Obituary for Chris Caldwell

Ponca City Now - March 2, 2018 3:48 pm

Chris L Caldwell

April 2, 1966 – February 28, 2018

Chris L Caldwell, beloved son, brother, husband, dad, papa, and uncle, went to heaven on Feb. 28, 2018, after a long disability and illness. His wife, Shelli, was with him when he passed. Chris was born in Stillwater, OK, on April 2, 1966, to Johnny L Caldwell, Jr. and Barbara L Caldwell. Chris lived in Stillwater, OK, Altus, OK, and Lawrence, Kansas, before moving to the Ponca City area in 1974. He attended school at Marland Public schools and graduated in 1984. He was in FFA and showed pigs during his school years. He played basketball and baseball. On Friday, June 13, 1986, he married the love of his life Shelli Payne in Ponca City. Chris and Shelli had 31 beautiful years of marriage. For many years, Chris worked for UPS, and then became a storm chaser for Channel 5 News and did newsworthy reporting from the Ponca City Area. He enjoyed Nascar, RC race cars, OU football, Thunder basketball, and was very computer savvy. He loved watching American Pickers, Flea Market Flip, Fixer Upper, and storm chasing channels! He was a self-taught photographer having started by being on the yearbook staff in high school. He and Shelli were in the first Citizen Fire Academy in Ponca City. Chris did videography for the Ponca City Fire Department, Ponca City Police Department, Kay County Sherriff’s Department., and Oklahoma highway patrol. He was a member of St. Luke’s Church of the Nazarene.

He is survived by his parents Johnny L and Barbara Caldwell of Ponca City, wife Shelli of the home, daughters Sabrina (Fell) Wiley of Ponca City, Kayla (Jeremy) Ewing,of Ark City, Kansas, Kelsey (Zach) Kolber of Oklahoma City, son, Michael Caldwell of Stillwater, grandchildren, Kaden, Kaje, Kell and Kwinn Wiley, JoJo Caldwell, Kory and Riplee Ewing, sisters, Jeanne (Neil) Gory of Ponca City and Dianna(Travis) Jones also of Ponca City.

He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents and brother, John Caldwell III of Ponca City.

A funeral service will be held for Chris on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 starting at 2:00 in the afternoon. The graveside service will be held at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Ponca City under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Casket bearers for the service will be Michael Caldwell, Andrew Caldwell, Stephen Gory, Blake Gory, Dodger Monks, and Neil Gory. Honorary casket bearers are Matthew Caldwell, Zach Kolber, Jeremy Ewing and the Channel 5 storm chasers.