The Justin Faulkner we all knew and loved — husband, father, friend, and pillar of the Hartshorne community — is gone. And just like that, everything changed. He was doing what he loved most: getting ready for the races. But in a tragic instant, that passion became the setting for an unimaginable loss.
Justin’s life was built around the people he loved. His wife shared pieces of their story in raw, heartbreakingly honest words: “I don’t even know how to say it. I’m broken. I don’t believe there should be a world without Faulkner! He’s the best human, and I’m so lucky to have had 22 years with him. This is the worst kind of loss. My heart is broken, my heart breaks for Cash and Ridge—they love their dad so much. They are him through and through. Faulkner loved so much and he wanted to make sure everyone around him knew he loved them. Family was everything to him. He absolutely loved being a father.”
On that night — one of ordinary Sunday evenings turned extraordinary in its horror — Justin was setting up light plants for the races. While handling his equipment, he came into contact with an electrical line and was fatally electrocuted. A moment in time that no one saw coming, yet something that will be remembered by everyone who did. The joy he felt in those race preparations now juxtaposed forever with the void his absence creates.
Since 2008, Justin had worked as a laboratory technician at EST, Inc., and earlier attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University. His colleagues spoke of his steady reliability, his bright spirit, and the way he walked into the lab each day with a smile meant not just for science, but for the people around him. His life mirrored his values — hard work, generosity, and, above all, putting his family first.
In Hartshorne, everyone who crossed his path felt it. Whether he was sharing a laugh, offering help, or cheering on the kids at the races, his presence gave comfort and joy. His role as husband, father, and community member wasn’t just a label — it was a way of life. And when the unthinkable happened, the waves of grief reached far beyond the circle of immediate family.
The Faulkner family has expressed overwhelming gratitude for the flood of support they’ve received: “Thank you to everyone for the calls, messages, prayers, and drop-offs. I am so thankful for the support of family, friends, and community.” At the same time, they await further steps with heavy hearts, as no funeral arrangements have yet been announced while they await the release of Justin’s remains by the medical examiner.
Though Justin’s time with us has ended far too soon, his love, laughter, and unwavering loyalty will continue to live on — in the hearts of his wife, his sons Cash Faulkner and Ridge Faulkner, and the many lives he touched. His memory is not fading — it is becoming a beacon of the things he stood for: connection, compassion, and the fierce dedication of a family man who wanted more than anything to make each moment count.