of Stephenville, TX, and Brian Arney and wife Shirley of Weatherford, OK; four daughters, Sister Myra Arney of Garden City, KS, Sue Weedn and husband Roger of Cyril, OK, Mary Naifeh and husband Larry of Norman, OK, and Barbara Ann Arney of Weatherford; eleven grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and many special friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Emory and Fannie (Mabry) Arney; his wife of 55 years, Barbara; one son Christopher; and his border collies Todd and Alexandra.