Eddie Earl Cantrell

EDDIE EARL CANTRELL

Retired Harrah businessman Eddie Earl Cantrell, 91, passed from this life on May 5, 2025, at the Norman Veterans Center. Ed was born in a small farmhouse in Altus, OK, on August 30, 1933, to Letha and Fred Cantrell. He attended school in Midwest City, OK, and was a proud Bomber, playing football for the Varsity team.

.After school, he enlisted in the Army on July 17, 1953, and served during the Korean conflict, where he was stationed in Germany as a radar technician. In May of 1955, Ed was honorably discharged from the Army.

After returning home, he married Vertie Jane Trout in Oklahoma City, OK on October 6, 1956, and began working in the automobile business with his father. His career in the automotive industry spanned more than six decades and included sales, management and ownership.

Ed moved to Harrah, OK and acquired the Chevrolet dealership, Cantrell Chevrolet. During this time, he was very active in the Harrah Kiwanis Club and the Harrah Chamber of Commerce. Ed was also instrumental in bringing wide area dialing to Eastern Oklahoma County. In 1986, the dealership was sold and he and Jane moved to Arizona but eventually moved back home to Oklahoma.

Ed and Jane had three sons, John, Jerry, and Jeff. As a family, auto racing was a passion. Fridays and Saturdays were spent at Taft Stadium and the State Fair Speedway. He loved being a race car owner and watching his brother in law, Bob Eichor wheel the car to victory lane and later watching John and Jerry racing at the dirt tracks.

When not racing, Ed could be found fishing, gardening or attending church at Crossing Community Church in Edmond. He loved watching all sports, including Harrah football, OU football and Thunder basketball but he cheered the loudest when watching the grandkids or great grandkids play.

Ed is proceeded in death by his parents, Letha and Fred Cantrell, wife, Jane Cantrell, brother Jack Cantrell and son John Cantrell.

He is survived by son Jerry Cantrell and wife Kim, of Harrah, son Jeff Cantrell and wife Mardi of Tulsa, and daughter in law Shelly Cantrell, widow of the late John Cantrell, of Nicoma Park. He was the proud Grandpa to seven grandkids: Eric Cantrell and wife Christy of Jones, Megan Bluhm and husband Dennis of Harrah, Anthony Cantrell and wife Bethany of Harrah, Melissa Johnson and husband Zach of Harrah, Emma Myatt and husband Dalton of Tulsa, Shelby Cantrell and husband Jeffrey Newell of Sand Springs and Nick Cantrell of Tulsa.

He was P-Paw to 11 Great Grand Children: Hunter, Hayley, Hayden, Jayden, Nolan, Maggie, Kyler, Graham, Huxley, Maelea, and Annie.

A celebration of Ed Cantell’s life will be held Friday, May 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Asa Smith Funeral Service, 2039 Tim Holt Drive in Harrah. On-line condolences may be posted on www.asasmith.net.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.