Loyal Dean" Hoss" Frank passed away on August 5th, 2024 peacefully in his sleep at home at the age of 91. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 12, 2024 at the Morrison Event Center. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.


Hoss was born on July 12, 1933, during the worst year of the Great Depression, at his family home in Morrison, Oklahoma to WB "Bill" Frank and Anna Marie (Wendel) Frank. He grew up on the family farm. Horse & Mule teams were still used for much of the farming so, the majority of Hoss's childhood days were spent on the back of a horse. That family farm is still in the family to this day.


He was better known in his early years as "Horsey" and it was apparent at an early age that he loved horses. On nice days, he would ride his horse to the one-room schoolhouse that he attended about a mile down the road. He would tie old 'Star' up to the hitching post under the shade tree. The story has it, that Horsey got his nickname from the kids at school. Star would "knicker" when he heard Loyal's voice through the window of the schoolhouse, the kids would laugh and giggle and soon started calling him Horsey...the name stuck!


He graduated from Morrison High School in 1950. Shortly after graduation he was drafted into the Army, spending 2 years of active duty during the Korean War. On his return to Oklahoma, he spent one year in the Army Reserves and another five years in the National Guard. His college career then began at Stillwater, Oklahoma, A&M becoming an Aggie. Oklahoma A&M soon became Oklahoma State University, and so evolved the Cowboys and his love for Cowboy football! He graduated in 1960 with a bachelor's degree in Ag Education. He loved to tell people he started at a college as an Aggie and graduated from a University as a Cowboy.
While attending OSU he met a young city gal from Tulsa, Oklahoma the love of his life, Carolyn Duke who he married on August 27, 1958. From then on, they affectionately became known as 'Hoss and Duke'.


An oilfield injury to the right shoulder prevented Hoss from throwing a loop anymore but, despite the injury, Hoss remained an avid horseman. Hoss worked for Harting Feed & Seed for most of his adult life, eventually buying the feed store that he and Duke ran for 12 years. He was the one that all the Ranchers in the community called to gather cattle, sort and work them, taking his grandchildren along to help. After his retirement from the Feed Store, he didn't slow down. He started traveling with his grandkids after he learned about Team Penning, something they could all do as a family. Nothing made him happier than being on the back of a horse riding with his grandkids.


He loved to tell the story of his birth....'He was born when his momma was riding a paint mare that was in foal. They stopped. Momma had Hoss and the mare had a foal. Momma put him up on the foal & she got back on the mare and off they rode.' That's the way he told it, and if that's the way he told it, it must be fact! If you needed a smile on your face, Hoss was the one that could put it there. He never had a bad day. When you asked him how he was, his answer was always "I'm GREAT!".


Family has always been important to Hoss.


He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Carolyn "Duke" Frank; one sister, RuthAnn George of Wichita, Kansas; children, Jeff Frank of Morrison, Jan and husband Gary Lesh of Perry, Joe and wife Rochelle Frank of Morrison, and Rebecca "Becky" and husband Richard Denton of Stamford Connecticut; grandchildren Jennifer Christian, Jackie and wife Stephanie Frank, Jason and wife Danielle Lesh, Jared Lesh and Erika, Jamin and wife Megan Lesh, Joel Lesh, Jenna Lesh, Jordan and wife Katie Lesh; great grandchildren: Wyatt and wife Katie Christian, Sage Christian, Raylee Christian, Daden Christian, Dayla Christian, Taygen Jo Frank, Jackson Frank, Jillian Frank, Jake Frank, Josie Frank, Jayci Frank, Carson Stokes, Gunnar Lesh, Cannon Lesh, Jake Lesh, Mattie Ward, Jensen Lesh, Canton Matlock; and one great-great-grandchild, Ryder Christian, and another one in the cooker.


What a ride this cowboy has had! One fantastic wife, four children, eight grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild and a slew of cousins and countless friends.


Happy trails Hoss!