Donald Eugene Mccullah

Donald Eugene McCullah passed from this life on Thursday, December 8, 2011 in Cleveland, Oklahoma at the age of 74 years eight months and twenty nine days. Don was born March 10, 1937 in Thorny, Arkansas. He was the son of Dewey H. and Tennessee Lucinda (Crowder) McCullah. As a young boy Don was raised in the Elm Springs and Lincoln area where he began his education. Don later quit school to help his family provide for his other brothers and sisters. At that age of 17, Don joined the United States Navy in December of 1954. He was stationed aboard the USS Essex which was originally built during World War II. Following the war it was decommissioned and modernized in the early 1950ís as an attack carrier and became an antisubmarine aircraft carrier. The ship played a major role in the Cuban missile crises as well as participating in the Korean War. Don was honorably discharged in December of 1959, and returned to Arkansas where he began working for his in laws at their grocery store in Westville. Don soon gained employment in the oil industry as a roughneck in Tulsa where he worked until 1961. At that time Don gained employment with the Stillwell Funeral Home working in whatever capacity that was needed. In 1963, Don moved to Woodward and worked for the Coca Cola plant. In 1969, he was transferred and returned to Arkansas working in Fayetteville at the Dr. Pepper and 7up plant. Don later retired from the soft drink company and worked for Blackston Construction as well as a carpenter before gaining employment with Cisco Funeral Home in 1987. In July of 1992, at the Cliffty Fire Department, Don was united in marriage to Margaret June Pitts. In 1999, Don retired once again to help June operate the Bend in the Road Gift Shop in Cliffty, Arkansas. Don and June operated the store until her death in May of 2004, and at that time he retired fully. In 2008, Don moved to Cleveland to be closer to his son where he has continued to reside. Don loved to take yearly vacations with his family. He was a former active Moose Lodge member of the Springdale Lodge as well as a member of the Rogers Elks Lodge. Don was an exceptional wood worker and has built cradles for all of his grandchildren. Don was also a family man and tried to instill in his children and grandchildren the necessity of learning about their country and past by visiting historical sites during vacations. Survivors are his son John D. McCullah and his wife Lannette Marie of Cleveland, Oklahoma; two daughters Pamela R. McCullah of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Sonja A, Dixon and her husband Lester of West Fork, Arkansas; two sisters Helen Rhoads of Soap Lake, Washington, Thelma Napier of Springdale, Arkansas; eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends that will mourn his passing. In addition to his parents Don was preceded in death by his wife Margaret June McCullah, two brothers Herman McCullah, Harold McCullah as well as two sisters Virginia Hudson and Lela Williams. Memorial Services will be held 2:00 pm Monday, December 12, 2011 at the Westport Baptist Church with Rev. Ray Earley officiating. Entombment of the cremated remains will be held at the Fayetteville National Cemetery on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 2:00 pm with Harry Hamilton officiating under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made in honor of Don to: The Baptist Village at 1001 Baptist Village Drive, Cleveland, Oklahoma 74020.