Johnny Roger Saxon

Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 2, 2021 at Sevier Funeral Home Chapel, Chickasha, OK. Interment will be in the Fort Sill cemetery at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home.

Sergeant Johnny Roger Saxon, a veteran of the Vietnam war and longtime resident of Chickasha, Oklahoma, passed away on November 19, 2021 after an extended illness. Roger, as he was known to many, was born May 6, 1946 to Virgil and Toy Saxon in Chickasha. He attended Chickasha public schools up until his senior year, where he graduated from Lubbock High School in Texas, in 1964.

Following high school, Roger joined the United States Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton.  He was assigned to the 5 ^th Marine Infantry Regiment, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant.  He spent one year and seven months in Vietnam as a radio and telegraph operator, using Morse Code to communicate with troops. He received several medals as well as a Rifle Expert Badge.  In 1970, he was honorably discharged following his active duty service and then a period of time in the reserves.

Roger returned to Chickasha to work at the airport as a mechanic and worked to obtain his pilot's license.  He also spent a few years in Oregon as a manager for a lumberyard, where he worked with tools and trained himself in the trade.  When he wasn't at the lumberyard, he enjoyed training horses. He returned to Chickasha to work as a homebuilder, and in 1981, he joined the Chickasha Fire Department, where he was a firefighter and an EMT.  He continued to work as a contractor when he wasn't on duty.  He retired from the department after 25 years, in 2006.

Anyone who knew Roger knew that he was a devoted and loving husband and father.  On August 2, 1990, he married Bernilda, the love of his life, and in that union, he gained a daughter.  He adopted Megan on November 2, 1991, and he was unendingly proud of her.  They shared a love of golf, old cars, Harley Davidson, labrador retrievers, and all things outdoors.

Roger had a great love for old cars, especially International Scouts.  He helped establish the Sooner Off Road Club and was active with the Chickasha Antique Car club for many years.  He loved attending NHRA car shows and other shows across the state, where he won many trophies.

Roger loved spending time with his family, riding his motorcycle, and he enjoyed some traveling. He also selflessly gave back to the town of Chickasha, taking on various leadership roles.  He was an active member of the American Legion since 2011, serving as Commander of the Hurst-Beaton Post #54. He also served as the Commander for the VFW post #11201 since 2015. Roger devoted countless hours helping his community prepare for numerous events for the local veterans, such as taking charge of the Memorial Day flag displays and visiting veterans at the Shannon Springs Retirement Center.  He never knew a stranger, and he will be dearly missed by many.

Roger is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Bernie Saxon and his daughter Megan Saxon-LaBelle and husband Ken, of Naples, ID.  He is also survived by his brother Mike Wallace and wife Cherris of Elk City, sister Jackye Holmes of Portland; cousins Denni Carroll and husband Chris of Edmond, Ron Saxon and wife Dayliene of Chickasha, Judy Smith and husband Everett of Laverne; lifelong friend Kent Foster of Chickasha and many other extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or the American Legion.