Kay Co., OK - Obits: Bernard George Behara ******************************************************* This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Lovena Norton USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************* Bernard George Behara Bernard George Behara, Ponca City resident and formerly of Newkirk, died Friday afternoon, February 19, 1999 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Ponca City. He was 89. The son of John Fredrick and Teresa Matilda (Eck) Behara, he was born August 8, 1909 east of Newkirk. He grew up in rural Newkirk and attended Cooper Rural School. On July 28, 1937 he and Claudine Mary Tipton were married in Newkirk. They established their home on a farm east of Newkirk where they lived until September 1942 when they moved to Ponca City. He began working for Conoco and worked until his retirement in 1973 with 30 years of service as head operator. He had also been employed as carpenter and painter at the First Baptist Church in Ponca City for 30 years. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ponca City and the Knights of Columbus. For many years he helped with the bingo games at St. Mary's. He enjoyed his children and grandchildren, and his flower and vegetable gardens. He also enjoyed his woodworking projects in the basement. His survivors include two sons and their wives, Bernard Keith and Sue Behara of Ponca City and Max and Rosanna Behara of Perry; five daughters and their husbands, Mary and Marion Fredricks of Ponca City, Connie Liberton of Ponca City, Opal and Jerry Grimley of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Lois and Melvin Thomason of Weatherford, Texas, Claudia and Bob Rock of Fullerton, California; one sister and her husband, Dorothy and Joe Sheik of Newkirk; five sisters-in- law, Florence Behara of Newkirk and Dorys Peters, both of Newkirk, Catherine Kennedy of Rosebud, Arkansas, Bertha Smith of Silver City, New Mexico and Vineta & Leroy Peters of Ponca City; and an aunt, Ella Eck of Arkansas City. He is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and their spouses, Darin Behara of Weatherford, Tim and Wanda (Behara) Stein of Ponca City, Joe and Malinda (Behara) Farley of Ponca City, Toss and Julia (Grimley) Patterson of Edgewood, New Mexico, Jill Grimley of Beebe, Arkansas, Aaron and Debra (Thomason) Wand of Stephenville, Texas, Mike and Leslie Thomason of Arlington, Texas, Brian Fredricks of Ponca City. Also Ronnie and Kerry (Fredricks) Carter of Ponca City, Tina Liberton of Oklahoma City, Eric Liberton and Arron Liberton both of Ponca City, Travis and Kristal Behara of Okmulgee, Cory and Shannon Behara of Edmond, Jason Behara of Ponca City and Kyle Rock of Fullerton, California. Great-grandchildren are Courtney, Jeremy and Hunter Stein of Ponca City, Tanner Farley of Ponca City, Maddison and Colbie Grimley of Beebe, Arkansas, Sarah and Tayler Patterson of Edgewood, New Mexico, Brandon, Mikayla and Jessica Wand of Stephenville, Texas, Dayton and Ian Thomason of Arlington, Texas, and Cody and Shannon Behara of Okmulgee. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Claudine on July 22, 1979; his parents; one brother, John Behara; four sisters, Clara Huster, Edna Schuchman, Catherine Arnett and Opal Brunson; and a brother in law, Keith Tipton. The Rosary was at 7 p.m. Monday evening in the Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Bosco Pudhuta. Mass of the Ressurection was celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 23 in St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. John Michalicka as celebrant and assisted by Deacon Dick Robinson. Burial followed in the Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service. Grandchildren served as casket bearers. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Behara's memory to the American Cancer Association, Hospice of Ponca City, the American Diabetes Association or Life Line of Ponca City through either Pioneer Bank in Ponca City or Eastman National Bank, P.O. Box 468, Newkirk 74647-0468. ---