Benjamin F. Larney
Benjamin F. “Ben” Larney of Holdenville, Oklahoma went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. He was born June 13, 1936, in Holdenville to Louise Lowe and Jimmy Larney.
He was raised by his aunt, Sally Lowe, and grandparents, Canuky and Tochee Lowe. He attended Capital Heights Grade School, Central School, and two years at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas.
Ben joined the U.S.
Navy in May of 1955, serving two years active duty and six years in the Navy Reserves.
He was honorably discharged in May of 1963. He spent most of his active service in San Diego, California. After having completed his service, he returned to Oklahoma and worked at a number of different jobs. He worked for his uncle’s roofing company in Oklahoma City for a while before returning to Holdenville to work for George Dean at Dean’s Deep Rock station where he worked for twelve years. He owned and operated Ben’s Deep Rock Station for a couple of years, then worked for Masco Engineering for three years, Hair’s IGA in Okemah, Red Bud grocery, and Moore’s IGA in Wewoka, from which he retired.
While working at Red Bud, Ben met Anita Qualls, who later became his wife. Ben and Anita were married January 21, 1983, in Dallas, Texas. Their marriage was based on the principles of Christianity.
Ben gave his heart to the Lord in November of 1982 and started attending the First Free Will Baptist Church in Holdenville. A few years later, he and Anita began attending and later joined Faith Free Will Baptist Church in Holdenville, where they have been members for about twenty years. During that time Ben served in the capacity of Trustee and Usher until his health began to decline.
Ben had many hobbies, but the one that gave him the most pleasure was making what he called “cathead” biscuits; sharing them with various businesses and individuals throughout the community.
He was known by some as “The Biscuit Man.” Some of his other hobbies were fishing, reading, and making native crafts such as jewelry, keychains, and dream catchers. He also enjoyed playing the game “Wahoo”. He always had a special stash of what he called his “Lucky Dice”, and most of the time they were just that. He loved to play other types of games also, and he would keep us laughing.
He had a sense of humor and loved to tease, joke around, and play pranks on people.
Ben is survived by his wife of thirty-nine years, Anita Larney, of the home; one sister, Shirley Brill of Burleson, TX; one son, Richard Larney of Millcreek, OK; one granddaughter, Kyla Beasley of Tulsa, OK (Kyla’s mother and step-father, Sallie and James Henry of Holdenville, OK); two nieces, Leslie Bowen of Burleson, TX, and her children, Zachary Mathis and London Pribble and Yolande Abraham of Prosper, TX; two brothers- in-law, Travis Qualls and wife, Suzanne, of Wewoka, their son Landon Qualls and wife, Kristin, of Tecumseh, and their children, Aubrey, Avery and Austin Qualls; Afton Qualls and wife, Lynda, of Maumelle, AR and their two sons; David Qualls and wife, Ginea, of Little Rock, AR and their daughter, Savannah; Kevin Qualls and wife, Kim, of Maumelle, AR and their two children, Olivia and Wesley Qualls; one sister-in-law, Sheila Spring and husband, Jerry, of Wewoka, OK; and numerous extended family members and friends.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Louise Lowe Musgrove, Jimmy Larney, his Aunt Sally Lowe, his grandparents, Canukey and Tochee Lowe and Julia Deer (Jimmy Larney’s mother) and nephew, Steve Bowen.
Services were held at Faith Free Will Baptist Church of Holdenville on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Brother Earl Scroggins was the officiating minister, with assistance from Brother Zane Peters and Brother Josh Tennison.
Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Wewoka, OK. Serving as Pallbearers were Jerry Studebaker, Floyd Lumpkin, Roy Woolard, Richard Larney, Landon Qualls and Kevin Tennison. Honorary Pallbearers were David Qualls, Kevin Qualls, Ron Ballard, Larry Streater, J.C. Kanard and Harold Gordon.