Melbourne Doyle Headrick

Melbourne Doyle Headrick, also known as M.D., of Hooker, Oklahoma passed away in the Norman Veterans Center in Norman, Oklahoma on July 16, 2017 just shy of his 95th birthday.

He was born August 1, 1922 at home in rural Texas County, Dombey Community near Adams, Oklahoma, the fourth child of ten children to George Roy and Mary Anna Henlsey Headrick. He enjoyed his large family throughout his life. He attended school first through twelfth at Adams, Oklahoma graduating in 1940. He furthered his education by attending Wichita Business School in 1941 and Oklahoma City University Seminary from 1952- 1953.

He entered the US Army on Dec. 1, 1942 serving in the 2nd Division which he proudly displayed the “Indianhead” insignia his entire life. He marched across Europe from June 5, 1944 to May 7, 1945; entering Normandy Beach on D-Day plus 1, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. While home on leave he was honorably discharged October 13, 1945.

Welcomed home by his brothers and sisters–one of his younger brothers said you must meet our Sunday School teacher. Thus, began a love story that lasted nearly 60 years of married life. On November 18, 1945, he married Alice Ethel Bookless, the love of his life. They raised five children. During their life they lived in Guymon, Oklahoma City, back to Guymon and then settled in Hooker, Oklahoma in 1957.

In Guymon, he worked for Big Joe Lumber Company and in Hooker and Guymon he owned and operated “Materials and Specialty Lumber Company from 1957 to 1978.

Although his brush with fame came from being interviewed by Ken Burns for the “Dust Bowl” documentary and having a cameo in “Interstellar”; he bragged most about marrying a Sunday School teacher.

With much delight, he has welcomed 17 grandchildren and celebrated 11 weddings welcoming eleven more. They have continued to bless his life with 28 great grandchildren. He enjoyed a full life wearing many hats-Boss of the Year, Father of the year, Valentine King at Liberal Springs, city manager, builder, soldier, friend, artist, (check out his mules at the Morton County Museum), avid arrowhead hunter/collector, salesman, businessman, son, brother, husband, father, & grandfather. He loved the mountains and built a cabin at Ute Park in the sixties. A man who truly loved his Family, Church and Country.

Melbourne was preceded in death by his wife, Alice; parents, his sisters Georgia (Hill) Williams, Myrtle Pettijohn, his brothers Jacob, Donald, Warren, Harlin, and Ronald Headrick, his brothers-in-law: Truman Hintergardt, Merle Williams, Clifford Hill, Johnny Bookless, George Junior Bookless, Robert Bookless, sisters-in-law, Patsy (Lynch) Headrick, Louise Headrick, Mabel Headrick, Barbara Bookless.

He is survived by four daughters: Phyllis and Gary Moen, Pensie and Dick Herbel, Alice and David Conner, Janie and Daron Fowler and one son Melbourne Doyle Headrick II and his wife Jane. One brother Ivan and Marilyn Headrick, one sister, Mary Hintergardt and three sister-in-laws, Roberta Headrick Cantwell, Marjorie Headrick, and Chris Bookless; grandchildren and spouses, Heather and Bobby Venable, Jeff and Jenni Moen, Eric and Carly Moen, Brian and Carman Herbel, Jennifer and Cavin Howard, Leslie Herbel, Keith and Christina Conner, Jeremy and Michaela Conner, Jerome and Kaley Conner, Kimberly Conner, Sabrina and Jerry Mininger, Randy and Marahl Brown, Mary and Christophe Jammet, Tabitha Brown, Kyle Fowler, Lauren Headrick, and Elaine Headrick; great-grandchildren: Victoria Venable, Ethan, Dylan, Ella, Henry, Max, and Sam Moen, Avah Alyene, Lucus, Linley Anna, and Emery Alice Herbel, Taylor and Tristin Outlaw, Delany Howard, Austin Herbel, Aliyah, Joshua, Jadon, Josiah, Ruby, Jubilee, Shane, and Kinley Conner, Jada, Addie, and Erika Mininger, Ryder and Reed Brown. He is also survived by many friends and 42 loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Hooker United Methodist Church in Hooker, Oklahoma with Rev. Craig Denslow officiating. Interment will be in the Hooker Cemetery directed by Robert Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker, Oklahoma.

Memorials are suggested to the Hooker Cemetery Fund or the United Methodist Church and may be left at Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Oklahoma 73945.

Condolences may be left at www.robertsbrothersfuneralhome.com