Funeral services for Darrel Catlege, 99, of Oklahoma City will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in Oklahoma City under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Mr. Catlege passed away Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Born October 2, 1925 in Trousdale, Okla., Darrel was the seventh of nine children born to Oscar C. Catlege and Oma (Hudson) Catlege. He was raised in Lexington where he attended school.
Darrel answered the call to serve his country in World War II, and joined the United States Navy at the age of 17 where he was stationed on the aircraft carrier Wake Island in the South Pacific. After his return from the war, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Claxton on February 6, 1949. They first made their home in Oklahoma City where they raised two children, daughter Beverly and son Ron.
Darrel worked at Tinker Air Force Base for more than 25 years and simultaneously owned and operated Darrel’s Barber Shop in Oklahoma City, retiring after more than 60 years. He genuinely loved people and the relationships he formed with many of his clients throughout his barbering career.
In 1982, Darrel and Dorothy returned home to Lexington where he enjoyed working on his farm raising miniature horses, cattle, rabbits and chickens, and he especially enjoyed working with wood. He was a master carpenter, sharing his many talents with his family and friends.  He customized cabinets, built China cabinets, and even built two homes on Lake Eufaula for his family.
Darrel was a man of great faith and longtime member of the Lexington United Methodist Church. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, brother, uncle and a true friend. He will be dearly missed!
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Catlege; son, Ron Catlege; parents, Oscar and Oma Catlege and siblings, Truman Catlege, Lorene Mitchell, Kenneth Catlege, Hazel Christianson, Mildred Bush, Wyman Catlege and Dayman Catlege.
Darrel is survived by his daughter, Beverly Skaggs and Steve Slater of Oklahoma City; brother, Jim Catlege and wife, Lajuana, of  Oklahoma City; sister-in-law, Norma Catlege of Norman; Dennis Skaggs and Debbie Phares of Houston. He cherished his three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Brian Skaggs and wife, Audra, Merit and Jhett of Lexington, Matt Skaggs and wife, Elizabeth, Claira, Gracelyn and Canon of Oklahoma City and Kesha Colbert, Tristian and Hunter of Oklahoma City; his many nieces and nephews, and a host of other family and friends.
His family offers appreciation to the staffs of Meadow Lake retirement Village, Golden Age Home Health, and Bristol Hospice, special thanks to Amber, Sharieka and chaplin Jamie B.
Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonlittle.com.