Richard Lynn Travis

Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at the First Baptist Church, Hallett, for Richard Lynn ìDickî Travis, 57, who died March 4 following a long illness.

Dick was born August 20, 1947 in Elk City, Oklahoma to C. E. and Marjorie Chlorene Travis. At the age of four, Dick moved with his family to rural Pawnee County, near Hallett. He attended elementary school in Hallett, and then Cleveland Public Schools. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1965.

Shortly after graduation, he attended Tulsa Welding School. In October 1966, he was inducted into the United States Army where he served nearly three years as an electronics technician and computer operator. He served most of his military career in Germany.

While in the service, Dick married Linda Fox on April 21, 1967 in Lawton, Oklahoma. The couple had two children, Cheryl and Tim. Dick has honorably discharged in September 1969 and returned to Linda and their children who were living in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

In 1969, Dick accepted employment with Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) as a draftsman in the engineering department. He continued in that position until 1978 when he was promoted to communications specialist in the member services department. He was editor of the monthly newsletter, The Lamp and was responsible for advertising and media relations. In 1985, he was promoted to coordinator of member services and public relations. Shortly thereafter, he was named director of member services, where he was responsible for expanding the department to include economic development and marketing. Dick remained with IEC until he was hired as director of member services and public relations at East Central Electric Cooperative in Okmulgee in 1992. In 2002, after nearly ten years with East Central, Dick retired and returned to the Hallett area.

During his career, Dick was extremely active in many civic, tourism and youth activities and organizations. Some of his volunteer positions included vice president of the tourism organization Green Country; president of economic development, Cleveland Area Chamber of Commerce; president, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OEAC) Public Relations, Member Services and Marketing (MR/PR & Marketing) Association; president, KAMO Power MR/PR & Marketing; secretary, Pawnee Country Junior Livestock Show; president, Keystone Lake Association; Honorary FFA Chapter Farmer; and member of various RC & D organization, including Cross Timbers RC & D in Okemah. For several years, he served as photographer at area junior livestock shows.

He was inducted into the OACE MR/PR & Marketing Hall of Fame, and he and Linda served as chaperone on the OAEC-sponsored Washington D. C. Youth Tour.

Dick was a member of the First Baptist Church in Hallett. His leisure activities included gardening and fishing with his grandchildren. He mostly enjoyed volunteering his time and talents to help others and also liked attending livestock auctions and sales. His favorite pastime, however, was spending time with his family.
Dick is survived by his wife of nearly thirty-eight years, Linda of the home; daughter Cheryl and her husband Charles Stites of Dewey, Oklahoma; son, Tim Travis of Cleveland, Oklahoma; father, C. E. Travis of Maramec, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Deven, Ashley and Scott Travis, all of Cleveland, Oklahoma, and Justin, Amelia and Abigail Stites of Dewey, Oklahoma; two brothers, R. B. Travis of Pawnee, Oklahoma and Brian Jack Travis of Maramec, Oklahoma; and a sister, Kay Travis Barnett of Toowomba, Australia. He was preceded in death by his mother and a sister, Shirley Travis Sparks.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at the First Baptist Church in Hallett, Oklahoma with Rev. Randy Alley officiating. Burial will be at the Bethany Cemetery in Hallett under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc. Pallbearers were Charles Stites of Dewey, Terry Travis of Maramec, Kris Williams, Bernard Rabbitt and Bill Holcomb of Okmulgee and Joe Hampton of Collinsville.

The family requests memorials be made to the Dick Travis Memorial Fund at the Cleveland Bank. The fund will be used to support Cleveland area 4-H and FFA youth.

Visit an online obituary, guestbook and video tribute for Richard Lynn Travis at www.chapman-black.com.