George Wayman

Heaven gained another good cowboy on January 22, 2021, at 8:20 pm, when George Wayman passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family.  George Wayman was born on a family farm at Doga Creek, seven miles southwest of Burbank, Oklahoma, on August 5, 1923.  He was born to Neva Mae Thomas and Ben Wayman.  He was raised in Burbank by his mother, grandmother, and his stepfather Harold McGowen.  He attended school at North Doga and Burbank, leaving his senior year to join the U.S. Army in World War II.  During the war years, he rose to the rank of Buck Sergeant (Tank Commander).  He received four Battalion Stars, a Bronze Star, an Arrowhead, and a Good Conduct Ribbon.  George received his honorable discharge at Fort Chaffee, Ark., in October of 1945, only to return to active duty during the Korean Conflict.  He returned home from Korea in 1951 and resumed ranching while also working in the oil fields.   In January 1955, he was hired as a Deputy Sheriff for Osage County.  He was promoted to Under Sheriff in 1959, where he served until the sudden death of Sheriff Streetman in 1965.  At that time, he was appointed as Sheriff of Osage County by the County Commissioners.  He was elected to Sheriff in 1966 and successfully ran again eight more times, drawing only one opponent in those eight elections.

Sheriff Wayman was the only Sheriff born in Osage County and served twice as long as any other Osage County Sheriff.  He was also the youngest Sheriff ever electing in Osage County.  Sheriff Wayman’s instructions and expectations of his employees were "to treat people the way they would like to be treated, with integrity, honesty, and respect."  He stated, "being Sheriff never seemed like a job.  It was just an honor and pleasure serving the citizens of Osage County.”

His achievement includes being President of the Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association while holding a lifetime membership with that organization.  He served as President and is a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association.  He served on the Indian Nation's Council of Government (INCOG) Board of Directors for many years when it was first formed and was also Chairman of the Police Committee of that organization. He was appointed by Governors David Hall, David Boren, and George Nigh to serve on the Oklahoma Crime Commission.  As part of an Oklahoma Delegation, Sheriff Wayman was invited to spend a day at the White House with President Jimmy Carter in January of 1980.  He was inducted into The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Museum and Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City on December 12, 2015.  He was inducted into Osage County Historical Society "Legends and Heroes of Osage County” on May 20, 2016.  He has items on display in the Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  In his honor, the Osage County Jail in Pawhuska is named the George Wayman Law Enforcement Center.  In the early years after Sheriff Wayman’s retirement, he served as Mayor of Fairfax, Oklahoma, for seven and half years.  He is a member and past Sunday School Superintendent of the First Baptist Church in Burbank, Oklahoma.

Sheriff Wayman is preceded in death by his parents, brother Billy and wife Boots, and his first wife, Betty Wayman, stepson Gil Daniels, and step grandson Dustin Lance.   He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carol Wayman of the home, daughter Denta Carter of Fairfax, nephew Tommy Wayman of Big Horn, Wyo., niece Kittie Dees of Paola, Kan., stepchildren Denise Skocik and husband Steve of Tulsa, and Danette Daniels of Fairfax, grandchildren Missy Keeler and husband Brandon of Fairfax, McKale Barnard and husband Tucker of Stillwater, Mark Carter and wife Suni of Broken Arrow, Tasha Vaughn and husband Scott of Broken Arrow, Jordan Skocik of Tulsa, John Mashburn and wife Susan of Ralston, Aaron Daniels of Broken Arrow, Nick Daniels of Broken Arrow, and ten great-grandchildren. We can imagine him now being greeted by all his cowboy friends, including his dear friend Markie Freeman, who recently passed as well as all his family and other friends who have been waiting on his arrival in heaven.

Viewing will be Tuesday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 27 from 10am to 8pm at the Hunsaker Wooten Funeral Home Chapel, 201 N. 4th Street, Fairfax.  Funeral service will be held 2pm, Thursday, January 28, at the Fairfax City Cemetery Pavilion with Pastor Jay Clapp officiating.  Burial will follow in the cemetery. Due to Covid 19, thanks in advance for wearing a mask and practicing social distancing for the safety of everyone.

Pallbearers will be Mark Carter, Tucker Barnard, Brandon Keeler, Berry Keeler, Carter Barnard, Scott Vaughn, John Mashburn, and Jordan Skocik.  Honorary pallbearers are Tommy Wayman, Steve Barnard, Aaron Daniels, Nick Daniels, Sonny Brock, Gary Weyl, Jake Williams, Gail Fowler, Richard Rennie, John Israel, Dr. James Graham, Ty Koch, Bill Mitchell, David Wayman, Albert Beard, and Russell Cottle.

You may leave a condolence at:  www.hunsakerwootenfuneralhome.com