Charles Gene Fowler

Charles Gene Fowler , age 92 and a resident of Asher, Oklahoma, passed away October 27, 2022 at Ada Care Center in Ada, Oklahoma.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Konawa, Oklahoma.  Steven Fowler will officiate, and burial will follow at the family cemetery on Fowler Ranch, East of Asher, Oklahoma; beyond the gate where the big red and white arrows point toward the sunrise and sunset.  Casket bearers are Charles Fowler, Steven Fowler, Justin Fowler, Frank Fowler, Daniel Welch, and Ethan Welch.  Viewing will be Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Charles was born February 19, 1930 in Oklahoma City, during the years of the Great Depression.  He was raised in an abandoned box car of a train until his mother married and they moved into a house.  He was half Native American from his biological father’s side belonging to the Choctaw Indian Nation.  His childhood was hard as he lived during a time when Native Americans were not fully accepted into mainstream society.  His mother, Lela Jane, also known as Grandma Howard, was his rock through his growing years and showered him in unconditional love.  Charles met the love of his life, Lola May Shields at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, and together these two high school sweethearts left home at the age of sixteen to go make their own way and soon began a family of their own.

Charles remained at the head of his family throughout his life and was endearingly known as Big Charles.  He had a “Big Heart” and “Keen Mind”.  He was a self-made man and belonged to the greatest generation; he worked hard his whole life in construction and mechanical engineering, but his favorite was ranching.  With their own sweat and blood, he and his wife bought a ranch of their very own and toiled to make it a prosperous home, always dedicated to putting family first.  They shared throughout their life the ranching experience with their big family, with multiple generations extending to their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; Big Charles had many generations of family that he loved and supported, and would do anything for any of them.  When Big Charles spoke, all generations listened as his presence always commanded respect.  That respect also extended to the animals in his charge, from his cattle that would run to him at the sound of his voice, or the dogs he trained to herd those cattle.  Big Charles’s presence commanded respect by all walks of life.  His grandchildren likely remember a teasing and joking grandpa; like how he would put two glow-in-the dark key chains in the hay barn, and take the grand-kids out there at night to see the glowing eyes in the barn.  He had many sayings that will always echo through our minds.  A few examples: he would let fly, “finer than frog hair”, “well, kiss a fat man's hips!”, and his famous, “lookee here!”  The ranch was also home base to their trucking business.  He and grandma maintained and liked all truckers.  They had their CB handles; his was “The Asher Flasher”, and hers was “Cornbread Red” (she was a redhead).

When his beloved wife passed away, he had multitudes of family and friends to lean on; and when he spoke of his dearly departed wife, tears were always present in his eyes even decades after laying her to rest.  He remained at their ranch and lived alone and remained active all his remaining years - continuing to tend to his cattle and to bale hay.  About age 82, he was under his bulldozer pulling the transmission for repair!  After an accident that cost him breaking his leg, his strength and dedication to remain at home overcame the physical adversities brought upon his body at age 84.  He pushed himself to continue his life on his ranch, where he remained independent until his death at age 92 years old.  And now, he has gone to be with grandma Lola at their big ranch in the sky.

He is survived by one son, Charles L. Fowler, and wife, Rhonda of Ada, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lola Fowler; his mother, Lela Fowler; son, Frank Fowler; daughter, Charlotte Dailey; and son-in-law, Dan Dailey.