A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dr. Ernest Robert Daffer, M.D. will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, September 22, 2012 at the Church of the Servant 14343 N. MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104

A great mind and gently-skilled hands came to rest on September 13, 2012, as Dr. Ernest R. Daffer met the Divine Healer. He sat down for a long-awaited visit with the ones who went before him – his father and mother, Reid and Nora Belle Daffer, and his brother, George. Loving husband, wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather, devoted friend and excellent physician – he will be greatly missed by all who had the opportunity of sharing life with him. Ernie was born December 17, 1930. He graduated high school in New Harmony, Indiana as Valedictorian of his class. He entered into the Army and served during the Korean War in Alaska, followed by employment in the oil fields to earn money for college. In the Fall of 1955, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma with a goal to attend Medical School. However, due to his age, his counselor advised him against it, saying he would never make it but his determination to achieve his goals was strong, and he finished his undergraduate work in 2 years and was accepted into the University Of Oklahoma School Of Medicine in the fall of 1957. He graduated from OU Medical in 1962. Ernie did his internship and residency programs in surgery at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. He practiced medicine and touched many lives for 33 years, retiring in 2000. His achievements were many – He was Chief of Surgery at Southwest Medical Center, President of the Oklahoma Surgical Society, and a member of: the American Medical Association, the Oklahoma Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, the Southwest Medical Association, the Oklahoma City Surgical Society, the Oklahoma City Academy of Medicine, and the South Oklahoma City Rotary Club. Ernie loved doing what he was called to do, and his patients loved him. He was a doctor who wrote off bills if the patient couldn't pay, and made house calls to patients who were to sick to come into the office.
He married Fran on August 29, 1959 and they share three wonderful sons: Reid Daffer and wife, Susan, of Oklahoma City; David Daffer and wife, Di Ann, of Edmond; and Bryan Daffer and wife, Shannon, of Parker, Colorado. They are blessed with 12 grandchildren – Landi (Daffer) Jordan; Rob Daffer, and wife Katie; Tamara (Daffer) Constein and husband, Steve; D'Lacey (Daffer) Hodges and husband, Josh; Dacia (Daffer) Covatch and husband, Josh; Sydnee Daffer; Brayden Daffer and Shelbee Daffer. The family became even richer with the addition of 8 beautiful great-grandchildren – Sadie, Jennell, Rodney, Makenna, Madigan, Molly, Ronan and Teiler (and a ninth one on the way!). Ernie leaves behind his loving family, as well as two sisters, Lucille Clark of Mt. Carmel, IL, and Velma Alka of Kansas City, MO; and sister-in-law, Norma Daffer of Norman, OK. The family would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the multitude of caregivers and friends who have supported us in walking through this most difficult journey for the past 13 years. When recently asked by his youngest son, Bryan, "Dad, what's the secret to a successful business?", Ernie replied, "honesty". Then when asked, "What's the secret to raising great kids?" he answered, "consistency". And finally, when asked, "What's the secret to a successful marriage?" he said, "compromise" These are Ernest Daffer's final prescriptions, to be taken daily with love. The simplicity of his words, his dry and very quick sense of humor, and his wise guidance will be deeply missed, for he was the epitome of a patriarch. Donations can be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for dementia research. 825 NE 13th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.