Obituaries:
Renowned equine artist Orren Marion Mixer died Tuesday in Weatherford, Texas, of natural causes.
He was 87.
The longtime Edmond resident was born July 18, 1920, in Oklahoma City to Florence Motter and Orren Marion Mixer, Sr.
He graduated from Central High School and attended the Kansas City Art Institute from 1938-40.
Mixer worked in graphic arts in New York, Oklahoma City, and Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to San Diego to work in an aircraft manufacturing plant. Mixer returned to Fort Worth in 1943 and joined the U.S. Navy. He married Evelyn Leonard on August 31, 1941, in Norman. He was discharged from the service in 1946 and returned to Oklahoma with his wife.
Mixer became a well-known local Western artist during the 1950s and 1960s. Horses became his specialty, and his work was featured on the covers of Western Horseman, The Quarter Horse Journal, Cattleman, and Oklahoma Today.
In 1968, the American Quarter Horse Association commissioned Mixer to pain "the ideal American Quarter Horse," and six other breed associations followed suit. He depicted the ideal pinto, paint, palomino, Appaloosa, buckskin and pony of the Americas. His medium was oil on canvas.
In 1988, he and his wife drove to California to hand deliver his paintings of President Reagan's Arabians and one of Nancy Reagan's quarter horses. Despite his credentials, Mixer remained unassuming about his success.
Mixer was inducted in the AQHA Hall of Fame in 1993.
Mixer lived on a 50-acre cattle ranch near Arcadia Lake, He combined his love for horses and art into a lifetime career.
In a 2002 interview with "The Oklahoman," Mixer said "They say I'm famous, but I just don't see it that way."
In the same 2002 article Mixer said, "I tell you what, if I go out and I don't come home, I have enjoyed my life, I don't know what in the world I would do any different."
Mixer was in Texas delivering a painting to a friend when he died.
The painter is survived by his wife, Evelyn Mixer, and four sons; Orren Mixer III, John Mixer, Leon Mixer, and Robert Mixer.
Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Edmond.
------------------------
Orren M. Mixer, 87, of Edmond, OK went to be with the Lord April 29, 2008 in Weatherford, TX. Born July 18, 1920 to Orren and Florence (Motter) Mixer in Oklahoma City. Orren graduated from Central High School and attended Kansas City Art Institute on a scholarship for two years before traveling to New York to serve an apprenticeship, earning $5.00 a week designing book jackets and sheet music covers.
Orren joined the Navy during World War II and after his discharge from the Navy in 1946, he bought a place east of Edmond, OK now known as the Circle M Ranch.
Orren married his high school sweetheart, Evelyn Leonard Mixer, on August 31, 1941. He was baptized by Brother Ramey at the First Baptist Church in Edmond in 1959.
Outside of his passion for ranching, Orren will be best known for his world-renowned cowboy and western art. Orren has been inducted into seven Halls of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Alene. His survivors include his wife of the home, 4 sons, Orren III "Trey" and his wife Susie of Springfield, Missouri, Jon and his wife Kathrine of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Leon and his wife Tamara of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Robert and his wife Jill of Edmond. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. If wealth is measured in friends and family, then Orren would be considered a very wealthy man.
A funeral service will be held Monday, May 5, 2008 at the First Baptist Church of Edmond, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Baptists Church, Edmond, OK for the Orren Mixer Memorial Fund. All donations received will be forwarded to the Boys Ranch. Services are under the direction of the Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, Oklahoma.
Orren Marion Mixer II 
