Roy Lee Essary, 74, of Porter, OK, passed away on Monday, December 28 ^th , 2020 following a courageous battle against Lewy Body Dementia and COVID. Roy is now reunited in Heaven with the love of his life, his wife Nana who passed away on May 10, 2019 after 51 years of glorious marriage.

Born November 28, 1946 in Muskogee, OK, he was the son of the late Charles and Evelyn Essary.

Roy began farming with his father and brothers while still in grade school. Over the years they farmed thousands of acres of wheat, soybeans and corn. The Essary family was one of the top watermelon growers in the state of Oklahoma through the 1970s and 1980s. Roy graduated from Porter High School in 1964 and graduated from Northeastern State University in 1968. Roy married Nana (Johnson) Essary on August 31, 1967 and they made their home in Porter.

In the spring of 1969, Roy was drafted from the farm field to Vietnam, after completing Army Basic Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He served in Vietnam as an infantryman from 1969-1970. Consistently volunteering to walk point and constantly placing his life in danger in order to protect his fellow troopers, Roy earned the Bronze Star as well as two Purple Hearts.

Roy returned to Oklahoma and immediately began farming again as well as serving many years as a volunteer fireman, Lion's Club President, School Board President, Peach Festival Chairman and church deacon and elder. Roy spent 25 years as a rural mail carrier, handling mail each day on a 100 mile dirt road throughout Route 1, Porter.

Upon retirement, Roy settled back onto his farm with his wife, Nana. Together they accumulated a near exotic animal farm with miniature ponies, llamas, cats, dogs, Muscovy ducks and their prized pet 22-year old steer, Brownie. Not one to sit idle, Roy began working summers and falls for Livesay Orchard. He made numerous trips around the region delivering peaches, apples, watermelons and cantaloupes. He also became a consistent face under the retail shed, greeting customers and making new friends. Each fall, Roy drove the hay wagon for schools and groups going to the pumpkin patch. He was known as "Farmer Roy" and hundreds of customers came to the orchard each year and loved reconnecting with Roy.

He was a lifelong, faithful member of the Porter Church of Christ, served as a church elder and deacon for many years and enjoyed teaching young adult Sunday school classes as well as delivering numerous sermons and devotionals.

He is survived by one son, Michael Essary and wife Shelly from Basehor, KS; two daughters, Marcy Essary of Collinsville, OK and Mandy Stansberry and husband Matt of Edmond, OK; one sister, Charlotte and husband Jim from Porter, OK; one brother, Don and wife Robbie of Bernice, OK.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Evelyn Essary; his loving wife, Nana Essary; two brothers, Byron (spouse Cammie) and Larry Essary (spouse Sue survives); one sister, Marilyn Stout.

He was a loving grandfather (aka "pops") to eight grandchildren, Anderson and Archer Essary; Addi, Lily and Sophia Martin; and Vivian, Violet and Vera Stansberry. He is also survived by four miniature ponies, one llama and his pet steer, Brownie, who has grazed the Essary farm property since 1998.

A celebration of his life will be conducted on Saturday, January 2nd, 2021 at 1:00pm at the Porter Church of Christ with his son, Michael Essary officiating. Due to COVID restrictions and for the safety of everyone this will be a private family funeral service at Roy's lifelong church. We also plan to livestream it on Facebook at this link ( https://www.facebook.com/mstansberry ) and have a recorded version uploaded onto the funeral home website for viewing at any time.

You are also welcome to meet us in and around the shelter at the Porter Greenwood Cemetery around 2PM as our dad will be honored by a military color guard. We will have a song, a prayer and a short service there as well.

Viewing will be on January 1, 2021 from 3:00pm to 6:00PM at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner, OK. Many of the family members will remain there during that time. But unfortunately we will not be able to hug and greet you as we would love to do.

Pallbearers are Kent Livesay, Pat Boyd, Roy Cole, Mark Fenton, Marion Schauffler and Matt Stansberry.

Floral remembrances are being handled by Happy Bee Flowers and Gifts in Porter, OK.