Wilmer Leon Gaither, 71, of Stillwater, died Wednesday, July 7, 2004, in Cushing Linwood Village.

He was born in Tryon March 20, 1933, to James Lewis and Bessie Mae Kelley Gaither.

He married Betty Jewel Folkner June 18, 1966, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died in October, 1991.

He attended Liberty Schools.

He worked on his family farm until he was drafted into the U. S. Army in April, 1953. He served in Korea and was honorably discharged in March, 1955.

He then went to work at the Ford Garage. In 1962, he moved to California where he worked in San Diego at a car rental agency. He also worked as the maintenance for a poultry company. In 1994, he had a stroke and moved back to Stillwater. He was an avid follower of NASCAR and enjoyed working on cars.

He was predeceased in death by his parents, his wife, three brothers, Wallace, Floyd and Leroy; two sisters, Lorene, who died as an infant and Florence.

Surviving are four brothers, Alvin Gaither of Modesto, California, Lehman Gaither and wife, Jean, of Cushing, Olen Gaither and wife, Elma, of Cushing and Harold Gaither and wife, Linda, of Perkins; three sisters, Ruby Box of Hanford, California, Violet Brake of Perkins and Celia Mae Watts of Stillwater.

Pallbearers will be Freddy Gaither, Edward Watts, Charlie Brake, Jimmy Ray Murray, Jackie Box and Raymond Gaither.

Services will be in Strode Chapel Friday at 10:30 a.m. Pastor John Baumert will officiate.

Interment will be in Carney Cemetery.

Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be emailed to the family at http://www.strodefh.com.