Obit of Melvin Dean "Dick" Harper (h616) - Grady County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Sandy Carter 18 Aug 2003 Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== The Chickasha Express-Star 1 August 2003 MELVIN DEAN "DICK" HARPER Funeral services celebrating the life of Melvin Dean "Dick" Harper, 69- year-old Weatherford, Oklahoma, resident, will be held on Sunday, August 3, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. in the Emmanuel Baptist Church with Wendell Folsom, Ozzie Byrum, and Rondal Kilgore officiating. Graveside services will be held on Monday, August 4, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. in Fairlawn Cemetery, north of Chickasha, Oklahoma, under the direction of Lockstone Funeral Home of Weatherford. Melvin was born to Alex Dean and Ruby Pauline (Armstrong) Harper on January 5, 1934, in Alex, Oklahoma, and went to heaven on July 30, 2003, at his home in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Melvin graduated from the Alex Public School system in 1952, where he was active in the Future Farmers of America, and was awarded the Oklahoma State Farmer award. On August 30, 1957, he married Carolyn Sue Irwin in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Melvin began working for Consolidated Gas Company in April 1960, in Chickasha, (Arkla Gas) and later was transferred to Hinton, Oklahoma, in 1968, and to Weatherford in 1973. He retired in April 1985, while serving as manager of the Weatherford District of Arkla Gas Company. Melvin's greatest accomplishments included the birth of their two sons - Jim and John. He served as a Little League coach for both sons, and provided them with a strong role model where he taught them the worthy virtues of honesty, moral integrity, and a strong work ethic. Melvin and Sue, along with the Graybills, Overtons, Selsors, and other church families were active leaders in the Emmanuel Baptist youth group during their boys' youth. Melvin was a proud and relentless laborer of the family home and yard, which was noted as the "beautiful" yard on Lawter Road." A gifted wood craftsman, Melvin could refurbish old antique furnishings and construct new furnishings with the best of them. Melvin was a past member of the Kiwanis Club of America and Southwestern Oklahoma State University Booster Club, and was a current member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Weatherford. It is requested that memorials can be made to the American Heart Association or the New Season's Hospice of Weatherford. Melvin is survived by his wife, Sue, of 46 years; two sons, Jim and his wife, Kathy of Forney, Texas and John and his wife, Christine of Weatherford, Oklahoma. One could talk to Melvin for a few moments and he would inform them of his four beautiful granddaughters, which include Nikki, Courtney, and Tiffany Harper, of Weatherford and Hannah Harper, of Forney, Texas. He is also survived by his mother, Ruby Harper Kiser of Lawton, a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Dale Brennan of Lawton, Oklahoma. He leaves behind a brother-in-law, Tex Irwin and his wife, Janet, of Del City, Oklahoma who dearly loved him; and another brother-in-law, Rex Irwin, of Fresno, California; and also several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Alex Dean Harper -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html