Obituary

On Feb. 7, 2007, in Plainview, Texas, O.K. Henson departed this earth to join his precious Heavenly Father and Lord whom he had served so faithfully. O.K. was born Sept. 6, 1912, in Granite, Okla., to Oscar Kyle and Effie T. O'Neal Henson. Effie died when O.K. was 6 months of age. In 1914, Kyle married Nona Moss Mayberry, who became O.K.'s mother. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Frede Henson; his two sisters, Lucile Duty and Helen Ewing; and his wife of 32 years, Crystal Mae Fowler Henson. O.K. grew up in Granite, Okla., Lefors, Texas, and the community of Meridian-Sweetwater, Okla., graduating from high school at Ringling, Okla. He received his bachelor of science degree from Southwestern State Teachers College in Weatherford, Okla., and his master's degree from West Texas State College in Canyon, Texas. In 1941, he married Crystal Fowler, and they began teaching careers in a two-room school east of Amarillo, Texas. After serving in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, O.K. returned to teach for over 30 years in Briscoe and Wheeler, Texas, Mt. Rose, Harmony, Meridian and Sweetwater, Okla. He was a master teacher of math and science who farmed in his "spare time." He frequently spoke fondly of former students and their achievements. In 1973, he lost his wife Crystal to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). In 1982, he married Elma Jennings Burrow. He felt truly blessed to experience and enjoy the fellowship and accomplishments of his extended family. He taught Sunday school, loved singing in the choir and was a deacon in the Sweetwater First Baptist Church where he served faithfully until he had to move off the farm in 2005. His primary interests and loves were God, family, farming, and teaching. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Elma, of Tulia, Texas; his daughter Carolyn Ross and husband John of Plainview, Texas; sons, Dennis and wife, Dena, of Tulsa, Okla., and Greg and wife, Jan, of Sweetwater, Okla.; the children of Elma, Ken Burrow and wife, Janie, Jan Latham and husband Ronnie, and Debbie Barnes and husband, David; for a total of six children plus spouses, 18 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.