Lannie D (Poke) Arnold, 72, passed away at his home near Valliant, OK, on June 20 after battling a long illness. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends, who marveled at his faith in God, which gave him the strength to endure three years of tiring medical procedures and declining health with hardly a complaint. He would regularly say, "Faith in God, faith in God!"

Poke was born on August 24, 1951, in Tulia, TX, to Frederick Young and Vivone (Cantwell) Arnold. He graduated from Silverton High School in 1969. He married Deborah Ann Evans in 1971 and spent nearly 53 years with the love of his life. They had two children and five grandchildren, who he adored.

Although he had an adventurous and larger than life persona early on as both a rodeo and a ranch cowboy, he found peace with God many years ago, and spent the last decades humbling himself in the Word of God. He was a devoted member of the Church of Christ. He was a talented saddle bronc rider and broke horses in his younger years. While living in Quanah, TX, he was a PRCA steer roper, attending the National Finals Rodeo in 1985. He was a cattle rancher for most of his life, spent several years as a cattle broker, and built a successful pre-conditioning feed yard in Foss, OK, before moving back to his hometown of Silverton, TX.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah (Deb) Arnold of Valliant, OK; children, Sally and husband Jason Threet of Bell Buckle, TN, and Jess Arnold of Weatherford, TX; grandchildren, Dawson Moorhouse, Tray Moorhouse, Kate Threet, Leddie Arnold, and Grady Arnold; sisters, Laura and husband Brent Mullin of Graham, TX, and Kerri and husband Tim Mercer of Tulia, TX; sisters-in-law, Saundra Long of Valliant, OK, and Pat Evans of Lynchburg, TN; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Vivone Arnold; sister, Penny Womack; and brothers-in-law, Jerry Long and Morris Evans.

Poke will be buried in the Silverton Cemetery at a private family graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society - Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge Dallas, TX, https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1065. The Hope Lodge is a wonderful place that provides accommodations to cancer patients who have to travel to Dallas for treatment at no charge.