Obit of Blackketter, James Eugene - Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Wanda Purcell 14 Dec 2008 Return to Roger Mills County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Red Star Cemetery--Angora OK Surnames: Blackketter, Studdebaker, Heisey, Bailey, Lohberger, Ayers, Green, Noel Originally posted at: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oklahoma.counties.rogermills/8884/mb.ashx James Eugene Blackketter was born on January 17, 1925, in Bacca County, Colorado, to Koert C. and Nellie Studebaker Blackketter. Gene was raised with his brothers and sisters at Leedey, Oklahoma and the surrounding communities. He attended grade school at Leedey and at Red Star, a small one-room country school; and he attended high school at Jabb. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Navy, doing submarine duty, and returned to get his college degree, after the war, at OSU then known as Oklahoma A & M. In 1953 he was united in marriage to Ruth Heisey of Canton, Ohio. He transplanted her to Oklahoma where she thrived in spite of the drought and to this union were born five children, Iris Ruth, Ariel Sue, Lynn Henry, Lyle Koert, and Loy Eugene. Their ranch was located southwest of Leedey, Oklahoma in the Red Star community and they lived at that location their entire married life. In his early days, Gene taught Vo-Ag and science class at Jabbok, then spent the rest of his days as a rancher and farmer. Gene always told his childeren that their priorities should include God, family, and community-in that order. He modeled that belief by taking an active role in the Red Star Brethern in Christ Church, and he had his family there with him. They saw him serve as a deacon of the church for many years. He also represented the congregation at regional and annual church conferences as delegate many times. He was very proud of his family, takiing great pleasurer in the addition of in-laws and grandchildren, and enjoyed all their accomplishments, although his greatest desire for all of them was that they would serve the Lord in their turn. Gene also was very active in the community and county, serving on Roger Mills County Fair Board and the County Farm Bureau: he served 41 years on Northfork Electric Cooperative Board and 34 years on Western Farmers Board, serving terms as president on both boards. He was instrumental in the formation of the Red Star Water District. He was honored as "Good Neighbor of the Year" by OK Rural Electric Association, and he received the WKY Farmers/Rancher of the Month Award. He was inducted into the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1993. Gene was preceded in death by his father and mother, Koret and Nellie Blackketter; and two sisters; older sister Esther Bailey and infant sister Janiece. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of the home; daughters Iris Blackketter of Little Canada, Minnesota; and Ariel Lohberger of Allison, Texas; son, Lynn and wife Tina of Leedey, Oklahomna; Lyle and wife Linda of Leedey, Oklahoma; and Loy and wife Alisa of Marion, Kansas; grandchildren Chelsey Ayers and husband Zac; Jacob Ramsey; Josh, Cody Blackketter; Ashley Koekie and husband, Chris; Brock and Michelle Green; Toby and Teresa Green; and Jared Green; brothers Don and wife Leoda Blackketter of Shamrock, Texas; Lewis and wife Katie of McLemoreville, Tennessee; sister Betty and husband Eldon Noel of Abilene, Kansas; brother-in-law Fred Bailey, of Weatherford, Oklahoma; great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held on November 1, 2008 @ 10:30 a.m. at the Red Star Brethern in Christ Church, Leedey, Oklahoma. Burial followed at the Red Star Cemetery, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma. Arrangements were under the direction of Shaw Funeral Home of Leedey. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 6-Nov-2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Roger Mills Archives http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html