Rex Edwin Lauderdale

Funeral service for Rex Lauderdale will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at the MMS-Payne Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 6, 2017 from 1-8 p.m, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m.

Rex Edwin Lauderdale passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at the age of 83.

The son of Dennis and Grace Hill Lauderdale was born July 22, 1933, at home, in the rural community of Rocky Comfort, Missouri. There he would spend his childhood years. As he worked his way through school, Rex was selected to serve as president of the graduating class of 1951.

After graduating, with work hard to find, Rex moved to Tulsa. There he stayed with his aunt and uncle, Eldon and Dean Lauderdale, and began working for Rainbow Bread. However, just a few years later, everything would change.

With the outbreak of the Korean War, Rex was called to serve his country. He was inducted into the United States Army on May 8, 1953. A short time later, he found himself serving as a Mess Sergeant in Korea. He served until being honorably discharged on April 29, 1955.

Upon leaving the Army, Rex returned to Tulsa. There he began working for his uncle, who had established the Lauderdale Motor Company. It was also in Tulsa that he was set up on a date with Mary Williams. They began dating, and married on December 4, 1957. The newlywed couple made their home in Tulsa, where they had two children, Michael and Lisa Lauderdale. They lived in Tulsa until moving to Owasso in 1969. During this time Rex continued working at Lauderdale Motor Company. He worked there until the mid 1970's, when he decided to close the company. He then took a job working for Nordam Manufacturing. In just a few short months, he worked himself into the position of Maintenance foreman. He held that position until retiring in 1998.

In 1995, Rex and Mary bought a 40 acre farm in Chelsea.That farm became his favorite past time. If you were to go see him, he would probably be found on his tractor, mowing or grading. If not that, maybe cutting wood, or spraying weeds with a backpack sprayer. By the time he finished working on the property, it looked like it should be on the cover of a magazine. He ended almost every day of hard work by sitting on his porch, drinking coffee and watching the deer go by.

His hobbies included fishing, vegetable and flower gardening , watching Nascar, cooking, and spending time with his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dennis and Grace Lauderdale; siblings, Curt Lauderdale, Jeanie Dibbern, Glenda Davidson, and Margaret Ann Lauderdale.

Survivors include his wife Mary of the home; son, Michael Lauderdale, daughter, Lisa Lauderdale, sister, June Aaron, and special friend, Sonja Austin along with many other nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

View and sign Rex's online tribute at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com