Obit of Voiles, John DeVon (v420) - Texas County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 4 Oct 2003 Return to Texas County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/texas/texas.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Daily Oklahoman 9/29/2003. Voiles, John DeVon John DeVon Voiles was born June 5, 1917 in Guymon, Oklahoma in his grandmother Mary Fletcher's home. He left this life September 25th to join our Lord, his beloved wife Esther on her birthday, his cherished son Doug, his dear brother Ted, and his parent's Cliff and Bess. What a party! Heaven is full of laughter and praise. DeVon's earliest years were in the peak of the Dust Bowl. He saw the first dust storms from under his bed, and his god-fearing mother thought the world was coming to an end! DeVon grew up in Hooker under the tutelage of his dad where he had to work sweeping floors, running the soda fountain, and any job that needed to get done in the Voiles Drug Store. He was active in all sports, and was just as active in mischief with his brother Ted and friends. When he was little, he and Ted hammered nails into Cliffs shotgun shells to see what would happen - they quickly found out! When he was 17 years old and without telling his family, he and Tom Waller hopped a freight train to Chicago without money and only an orange and a box of chocolate Exlax for food. They survived hobos and uncharted territory to meet a distant relative of Tom's in Chicago through a lot of quick wits, DeVon & Tom's charm, a bit of luck, and conflicted parents who alerted the folks in Chicago to look out for two lost Okies. DeVon was a giver. He was a charter member of the Lions Club and the Elks, he started the first Quarterback Club, was a city councilman, and he served as a volunteer fireman, vice president of the school board, and golf club president. He was pioneer volunteer in everything involving the Hooker community. He was also a member of the Hooker United Methodist Church serving on each board, and he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He was equally involved in several businesses including the Texaco elevator and the Voiles Ford Motor Company with his brother Ted for 34 years. He served as President and Chairman of the First National Bank of Hooker, and he served on the Texas County Excise Board. J.D. was an avid sportsman, golfer, fisherman, hunter, gun collector, and one of OU's biggest supporters and fans. He lived by what his father taught him — 'to be honest, straight forward, and to always tell the truth.' He also used to say 'you could tell more about a man by playing one round of golf with him than by knowing him for a year!' Life's like golf- you have to measure your gimmies. He is survived by 3 daughters, a son, 9 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, nieces & nephews, and a whole lot of friends and relatives who loved him dearly. Daddy, we are checking the oil, the tires, and watching the railroad tracks. We knew we couldn't keep you forever, but we would have liked to. Funeral Services were held Saturday, September 27, 2003 at the United Methodist Church in Hooker with Rev. Rick Trobaugh officiating. Interment was in the Hooker Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Blackmer Municipal Golf Course, Hooker Lions Club or the Hooker Fire Dept. and may be left at the Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Oklahoma 73945. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Texas County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/texas/texas.html