Dale Zachary

Services for Dale Zachary, 75, of Stonewall, are 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Stonewall; Pastor Reno Dye will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Criswell Funeral Home.

Dale passed away Friday, June 19, 2026, at his home. He was born August 20, 1950, in Blanco, OK, to Wardlo Harris and Jessie Lee Willard Zachary.

Dale was one of the hardest-working people you could ever meet. No task was beneath him, and no challenge was too great. He believed that anything worth doing was worth doing right, and he led by example every single day. Whether he was working from sunrise to sunset, tending to his garden, helping a neighbor, or sharing his knowledge, he gave everything he had. What made him special was not just how hard he worked – it was how grounded he remained. He was a down-to-earth, humble man who never sought recognition or praise.

He found joy in simple things: a well-kept garden, a conversation with a friend, watching his girls, and an honest day’s work. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome, valued and heard. His intelligence was extraordinary, even though his highest level of education was a high school diploma. He seemed to know something about everything – a renaissance man. If you had a question, chances where he had an answer. If he didn’t, he’d find one. His wisdom came not only from books, but from years of experience, observation, and genuine curiosity about the world around him.

One of his greatest gifts was his connection to people. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. He never met a stranger. His friendships stretched far and wide because he treated every person with respect, kindness and sincerity. He remembered names, stories, and details that others would forget. He made people feel important because, to him, they truly were. His garden was a reflection of who he was. With patience, care and dedication, he nurtured life and watched it grow. In many ways, he did the same with the people around him. He invested his time, wisdom and love into family, friends and neighbors, helping them grow stronger and better. He truly loved his family and his community.

Though our hearts are heavy today, we can take comfort in knowing that his legacy lives on. It lives on in the lessons he taught, the lives he touched, the values he passed down, and the countless memories we share. The world is a better place because he was in it. We will miss his wisdom, his stories, his laughter, and his presence. But we will carry his example with us always. May we honor him by working hard, treating others kindly, staying humble, and appreciating the simple blessings in life – just as he did.

Survivors include his wife, Debra Cozette Zachary; daughter, Katelyn Kowey and husband, Rance; brother, Harris Zachary and wife, Donna; sister, Carolyn Lancaster; and grandchildren, Lilly and Josie Kowey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Johnny Lee Zachary; and son, Jakan Levi Zachary.

Pallbearers: James Edwards, Kenny Maxwell, Garner Mattingly, Jon Mattingly, Jess Morrison, Kevin Norman, Rance Kowey, Mike Zachary.

Honorary Pallbearers: Terry Winters, Don Reed, Stanley Oglesby, Butch Harris, Daniel Willis, Tim Gilbert, Dan Hilgert.