Obituary of Lawrence Edward McGranahan, II

Lawrence Edward McGranahan, II, (Skip) of Coweta, OK passed away on October 1, 2016. Skip was born on January 1, 1946 in East Cleveland, Ohio, the only son of the late Lawrence and Virginia McGranahan. Skip loved the outdoors from the time he was a child and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He received his first rifle at age 6 and learned survival skills at a young age at the side of his father. Multifaceted, he worked from 2000 feet underground in the Morton Salt mine to 20,000 feet above piloting a OV1 Mohawk in the Army. Skip served 2 tours in Vietnam, trained Vietnamese rangers and flew for the embassy flight detachment; he was highly decorated and did receive the Bronze Star. He was stationed at a Nike Hercules firing battery in Wisconsin at the height of the cold war. He proudly stated he served in the Reserves and completed his career with 28 years 9 months and 3 days. His Reserve Army career included instructor at the Command and General Staff College, and military intelligence as a highlight. As an engineer in private life, worked in salt and tronna mines, completed outages at refineries, built burial boxes for nuclear waste, worked in manufacturing and process improvement for Tru Temper and DuPont. He logged land, owned a casket company, was project manager in energy production, particularly the coal fired power plants throughout the country. Skip’s interests included Astronomy, Physics, Science and Marine Biology, as well as raising Champion Polled Herefords. He instructed his three daughter’s Kelly, Heather and Meghan in all these disciplines. He had many lifetime mentor’s and perpetuated this with people of all ages. Skip is survived by his wife, Katherine Laura McGranahan of Coweta, OK; his daughter, Heather McGranahan Mayer; grandsons Julian Douglas Mayer and Nathan McGranahan Mayer of Simpsonville, SC; and daughter Megan Jessica McGranahan of Mexico City, Mexico. He was predeceased by his first wife, Bonnie Harnist McGranahan, a daughter, Kelly Lee Gunter and a son Elmer McGranahan. Viewing will be from 6-8 PM on Monday, October 3, 2016 at the funeral home. Services celebrating Skip's life will be at 2 PM on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at Wright-Brown Family Funeral Home Chapel in Coweta, OK. Family and friends may share memories online at www.brownfamilyfuneralhome.com. The family of Lawrence Edward "Skip" McGranahan, II entrusted his care and services to Wright-Brown Family Funeral Home, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429, 918-486-5515.