VERDEN – Funeral services for Ansel Craddock Finley, 77, of Anadarko will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 at the First Baptist Church in Verden with interment following at Verden Cemetery.

He passed away Sunday morning, Feb.12, 2012 at VA Hospital in
Oklahoma City. He was born in Lincoln Township, north of Verden, on Oct. 25, 1934 to Willie Aubrey and Faye Geneva Finley, who worked hard on their farm. A year later his sister Sue Ann was born and soon to follow were Rosalee and Keith. Life during the early years was filled with wonder as each new day brought an adventure, applied wisely by a very creative mother. Play was serious work to all of them. Ansel played basketball and ran track at Verden High School where he graduated in 1952. He attended one semester at OSU, then
joined the Army Paratroopers School, where he graduated after two years. Upon leaving the Army he married his high school sweetheart, Reba Jean Singleton and they had two children, Rene’ and Kyle.

Ansel’s broad range of interest and talents introduced him to many jobs, including working mostly as a carpenter, then as an insurance salesman, water tester for the U.S.D.A. Grady County Agricultural Department, mobile home manufacturing, and finally for several years as a Chemist for PetraFina Chemical Corporation. He retired from Fina and moved to Alvord, Texas to live near Keith and set up the Three Possums Ranch. The sudden death of his brother, Keith, brought him back to Oklahoma where he experienced his first amputation as a result of vascular disease. During that time his brother-in-law, Max Upchurch died. It was a very difficult time for him, as he recuperated in the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Rosalee and Clifford Nath. When he was ready he moved into his own apartment and lived independently until this past November. During all these years his true love has been various areas of sportsmanship, including archery, bowling, hunting, fishing, horse-racing, golfing, camping and also music. Ansel was awarded many trophies and awards in archery and bowling and golf. The Finley and Craddock families have enjoyed many, many hours playing cards and dominoes and laughing and making music together.

Ansel is survived by his daughter Rene’ and husband Scott Sanders of Bethany, OK; son Kyle and wife Diane Finley of Poway, CA.; grandsons Aaron, Seth, and wife Rachel, Canaan, Bryce and Austin;
granddaughters, Chelsea and Ashley; great-granddaughters, Teagan Elizabeth Finley and Monroe Marie Sanders; sister Sue Ann Upchurch of Anadarko; brother-in-law Clifford Nath of Anadarko and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Willie
Aubrey Finley; mother Faye Geneva Finley; sister Rosalee Nath; brother Keith Finley; and brother-in-law Max Upchurch.

He is in state at Steverson’s Funeral Home in Anadarko until 9 p.m. Wednesday. The family would like to extend sincere thanks to those who assisted and suffered with Ansel. Mary Burcham, Sue Upchurch, Clifford Nath, Vonda Neal and staff of the Anadarko Housing Authority (especially Danielle
Walters, Susan Smith, and Chaplain Dennis King), Grace Living Center in Chickashas, Quail Creek Nursing Home in Oklahoma City, VA 4^th Floor Paliative Care Staff, and Pastor Troy Taylor of Verden FBC.