John Raymond Stanford

John Raymond Stanford was born December 10, 1931 in Schulter, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. He was the son of John Mitchell and Mary (Blackburn) Stanford. John was raised and attended school through the 10th grade in Schulter. He often worked in his fatherís general store when he was growing up, however, he much would have rather been fishing. As a youngster, John would walk by the train depot in Henryetta on his way to and from fishing. Often a man working at the depot would ask John how his fishing was for the day when he would walk by. John later learned that the man was Gene Autry. At the age of ten, he traveled with a group of young musicians to Nashville where he would set up their equipment for their country and western band. John often talked of his trip to the Grand Ole Opry. He then moved with his family to the Pleasant Grove area near Seminole where he graduated from high school in 1951. Upon completion of his education, John began a career in the oilfields of central Oklahoma and Kansas. He worked in all aspects of the oilfield industry as he was employed as a roustabout and roughneck. John was married to Mary Morris on June 7, 1952. The couple made their initial home in Ellenwood, Kansas where John relocated to find additional work in the oilfields. After residing in Ellenwood for a couple of years, the couple moved their family to Lyons, Kansas and then later to Liberal. After an oilfield related accident where John suffered a severe back injury, John accepted a position as a salesman for the J. C. Penny Company in Liberal. In 1966, they moved to Purcell, Oklahoma as John began a long career as a traveling salesman selling a rather new clothing concept known as ready wear; which was factory-made clothing, sold in finished condition in standardized sizes as distinct from made to measure or bespoke clothing tailored to a particular personís frame. As John began to travel all over the United States, he established accounts with numerous chain stores and reduced the amount of traveling that was required. He often traveled to New York City to meet with account executives and that seemed to be one of his favorite places. After retiring from his sales position, John and Mary opened ìJohn and Mary Plaster Arts and Craftî store in Purcell. They later closed the business when they moved to Oklahoma City where John began a nearly twenty year career as a machinist for Chromalloy Aircraft. John was an avid woodworker who enjoyed repairing, restoring and refinishing furniture. He also enjoyed collecting a wide variety of different items. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. John was also an avid Oklahoma Thunder Fan, as he had enjoyed basketball his entire life. As a teenager he played on a semi-professional team in an independent league his father started. John was described by his family as a loving faithful and kind hearted man that could be a tad bit ornery. His tough life provided him with great endurance and perseverance. He always remained busy and was an extremely responsible husband, father and grandfather that enjoyed taking care of his family. He was precious to Mary, his wife of nearly sixty-two years. He was also described as a man of a few words until you got to know him and then you would be entertained by the multitude of stories about his life. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Purcell. John passed from this life on Friday, April 4, 2014 at Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City at the age of eighty-two years. He was preceded in death by his by parents, John Mitchell and Mary Stanford; son, Timothy Wade Stanford; and two brothers, Fred Ward and Paul Wayne Stanford. He is survived by his wife, Mary Stanford, of the home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; three children, Carla Dianne Allen of Yukon, Oklahoma, Larry Alan and Kathy Lynn Stanford of Friendswood, Texas, Tina Michelle and Michael Carmack of Yukon, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Mary Elaine Moore, Deanna Lynn Barnes, Jamie Renee Green, Lisa Ann Stanford, Trevor Orion Carmack, Seth Michael Carmack, Alyssa Danielle Carmack and Silas John Carmack; nine great-grandchildren, Heather Arvizu, Tyler Moore, Dillon Barnes, Dana Barnes, Samantha Boudreau, Jakob Stanford, Brooklyn Green, Julia LaBlanc , and Avery Green; two great-great granddaughters, Abbey and Isabella Arvizu; and a sister, Norma Lee Edwards of Ardmore, Oklahoma A memorial service will be held at the Council Road Baptist Church in Bethany, Oklahoma at 2:00 pm, Monday, April 7, 2014 with Dan Ragan and Michael Carmack officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 pm, Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at the Lawson Cemetery in Yale, Oklahoma under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.