Leroy Carl “Sonny” Shultz
Rites MondayPonca City News, December 21, 1975
Funeral service for Leroy Carl (Sonny) Schultz, who died Thursday morning at Temple, Tex., following an extended illness, will be 2 p.m. Monday in the First United Methodist Church, the Rev. Richard Gibbens, pastor, will officiate.
Graveside service will be conducted by Ponca City Lodge No. 18, Knights of Pythias, in Odd Fellows Cemetery where interment will be under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
A memorial has been established in Shultz’s name in the American Cancer Society and contributions may be made through Miss Kathryn Wright at the First National Bank and Trust Co.
The family will be at the family home, 1406 South Ninth.
Shultz, owner and operator of Cowboy Supply, Second and Oklahoma, was born May 18, 1911, in Marland near the old 101 Ranch, a son of the late Walter and Josephine Shultz. He received his education at Marland.
He started his riding career at the age of six and as a young man was employed by the late Col. Zack T. Miller on the 101 Ranch. When the professional cowboys were beginning to organize they were known as the Turtles, and Sonny Shultz was among the first. He held golden lifetime card No. 87. Later the Turtles became the Rodeo Cowboys Association.
He contested in five events, specializing in bulldogging.
Shultz married Miss Lorrace Allyne (Lois) Freeman on May 11, 1935, at Perry and they established their home in Ponca City. He had worked for the State Highway Department at Perry, the Indian Agency at Pawnee and Continental Oil Company.
Also he had been a rodeo clown or bull fighter, traveling with his wife, Loris, and son Carl, all over the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Shultz was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Retail Credit Association and the Associate Guild and Variety Artist (AGVA).
On May 2, 1950, he became a member of Ponca City Lodge Mo. 18, Knights of Pythias, and held every office in the local lodge, becoming chancellor in 1964. Active on the grand lodge level, he held the positions of grand inner and grand outer gaurd and grand prelate officer from 1965 through 1968. Shultz was awarded a membership in the Gold Spur Club, the higheat award snd honor obtainable through Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias, in Oklahoma.
He also was a member of the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan (DOKK), the upper echelon of the Knights of Pythias. At the time of his death, Shultz was honorary trustee of the building committee.
Surviving Shultz are his wife of the home, 1406 South Ninth; a son, Carl Leroy of Kenai, Alaska; his mother, Mrs. Josephine Shultz of Marland; a brother Elmo (Nig), Route 3; three sisters, Mrs. Jimmie (Juanita) Taylor of Marland, Mrs. Slick (Georgia) Ware of Miami, Fla., and Mrs. Jack (Jewell) Payne of Seminole, Fla., and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father on Feb. 19, 1970, and by a brother and two sisters.