John and Sandra Paulette Ammons were married January 27, 1973, in Sherman, TX.

John grew up in the Buckhorn/ Sulphur area. He attended schools in Sulphur, Ardmore, and Gene Autry, while living with his sister and brother-in-law, Sue and George Telford. He graduated from Sulphur High School in 1966.

Shortly after graduation, he moved to Madill where he spent the remainder of his life.

During his life, he worked for several rodeo companies over the years, Akins Rodeo Company, Madill, OK; Gene Smith Rodeo Company, Talco, TX; and Flying C Rodeo Company, Madill, OK, in many capacities, from team roping to pick up man to serving as event director for the kid’s junior rodeo association. He loved gathering wild cattle with his brother-in-law, George Telford. He always had great horses and dogs and was ready to use them whenever the opportunity arose.

John was a former active member and President of the Madill Round-Up Club Association and actively participated in relay races with the boys from Marshall County.

He worked as a welder until 1984 when he was hired by the State of Oklahoma as a state livestock inspector. He tested cattle all over southern Oklahoma with his two trusty sidekicks, Brandy and Shawn. He retired in 2010 at 62 years of age. His greatest joys in life were team roping, rodeoing with his kids, raising paint horses and Watusi cattle and watching his grandchildren and their activities.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Runyan of the home, daughter, Brandy and Lee Ruff, Madill; son, Shawn and Kristyn Runyan, Madill; grandchildren, Rylee Jo Ruff and Spencer Wallace, Durant, Jacob Monetathchi, Tishomingo, John David (JD) Runyan and Jadyn Butts, Madill, and Ryan Clay Ruff and Kambree Cagle-Reynolds, Madill; bonus grandson, Dekevis Jordan, Madill; brother, Loren Eugene (Buddy) and wife, Ruth Runyan, Choctaw; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Runyan, and Betty Runyan, both of Sulphur; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Charles Oric, Kenneth Edward, Bobby Glenn, James Henry (Worry), and Leonard Houston (Pete); sisters, Tommie Jo Thomison, Helen L. Orsborn, Sue R. Telford, and Lou Ellen Smith; brothers-in-law, George Telford, Jack Thomison, and John Orsborn; sisters-in-law, Peggy Colene Runyan and Sylviene Runyan; and nephew, Ronald Lee Runyan.

Casket Bearers were JD Runyan, Ryan Ruff, Jacob Monetathchi, Dekevis Jordan, Trevor Raper, Tucker Burns, Shawn Pierce, and Chad Taylor.

Honorary Bearers included Spencer Wallace, Todd Cook, Chad and Jody Ramer, Carl, Ty, and Lyndel Runyan, and Bobby and Shane McAdoo.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at Watts Memorial Chapel, Madill, Oklahoma. Trent Daniel and Darrell Gunter officiated the service. Interment followed at the Drake – Nebo Cemetery, in Sulphur.

Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com. Service under the direction of Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma