Okmulgee community and the State of Oklahoma is mourning the loss of Roger Dale Ballenger, who died Sunday at the age of 69.

Ballenger, who served as a state senator representing Oklahoma District 8 from 2006 to 2014, was working as Okmulgee’s city manager at the time of his passing.

He began his public service career as a member of the Okmulgee City Council beginning in 1983, until he was elected to the Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners. He served for 16 years as an Okmulgee County commissioner before running for the senate seat.

Tributes began pouring in shortly after word was received of his death.

“He was a great man and I will miss him,” Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee) said. “He always devoted his life to public service and trying to improve the world we live in.”

Married to Ballenger’s daughter Kim, Fetgatter said he learned a great deal about public service from his father-in-law.

“He is the one who probably taught me that even though we have our differences and disagreements on the way things should look and be handled, it didn’t mean either one of us was right or wrong. It just means we are looking at it from a different perspective,” Fetgatter said.

Sen. Roger Thompson, who succeeded Ballenger, also shared his thoughts. Thompson serves as the current Senate Appropriations and Budget chairman.

“Roger Ballenger was the epitome of a dedicated public servant,” Thompson said. “He represented the citizens of District 8 with integrity and was extremely gracious and helpful to me when I was elected to the Senate. Roger was a good man with a kind heart, and he will be greatly missed. Our state is better for his service. I want to express my condolences to his family for their great loss.”

“It has been an honor to work with Roger Ballenger, he has been a mentor and a friend,” Okmulgee Mayor Steven Baldridge said.

“I can personally tell you that he was an incredible man to serve with and I was blessed to learn from him and watch him carry out his job excellently over the past five years that I've been involved (very short compared to his public service career!),” Councilmember Richard Larabee posted on social media. “Okmulgee loved Roger Ballenger, and he'll be in our hearts for a long time.”

“I had the privilege of serving alongside Roger Ballenger early in my career in the Senate,” Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said. “He had a great intellect and was a skilled lawmaker. He served the people of his district and the state with pride, and I always respected Roger. My family sends our prayers and condolences to Roger’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

Ballenger’s funeral service is Friday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Okmulgee. Pastor Jonathan Hanshaw is officiating. Interment will follow services at the Okmulgee Cemetery.

Ballenger is survived by his wife, Cimone, their children, Kim (husband Scott) and Clay (wife Jami), step-daughter Lindsay (husband Brian) and five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

See his full obituary on page A-2.