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Harry W. Callaway Marlow, OK QCWA # 28330 Chapter 63 |
Heaven's choir gained a great bass singer Saturday, November 13, 2010, with the addition of Harry Wayne Callaway, 85, a lifelong resident of Marlow, Oklahoma. Harry ("but not very") was surrounded by his loving family when he flew away to Glory to sing to and worship his Savior, no doubt adding his famous one-liners ("I'm looking better") to his Heavenly song.
Harry met his future bride, Cherie Lou Acord, at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly when they were both teenagers. They married in Oklahoma City on August 30, 1947, and raised three children, Lou Ann, Paul Alan and Terie Sue.
A funeral director and partner of Marlow's Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home for 40 years, Harry cared for hundreds of area families with gentleness and efficiency. He strived to do his best in this and every aspect of his life, including dozens of community activities. These included the Christmas and July 4th parades, 60 years of Lions Club activities, Community Chest/United Way, Red Red Rose, and over 20 years serving on the Marlow School Board. He was an amateur radio operator for over 60 years, enjoying the conversation and camaraderie of many other "ham" friends, and in the early days assisting with a "phone patch" so others could speak to family serving in other countries as missionaries or in the military.
A past president of both the Oklahoma School Board Association and the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, Harry attended and assisted with those programs for many years. Even more important were all the ways Harry served at Marlow First Baptist Church, to which he belonged all his life. A longtime deacon, he also sang in the church choir, Silvertones Choir, many quartets and ensembles, and taught Sunday School classes and Royal Ambassadors groups, led Bible studies, appeared in plays and programs, and dozens of other activities. In the last few years, Harry produced a one-page flyer for Sunday mornings that included the prayer list, senior activities, and his famous Thought For The Day. He loved going to Colorado every summer, camping, being with family and friends (especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren), and playing dominoes and cards.
Harry served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-1947, proud of being able to aid his country in any way possible as a seaman/aviator. A graduate of Marlow High School and Central State University (now UCO), Edmond, he also graduated from Landig College of Mortuary Science, Houston, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Alma Callaway, and a granddaughter, Claire Lauren Templeton. Survivors include his wife, Cherie Lou of the home; daughters, Lou Ann Callaway of Marlow, Terie Sue Greaves and husband Chris of Oklahoma City; son, Dr. Paul Alan Callaway and wife Anita of Wichita, Kansas; one sister, Virginia Fitzpatrick and husband M. E. "Fitz" of Nixa, Missouri; grandchildren, Brandi Potts of Wichita, Chelsea DaVoult and husband Gary of Edmond, Abbe' Doll and husband Adam of Wichita, Molly Lee and husband Austin of Wichita, and Casey Greaves of Oklahoma City; great-grandchildren, Gracey, Gage and Greer DaVoult of Edmond, Dakota, Creyton and Maggie Doll of Wichita, and Emma Rowan of Wichita; and a host of other loving family and friends who will miss him dearly.
