DE WITT, Eldon Everett - b. January 14, 1945 - d. March 9. 2011

[patyrn]

Eldon Everett DeWitt, son of Estil Everett and Hazel (Hubbell) DeWitt, was born on January 14, 1945 at Eureka, Kansas.  He put that last wrench down and went to that great roundup in the sky on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at the Harper County Community Hospital in Buffalo, Oklahoma at the age of 66. 

How much can you tell about a person's life on one sheet of paper and in a few words?  Eldon grew up in Elk County, Kansas with his two sisters, Sue and Sherrell, and his brother, Donnie.  He attended school in Howard, Kansas and graduated from Howard High School with the class of 1964.  He was active in FFA and was President his senior year.  After graduation, he attended a trade school and furthered his mechanical abilities.  He liked to work on cars to see how fast they would run.  Many times he was in hot water because of that.  Eldon worked at machine shops in Wichita, Kansas and then became a ranchhand and raised Simmental cattle.

You might say Eldon liked fast cars and women, but the wife he chose was a naive Oklahoma country girl.  Eldon and Joyce Zirkle were married on December 10, 1966 at the Gate Methodist Church in Gate, Oklahoma.  To this union came two sons, Todd Everett and Troy Eldon.  The boys spent a lot of time with their dad, probably going places they shouldn't have gone.  They can tell stories their mother didn't know about.  Eldon could rope and ride with the best.  He liked to fish, but not always with a fishing pole.  He bought a $200 horse named Sis.  He could do anything with her, although not many people could ride her.  Sis made the trip to Oklahoma when the family was transplanted in 1982.  That was Eldon before he arrived in Gate, Oklahoma.

He made new friends, kind of like the buddies he left behind.  Every time that one of them crossed over to that great roundup in the sky, part of him was lost:  Allen, Dick, Cecil, Alvin, Phil, and a few more.  His pride and joy were his boys and grandkids:  Elise, that cute blonde girl, and Tel, his best bud, followed later by London and Phoenix. 

He worked at a few jobs before going to work at General Inc. in Laverne, Oklahoma.  Those Mack trucks were his babies.  You see, if you didn't treat them right, you were in big, big trouble.  He made new friends and probably a few enemies.  He told it like it was - you knew exactly what he was thinking.  If he liked you, he would do anythng for you, but if not, forget it.  He was a little rough around the edges, surely not a saint, but he was ours.

Eldon was a member of the Gate United Methodist Church and was a retired firefighter.  He was also a past member of the Beaver Cunty Fair Association.  Eldon and Del Ray Sprugeon were the instigators of the Beaver County Ranch Rodeo.  This wasn't his first rodeo.

Eldon is survived by his wife, Joyce DeWitt, of the home; sons and wives, Todd and Tiffany DeWitt of Laverne, Oklahoma and Troy and Rhodena DeWitt of Gate, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Tel, Elise, London, and Phoenix; sisters, Sue Siger of Mound City, Kansas and Sherrell Tucker of Independence, Kansas; brother, Donnie DeWitt and wife, Alberta of Moline, Kansas; and a number of nieces, nephews, and friends.  He was preceded in death  by his parents, Estil and Hazel DeWitt; his parents-in-law, Barney and Esther Zirkle; his sister, Connie DeWitt; and other family members. 

Services will be held Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Gate, Oklahoma at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor David Gordon officiating.  The family has requested memorials be made to the Gate United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 84, Gate, Oklahoma 73844.  Myatt-Laverne Funeral Home of Laverne, Oklahoma is in charge of arangements.

We are only saying goodbye for a little while.  We have memories and will be keeping you close by our side until we see you on the other side. 

(taken from the Schilling Funeral Home Group website)

[Teresa]

That was a very nice.. very personal obituary..  I liked it..