Robert Roscoe Mcguire

Robert William McGuire was born June 12, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the son of George William McGuire, Jr. and Jacqueline Daemon McGuire Parks.'  Robert, known by his family and friends as Roscoe, moved with his family at the age of three to Oklahoma City where he was raised and attended school for the first eight years.'  In 1961, the McGuire family moved to Cleveland where Roscoe graduated from Cleveland High School with the Class of 1966. Shortly after graduation, Roscoe was inducted into the service of his country in the United States Army on October 11, 1966.'  After completion of basic training and light weapons infantry training, Roscoe was deployed to Vietnam on March 24, 1967.'  He served honorably with the 1st Infantry Division, the Big Red One, until he was wounded in action on May 22, 1967; receiving shrapnel fragment wounds to his right shoulder and lower back.'  After receiving medical attention in a field hospital at Ben Hoa Air Base, Roscoe returned to Fort Campbell where he underwent Riot Control Training. Roscoe was honorably discharged on October 11, 1968 and returned to Cleveland.'  While serving his country, Roscoe received the following decorations medals badges and campaign ribbons, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with two overseas service bars, Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, Army Commendation Medal with ìVí for valor, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, First Class Gunner (M-60 Machine Gun), and Sharpshooter Badges (M-16 & M-14 Rifles). Upon completion of his military service, Roscoe accepted employment working as a welderís helper on pipeline projects throughout the United States through Local Union 798.'  He was married to Kathleen D. Harvel and the couple made their initial home near Hallett, purchasing some land and later building their home where they raised their four children, Rick, Kim, Shelley and Shawna.'  Roscoe later made the decision that being away from his family on the pipeline was not what he wanted so he accepted a position with Wheatley Gas and Valve as a pump assembler. He continued to work for Wheatley for nearly twenty-five years until his retirement. After his retirement, friends and acquaintances in the oil field continued to contact Roscoe for his professional opinion concerning gas and oil field valves and pumps. As he provided more and more services, Roscoe decided to start his own company, Cimarron Pump and Valve where he worked as a consultant building and repairing pumps and valves for his contacts in the oilfields of northeastern Oklahoma, and throughout the United States. Roscoe was described by his family as a ìman above all menî; an honorable, loyal and selfless man always concerned about the needs of others above his own. He would help anyone without ever expecting anything in return. His heart was big and full of love for his family and friends although Roscoe could be a tad bit ornery. He loved to leave his ìcalling cardî with family, friends and neighbors. He would leave a gift of something he knew you needed or pull a prank, especially the Thurman family, which is a family tradition that his children are eager to continue. Roscoe was an avid OSU fan His Sooner friends knew to check their flagpoles, license plates, mailboxes and front porches. Roscoe never showed up empty handed. He always brought something to show he thought of your during the day. Roscoe had several hobbies but all of them were usually centered on the outdoors. His passion and love for trains, railroads and train history started when he was a teen as he skipped school one day to ride a train to Hominy. When he arrived much to his surprise, the first person he saw was his father. Of course, Dadís comment was about why Roscoe wasnít in school and that they should probably not tell his mom. Roscoe would often tell a story about when he went to Bob Parker Chevrolet to purchase a 1957 4-door Ford. As Mr. Parker was a strong Christian man, he suggested that the two of them pray to see if Roscoe really needed the car. At the conclusion of the prayer, Bob indicated that God had told him to let Roscoe have the car for $75.00 and Roscoe indicated that he had heard $50.00, so he bought it for the lesser amount. He loved to hunt and fish, but could be satisfied just sitting outside watching the deer or any other animal or bird that came by. Roscoe especially enjoyed cooking meats always having a brisket, ribs or a pork loin in the smoker, preparing Roscoe Style Barbeque while sitting on the deck visiting and sharing a cold beer. When the girls where starting to date as they would bring their fellows by to meet Dad, they always wanted to hang out with Roscoe. Often he would fire up the chain saw and have them help him with another of his hobbies, cutting firewood or just sitting around the bonfire visiting. Another of his favorite pastimes was to drink coffee at the Hallett Petroleum Club with his friends. He could be found there most everyday enjoying good conversation with his friends or as his family dropped by, pointing his finger and saying, ìDo What You Gotta Doî and ìDo It Right.î Roscoe also enjoyed listening to the Rockiní John Henry show on Sunday evenings on KMOD radio. Roscoe would often call in to request a favorite, calling so often that the shows host would often say, ìIs this Roscoe.î Roscoe was an avid Johnny Cash fan and also enjoyed Jimmy Rogers, Hank Williams, Sr. and Roy D. Mercer. Although Roscoe had a close relationship with his family and friends, his loyalty and bond to his brothers that he served with in Vietnam was extraordinarily strong. He remained friends with many of them throughout his life. He will be remembered as always being late to functions, rolling in with his music blaring after having taken the back roads to get to where he was going. He lived by his lifelong philosophy that if you live your life following the Ten Commandments, everything will take care of itself. Roscoe departed this life on Saturday, August 8, 2009 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of sixty-two years. He was preceded in death by his parents, George McGuire, Jr. and Jacqueline McGuire Parks. He is survived by his four children and their spouses, Rick and Carla Harvel of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Kim and Shane Merriman of Hallett, Oklahoma, Shelley and Jack Siler of Pawnee, Oklahoma and Shawna and J.R. Beaty of Cleveland, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren, Raina Bevins of Mississippi, Courtney Harvel of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Justin Siler of Pawnee, Oklahoma, Kaylee Merriman of Hallett, Oklahoma, Ricky Harvel of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Kaden Merriman of Hallett, Oklahoma, Jenna Siler of Pawnee, Oklahoma, Jacob Harvel of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Thomas Beaty of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Samantha Beaty of Cleveland, Oklahoma; a great-granddaughter, Teagann Harvel of Cleveland, Oklahoma; and a brother and his wife, George W. McQuire, III and Valerie of Edmond.'