Everett Vance

Everett William Vance was born July 13, 1922, at his Aunt Mary Gattis Campbell’s house in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.  He was the third of six children born to Zebualion B. Vance and ElNora Gattis Vance.  He left this world November 26, 2008, at the age of 86, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he had resided for the last 10 years.

            Everett’s father, Zeb Vance, worked in the oil fields, and the family lived in many locations across Oklahoma and Texas, but they always considered Morris and Okmulgee home.  Everett also had fond memories of living at Fittstown, Oklahoma, and attended many McLish High School reunions.

            Everett married Helen Martin of Morris on June 7, 1942, at Checotah.  They celebrated their 66^th wedding anniversary last June.

            Everett entered active duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943.  He was in the 711 Bomb Squadron, 447^th Bomb Group, and was stationed at Rattlesden Air Base near Ipswich, England, where he loaded bombs on to B-17’s preparing to run bombing missions over Germany. 

            Everett went to work at what was then called American Window Glass, later American Saint Gobain, in 1948.  He worked there until injuries from an accident at the plant forced him to retire in the early 1970’s.

            Everett was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Cecil B. (Bo) Vance and Howard Vance, and his baby sister, Esther Vance Featherston. 

            Everett leaves loving memories with his wife of 66 years, Helen Martin Vance, his daughter, Janice Vance Haggard, and son-in-law David Haggard.  He leaves three grandchildren, Chris David Haggard, Kellie Haggard Ebert and husband Ryan, and Laura Haggard Little.  He also leaves three great-grandsons, Tyler Michael Ebert, Jacob David Ebert, and Cole William Ebert, and he was looking forward to the birth of his fourth great-grandson next spring, Collier Vance Little, all of Stillwater, Oklahoma.  He leaves two dear sisters, Lucille Vance Harwell and Ruth Vance Shelton, both of Morris, and two sisters-in-law, Edith Reynolds Vance, of Morris, and Lois Eldridge Vance of Ponca City.  He leaves a host of loving nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends, including his neighbor and best friend, Scott Turner of Stillwater.

            Dad never met a stranger, and he always had a smile for those around him, no matter how ill he felt.  He showed tremendous love and support to all of those whose lives he touched, and we could always count on Dad for a joke or a little teasing.  His grandchildren consider him the perfect, fun-loving Pa.  Every one of us feels so very blessed to have been able to share our lives with him; he was well-loved, and he loved well.

            Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 4, 2008, in the chapel of McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee.  Burial will follow in Okmulgee Cemetery.  Family visitation will be held at McClendon-Winters on Wednesday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.