Willie Horton

Willie Paige Horton was born November 14, 1914 near Marshall, Arkansas in Searcy County. He lived there with his folks as a small child and then they moved to Prue, Oklahoma. A year or so later they moved to Calvin, Oklahoma where he grew to become a nice young man. Willie joined the C. C. Camp on August 14, 1935 till March 31, 1936 and at his discharge his final pay was $6.50. He joined again serving from April 13, 1937 till September 22, 1937 as a laborer. This was to send what pay he could back to his folks. Willie was a good Christian man and man of his word. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and feed you if you were hungry. He also met Ruby DeWitt and on November 9, 1938, they got married. In their early months of marriage they were known to hop trains and ride in the box cars and on the top to get to Arizona to find work. Willie also went to work in the gold mines in New Mexico and Wyoming. Ruby told him she didnít want to worry about her husband in a deep dark hole and not be able to get out to come home, so he quit. In 1939, they were living in Prue, Oklahoma what is known as Johnson Holler. During this time they go Rubyís two sisters, Dorothy and Edna and raised them as their own. Willie was a bus driver, railroad worker as well as a farmer. While living in Prue three children were born. In 1945, Willie and Ruby moved to Cleveland to the Will Rogers Boy Scout Camp where they were caretakers. While living there a son Jerry was born. Willie sure was happy about that. Willie went to work at National Tank Company until the closure of the facility. He went to work at Damar until the age of 94 and his retirement. In 1964, they lost their daughter Virginia and took her son Gaylord at the age of four and raised him as their own. In the early 1960ís they started taking care of foster children and they took care of over one hundred. Willie lived a long good life and will be missed by his children, brothers, sisters and friends. Willie was the best of the best and the best any dad could be according to his children. He will be greatly missed and loved and there will be a big hole in everyoneís life. The children of Willie would like to express their most sincere appreciation and thank you to everyone for their prayer and love at a caring time. Willie is survived by two daughters Kathryan Marie Harness of Cleveland, Oklahoma; Patricia Louise Duff of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sons Jerry Leon Horton of Mannford, Oklahoma, Gaylord Reece Johnson of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, fourteen grandchildren, twenty two great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Zelphia Horton, father Marion Franklin Horton, wife Ruby Marie Horton, daughter, Virginia Johnson; granddaughter Lori Dianne Chism, two grandsons, Robbin Leon Duff and Ira Loyd Duff and a great granddaughter Skylar Marie Gilreath. Chapel Services will be held 2:00 pm, Friday, May 3, 2013 at the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Pastor Stan McCabe officiating. Burial will follow in the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home.