An 81-year-old Barnsdall man is still missing after an EF4 tornado ripped through his house in the Osage County city on Monday.
As family and search crews continue looking for Wayne Hogue, his daughter-in-law Tamara Hogue told The Oklahoman that she and her husband, Richard Hogue, aren’t giving up hope.
Richard, Wayne’s son, called his father moments before the tornado hit the Barnsdall home to ensure Wayne was aware of the serious storm headed his way.
“[Wayne] stayed on the phone with my husband for seven minutes or so just talking to him and reassured him that if God was ready for him, he was ready to go home and he was not leaving his house,” Tamara said. “He was gonna stay in his bedroom and listen to his gospel music.”
Monday’s storm left at least one person dead in Barnsdall, a rural community of about 1,400. It’s the second time Barnsdall was affected by a tornado this year, after another tornado damaged homes on April 1.
Tamara said the support from people in the Barnsdall community has been overwhelming.
When he’s found, Tamara said the first thing she’d say to Wayne is, “Thank you, Jesus.”
“I don’t know what else you can say in a situation like that,” Tamara said. “I’d just praise God that he’s located and that’s what our prayers are for.”
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office requested public assistance in locating Wayne, and urged anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact the office at 918-287-3131.
