Emil Laray Chronic

Emil LaRay ìCorkyî Chronic was born in Tulsa County on September 22, 1928; the son of Herman LeRoy and Lena Wealthy (Beasley) Chronic. Corky was raised in the Lake Station area near Sand Springs and attended school there. Upon completion of his education, Corky began working as a salesman for the Brooks Packing Company in Tulsa. He later enlisted into the service of his country in the United States Army and was medically discharged after a few months of service. Upon returning to Oklahoma after his military service, Corky accepted a position as a truck driver, delivering part and supplies for a company that rebuilt military equipment for private use after the war. Corky was married to Wilma I. Garrison on July 28, 1951 on the Tulsa County line between Sand Springs and Tulsa. They made their initial home at Lake Station for a while before moving to Farmington, New Mexico for nearly eighteen months as Corky accepted a job working in the oilfields of New Mexico. While working there, Corky received training as a heavy equipment operator and assisted in the clearing and building of drilling sites. The Chronicís then returned to Lake Station near Sand Springs and Corky accepted a job driving a cement truck for Veal Brothers and was introduced to the concrete and ready mix business. In the early 1960ís, the couple moved to property owned by the Garrison family prior to the construction of Keystone Lake. They later built their home on the property and have continued to reside there throughout the remainder of Corkyís life. They started a small cattle ranching business in 1960 with one cow and have continued to remain active raising cattle until earlier this year. In 1967, following the completion of Keystone Lake, Corky started the Cleveland Redimix Company and operated the company until 1979 when the equipment was auctioned off. After selling the concrete equipment, Corky returned to trucking when he purchased a truck and began cross country hauling as a private contractor. He retired from trucking in the late 1980ís. Corky was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed deer hunting and cat fishing. He also enjoyed taking an annual trip to South Dakota for many years to Pheasant hunt. He also liked country western music and enjoyed singing with his family and friends. After his retirement, Corky spent countless hours restoring and reconditioning farm equipment and tractors which he would sell. After losing his eye sight, Corky received much satisfaction from listening to Western Novels on a talking book machine. He was described by his family and friends as an honest, trustworthy and happy person who was extremely outgoing and friendly. He could start up a conversation with anyone. Corky and Wilma have been attending Wayside Chapel, east of Terlton for the past few years. Additionally, Corky was a longtime member of the Hebron Masonic Lodge in Cleveland. Corky passed away on Friday, December 21, 2012 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of eighty-four. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Wilma Chronic of the home; two daughters and their husbands, Carolyn Sue and Ronald Whinery of Grand Lake, Oklahoma, Sandra Rae and Ernest Robinson of Cleveland, Oklahoma; seven grandsons, Ronald Wayne Whinery, Jr. and his wife Angela, Ryan Wade Whinery and his wife Monica, Reade LaRay and his wife Yada Dowda, Andrew Robinson, Russell Robinson, Kelley Robinson, King Robinson; one greatgrandson Tanner Whinery; four great-granddaughters, Mattie Whinery, Tiera Whinery, Dakota Whinery, Rilee Whinery; and a brother, Ira Robert Chronic of Tulsa, Oklahoma. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the Wayside Chapel with Pastor Willis Morgan officiating. Following cremation, Corky will be interred at the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.