Dr. Charles E. Larason

A funeral service for Dr. Larason will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 22nd at St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church located at 2424 NW 50th Street, Oklahoma City, OK. Charles was the first born son of Mahala Pauline Larason and George Eldon Larason on June 2, 1929 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. He grew up in Oklahoma City attending Putnam Heights Elementary, Harding Junior High and Classen High School graduating in 1947. He played football, played baritone in the band, tickled a few ivories and sang in the church choir at Wesley Methodist Church. In the summertimes, he worked on his family farm or with other Larason family farms around Woodward, Fargo, Vici and Follett (Texas). After attending OU for one year, he transferred to Cameron College in Lawton, Oklahoma. There he met the true love of his life, Cleo Estelle Bowman of Lawton. She was a debating champion and he knew that he had met his match. Upon graduation from Cameron, Charles transferred to Oklahoma A&M, while Cleo wrapped up her last year. On August 18, 1951 in sweltering southwest Oklahoma heat without air-conditioning, Cleo and Charles were united in marriage at the First Presbyterian Church of Lawton. After a honeymoon in southeast Missouri, they joined each other at A&M, where they graduated in 1952. Charles matriculated with a BS in Agronomy. They then began a tour of the world with the US Army. On December 3, 1954, their only son, Kent Charles Larason, was born in Ft. Riley, Kansas. Within 6 weeks they were bound for Germany. They returned stateside in 1957 to Ft. Benning, Georgia and in 1959 to Ft. Ord, California. In late 1960, Charles, a Captain, decided to change careers and in the Fall of 1961, the family moved to Kansas City and he entered Dental School at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Upon graduation in the Spring of 1965, the family moved to Oklahoma City where Charles established a dental practice that lasted 45 years. He retired in July 2010 from the Neighborhood Services Organization dental clinic. Cleo and Charles had moved into the Heritage Assisted Living Center in June 2010 and were together at the time of his death. Charles was leader and follower. He loved his life as a dentist; he loved his Lord Jesus Christ; he loved music whether listening, playing or singing; he built (with dedicated help) the stained glass windows in the St. Stephens Presbyterian Church sanctuary; he loved being from the Larason family of western Oklahoma. He was, at points in time, a Mason, member of the Lions Club, the Retired Dentists Association, member of the PACER Club, member of the Lakehurst Homeowners Association; and an avid tennis player and golfer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pauline and George; his brother, Robert. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years- Cleo; only son, Kent and wife Jean and their only child and his only grand-child Jacquelynn Claire Larason; sister Mahala and brother in law Bill Wright of Albuquerque, New Mexico; his sister-in-law Doris Ann and brother-in-law Noel Gene Rogers of San Antonio, Texas; numerous cousins, nephews and nieces, family and friends. The family would like to thank the hospital staff, physician and surgeon at Integris Baptist Hospital both in the ER and Heart ICU for their valiant efforts and the care and love they displayed for Charles during his brief illness. Most importantly, Charles loved his wife, Cleo; his family, his church friends, his patients and his LORD. Sing away! To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. Charles E. Larason please visit our Sympathy Store.