Johnny F. Hafner

Johnny Frederick Hafner was born on October 26, 1941, at his family’s home in rural Orlando, Oklahoma, to John and Esther Hafner. He passed from this life on May 19, 2026.

At a young age, he developed a lifelong love of cattle and ranching. He was active in 4-H throughout his youth and showed cattle as a member of the Orlando 4-H Club. In high school, he competed on the Logan County Livestock Judging Team, which won state honors and earned the opportunity to compete nationally in Chicago. He also received national recognition for his 4-H beef projects and attended the awards ceremony in Chicago in 1959. Johnny graduated from Orlando High School in 1960.

He continued his education at Oklahoma State University, where he majored in animal science. Johnny was a member of the OSU Livestock Judging Team from the fall of 1962 through the spring of 1963. His dedication and skill helped the team win the Block and Bridle Livestock Judging Contest in 1963, and he finished just one point behind the individual champion in the Meat Judging Contest that same year.

On May 29, 1964, Johnny married DeAnn Koch at the Orlando Evangelical United Brethren Church. Together, they built a life centered on faith, family, and agriculture. Johnny began working for OSU Extension in 1965 as a 4-H agent in Beaver County and later served in Duncan as the Stephens County 4-H Agent. In August 1971, he moved to Waurika to serve as the County Extension Director for Jefferson County. In August 1974, he purchased a farm near Orlando and returned to the community where he was raised.

Johnny, alongside his brother Loren and nephew Wayne, developed a successful purebred beef cattle operation, Hafner Brothers Cattle Company, which later became Hafner Cattle Company. The operation gained national recognition, and Johnny spent many years showing and promoting cattle across the country. Johnny also served on the board of directors and later as president of the Oklahoma Simmental Association. In addition, Johnny ran cattle for Express Ranches in Yukon, Oklahoma.

Johnny was a faithful member of the Orlando United Methodist Church, the Noble County Cattlemen’s Association, and the Oklahoma State University Animal Science Alumni Association.

Johnny was preceded in death by his parents, John and Esther Hafner, and by his brothers, Bill Hafner, Loren Hafner, and Larry Hafner.

He is survived by his loving wife, DeAnn Hafner; his son, Brian Hafner of San Diego, CA; his daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and Jim McDougald of Friant, CA; grandson, Cody McDougald and wife Leslie, of Friant, CA; granddaughter, Kinsey Reed and husband Garrett, of Orlando, Ok; great-grandson, Kason Reed, of Orlando, OK, sister-in-law Sandy Hafner of Tulsa, OK, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 12 noon to 8 p.m. Monday, May 25, 2026, at Dighton~Marler Funeral Home, 203 East Fir Avenue, Perry, Oklahoma, with family greeting guests from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Orlando Methodist Church, Orlando, Oklahoma. Burial will be at Zion Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Johnny Hafner may be made to: Orlando United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 6, Orlando, OK 73073.