Joe Russell

Joe Russell, 65, of Kingston, Okla. passed away the morning of October 28, 2021. Joe was born in Mountain Home, Idaho on September 27, 1956 the son of Glenn and Maxine Russell.

Joe was a graduate of Clovis High School and worked on the branding crews throughout high school and after until he moved to Arizona where he worked on the Sierra Bonita Ranch for Les Shannon. On December 17, 1977 he married the love of his life, his Lori Darlin’. Soon after, they moved to White Lakes, NM where he worked and managed the Buck Harvey Ranches for Laheeta Harvey.

Together Joe and Lori built their life on the ranch and raised their four girls; Heather, April, Krystal, and Jordan. Joe lived his life as a cowboy, his favorite memories and time of his life were here on the ranch gathering and working cattle with neighboring ranchers, friends and mentors. His other passion was being an entrepreneur. In 2000, he started the Moriarty Pipe and Iron Shop in Moriarty, NM with his friend and business partner, Larry Irvin.

Later in life, he went on a fishing trip with his brother in law, Smiley Wooton and friends to Lake Texoma. He fell in love with Oklahoma and began making his plans to run cattle in the Kingston area. In August of 2021, Joe and Lori finalized their plans and moved to the ranch in Oklahoma.

Joe loved visiting with his friends and family and telling stories of his life of adventures over the years. Friends recently described him as a gentle giant, Cowboy Joe, larger than life, a mountain of a man, kind and special, a mentor and a man always admired, best friend, Papa Russell, everything a man and father should be, and a second Dad to many of his daughter’s friends. The perfect mix of love and grit.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Maxine Russell and his sister, Shawn Hadley.

He is survived by his wife, Lori Russell of Kingston, Okla.; daughters, Heather Ann Carlile and Jimmie Carlile of Kingston, Okla., April Leigh Chavez and Fernando Chavez of Rio Rancho, NM, Krystal Shayne Russell and Justin Parker of Kingston, Okla., and Jordan Elizabeth Russell and Isaiah Bradford of Albuquerque, NM; his grandhildren, Mikayla Renee Russell, Jimmie J Leonard Carlile, Abbie Ann Carlile, Paige Maxine Carlile, Russell Dale Chavez, Ava Natalia Russell, Gracie Elizabeth Chavez, Myah Marie Carlile, and Austynn Anthony Bradford, his sister Shannon and her husband Smiley Wooton of Roswell, NM; Jack Russell and his wife Rosa of Mertzon, Texas, and several nieces, nephews, great neices and nephews and multiple friends.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 4, 2021 at Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 5, 2021 at the Watts Funeral Home in Kingston, Okla. Steve Beebe will officiate the service. Interment will at the Woodberry-Forest Cemetery in Madill, Okla. Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.

Pallbearers will be Pallbearers Jim Carlile, Jimmie Carlile, Fernando Chavez, Russell Chavez, Isaiah Bradford, Justin Parker, Tanner Blanchard, and Kullen Wooton.

Honorary Pallbearers are Larry Irvin, Rob Morper, Smiley Wooton, Kade Wooton, Jack Russell, Bill Grassie, Jerry Witte, Richard Hadley, Phil Wallin and Jim Murlless.