Joe Dean Weatherford's Obituary
Joe Dean Weatherford was born April 11, 1933 in Poteau, Oklahoma to the late Vernon and Birdie (Danner) Weatherford. Joe graduated from Poteau High School in 1951. He married Sue Bright on December 5, 1952 in Poteau and they soon moved to Kansas City where Joe attended Kansas City College of Mortuary Science. In 1955, Joe and Sue purchased the Hinton Funeral Home in Hinton, Oklahoma. They later moved to Fairview, Oklahoma and purchased the Fairview Funeral Home. They then relocated to Lawton where they owned the Lawton Funeral Home. In 1971, they moved to Miami and purchased the Cooper Funeral Home of Miami and Fairland. Joe and Sue made their home in Miami until 1991, when they moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas and purchased the Hot Springs Funeral Home. In 1993 they returned to Miami, where they have lived and enjoyed retirement. Joe and Sue also have been co-owners of the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home in Okmulgee, Beggs and Morris for many years. Joe passed away Tuesday, January 8, 2013 in Tulsa at the age of 79.
Joe had served as President of the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association from 1970-1971 and was appointed to the Oklahoma Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers until 1991. He was a long time member of the Miami Masonic Lodge # 140, Akdar Shrine Temple, Grand Lake Shrine Club and the Royal Order of Jester’s Court 47 of Tulsa. He also was a proud member of the “A Team” and had been a longtime member of the Miami Golf and Country Club, Miami Rotary Club, Miami Elks Lodge, Miami Main Street, Miami Chamber of Commerce and the First United Methodist Church. Joe enjoyed traveling and spending time in Mexico every year.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, sister, DeWanda Hankins, and a brother Glenn Weatherford.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Sue, daughter, Sherrie Hulse and husband Mike of Tulsa, and Shelly Weatherford of Overland Park, Kansas, grandchildren, Megan Harlan and husband Justin of Tulsa and Matthew Hulse of Tulsa, a brother-in-law, Harrell Bright of Poteau, sister-in-law, Ann Weatherford of Henderson, Tennessee and niece and nephews, Jeff Bright of Tulsa and John Weatherford and Susan Weatherford of Oklahoma City.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. on Thursday evening at the Cooper Memorial Chapel of the Brown-Winters Funeral Home in Miami.
A funeral service for Joe will be held at 10:13 A.M. Friday, January 11, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church in Miami, Oklahoma with Father Noel Doherty officiating assisted by Reverend David Wheeler. A committal service will be held at 2:13 P.M. at the Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa. A reception to celebrate Joe’s life will follow the committal service at the Golf Club of Oklahoma. Casketbearers will be Matthew Hulse, Jason Winters, Larry Biddle, Clifford Howard, Don Robinson, and Bill McClure.
Memorial contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to the Grand Lake Shrine Club Children’s Transportation Fund, First United Methodist Church of Miami, Oklahoma, and the Joe D. Weatherford Scholorship Fund for funeral service students, all in care of the funeral home.
Arrangements are under the direction of the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee and the Brown-Winters Funeral Home of Miami.
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