Ralph Dean Godfrey, Jr.

Ralph Dean Godfrey, Jr. of Lawton, Oklahoma passed away from this life to begin his eternal life with his Lord and Savior on May 10, 2022 in Houston at MD Anderson Cancer Center with family at his side. 

Memorial service will be held Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home Chapel, 632 SW C Ave, Lawton, OK.

Ralph was born in Alva, Oklahoma to Ralph and AnnAdelle Godfrey on June 20, 1958.  While growing up, he lived in Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota.  He was an active Boy Scout member. Ralph graduated from Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas.  He attended the Methodist Church.

While in college at Texas Tech University, he started working during the summers for the Forestry Department and continued working for the US Government for more than 35 years.  Ralph earned his two Bachelor of Science degrees in Wildlife Management and Range Management.  After his graduation, he worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Waxahachie, Robert Lee, and Childress, Texas.  He returned back to Texas Tech University earning his Master of Science degree in Wildlife Management before starting his career with U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

Ralph married his long-awaited love, Annis Brown in Crowell, Texas on September 3, 1989.  They were blessed with two children:  son, Russell Allen and daughter, Elizabeth Adelle.  He supported his children in their activities and coached the Comanche County 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program. He looked forward to the Thanksgiving hunting trips with Russell. His pride and overjoy was walking his daughter, Elizabeth, down the aisle at her wedding last fall.

In 1990, Ralph worked as the Assistant Fire Management Officer at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Later moving to Port Arthur, Texas to serve as Fire Management Officer at the McFadden National Wildlife Refuge. He worked “Big Fires” across the United States while being a member of the Ashville, NC Hotshots and with US Fish and Wildlife.

In 1996, Ralph moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, fulfilling his longtime dream to serve as Fire Management Officer at Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge as well as North Texas and Oklahoma refuges.  His final years before retirement, was served as Southwest Regional Fire Management Specialist for Ecology.

Special thanks is given to his co-workers for the time they gave to him from their vacation time during his first round of cancer treatments. Ralph demonstrated his strong faith and trust in God by encouraging the cancer family members while receiving treatments. 

During his retirement years, his passion for designing his garden with native plants and establishing a butterfly garden lives on. Ralph had an intense interest in his ancestry tracing relatives which will serve as a legacy for his family.

Ralph is preceded in death by his father, Ralph Dean Godfrey, Sr.

Survivors left to cherish his memory are his devoted and loving wife, Annis; son, Russell Godfrey; daughter, Elizabeth and husband Ethan Lane; Mother, AnnAdelle Godfrey; Brothers: Carl (Sheri) Godfrey and Nowell (Tracy) Godfrey and newly found in-laws in California and the Baton Rouge, La area.  He also leaves a host of nieces and nephews, Aunt and Uncles with cousins and friends. 

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

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