NAME: HOWARD C. KIRKLAND, AGE 72, OF COTTONWOOD, COAL COUNTY, OK. BORN: NOVEMBER 25, 1924 AT COALGATE, OK TO CARA RAY AND EURA IRENE (BATES) KIRKLAND. PASSED AWAY: SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 1997 AT HIS COTTONWOOD RESIDENCE. AGE: 72 YEARS 1 MONTH AND 10 DAYS. EDUCATION: ATTENDED SCHOOLS AT COTTONWOOD, COALGATE, AND TULSA, OK. MARRIED: EULA MAE WILSON ON NOVEMBER 9, 1946 AT ATOKA, OK. OCCUPATION: HE WAS A LEAD MAN WITH THE NAVAL AMMUNITION BASE IN SAVANNA, OK, RETIRING IN 1980. HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE U. S. ARMY AIR CORPS DURING WORLD WAR II, RECEIVING SEVERAL DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS, INCLUDING 3 BRONZE STARS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN RIBBON, AND AIR MEDAL. HE WAS A LIFE MEMBER OF VFW COALGATE POST 1198, ALSO WAS A 32ND DEGREE MASON WITH THE COALGATE LODGE. SURVIVED BY DAUGHTERS: SHIRLEY ANN SHELDS AND HUSBAND STANLEY OF WARDVILLE, OK. MELBA SUE JORDAN AND HUSBAND GENE OF COALGATE, OK. CARA IRENE WARD AND HUSBAND RANDY OF COALGATE, OK. 8 GRANDCHILDREN, 2 GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, 5 STEP GRANDCHILDREN. GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: DESTINY AND NATHAN, JR. FORMER WIVES: EULA MAE KIRKLAND OF COALGATE, OK. ROMA JUNE KIRKLAND OF KIOWA, OK. SISTER: DORTHY DEAN BARKER AND HUSBAND ARVEL OF SEARCY, AR. HALF BROTHER: ROGER BAILEY AND WIFE BETTY OF BEEBE, AR. STEPCHILDREN: DANNY JOHNSTON OF COALGATE, OK. KELLY MIDDLETON OF SAVANNA, OK. SHELLY ROBSON OF COALGATE, OK. PRECEDED IN DEATH BY PARENTS: CARA RAY AND IRENE BATES. BROTHER: WILLIAM B. KIRKLAND. STEP GRANDDAUGHTER: TERESA SHIELDS.

DATE OF SERVICES: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1997 AT 10:00 A.M. PLACE OF SERVICES: COTTONWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH ~ COTTONWOOD, OK. INTERMENT: COALGATE CEMETERY ~ COALGATE, OKLAHOMA. OFFICIATING: REV. BILL WEATHERS. CASKETBEARERS: STORMY LOVINGGOOD, RENDIE WEATHERS, CHARLES HENDRIX, JOE PASQUALI SR, ROY DECK, LOUIS JOHN SANDMANN, GARY DORITY, EDDIE ANGLIN. HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: ARVARD MCLELLAN, HOYT WARREN, LEROY MATHIS, RUSSELL FULLBRIGHT, BILLY DON ROSE.