Published: July 18, 2008 04:21 pm            

Johnie Edward Harper

Johnie Edward Harper, 76, of Perkins, went to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Johnie was also called John or Curly by many of his friends and family members. He was a resident of the Veterans’ Center in Claremore since October 2004.

John was born Aug. 13, 1931 in Cherokee County, to Maggie Pappon Harper and Charlie L. Harper of Tahlequah and attended Tahlequah Public Schools. Before graduation, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and was a member of the 45th Division. In 1950, his unit was mobilized to Korea where he was engaged in heavy combat and intense action. After his return to the U.S., he was honorably discharged from the Army. He then returned to Tahlequah to complete his high school education and soon graduated in 1953.

After graduation, John’s friend, Frank Gladd, introduced him to Lee Kirk of Perkins. Both John and Frank started training race horses for Lee and from that first job friendships developed that lasted a lifetime. On Oct. 23, 1967, John married Betty Story. When Betty retired from her business in Perkins, they both trained and raced horses in Oklahoma.

Over the years, John trained all breeds of race horses, but mostly Thoroughbreds. He traveled across the country to numerous race tracks and made it to the winner’s circle everywhere his horses competed. John trained at all of the Oklahoma race tracks as well, but eventually did most of his training in the barns and on the track located at the Lee Kirk Ranch.

After Lee passed, John and Betty purchased the ranch from C.L. Kirk, Lee’s son. He continued training for C.L. and many other horsemen across the country. Before John retired, he shared his racing knowledge with his son, Blaine, who is now the general manager at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw. He also taught two of his grandsons, Travis and Dustin, to gallop race horses while they were attending college at Oklahoma State University.

John had many other employees at the barn. A few of his favorites were Kitty Cramwell, Monica Stanley and Danny Fath. Danny also worked for John while he attended OSU. Danny is now the owner of Curly’s Restaurant in Stillwater.

When it came to training race horses, John practiced a strict routine. Every chore was done the same way and at the same time every day except on Sunday when John would go to church and give the horses a break. John also enjoyed “running the chains” at the Perkins-Tryon home football games, a job that he did for many years. John was a member of the First United Methodists Church in Perkins. He enjoyed being an usher at church and spending time with his friends and family. John was rather a quiet man but his eyes and facial expressions spoke volumes. He loved to remember and talk about funny things that had happened in the past. His country wit and sense of humor is something that his family members remember and hold dear to their hearts. John Harper will be deeply missed.

John is survived by his wife, Betty Harper, of Perkins; two daughters, Lisa Meyers and husband, Brian, of Owasso and Belinda Beams and husband, Kenny, of Perkins; two sons, Blaine Story of Sallisaw and Dr. Bob Story of El Paso, Texas; three sisters, Maxine Ryals and husband, Charles, of Olathe, Kan., Estelle Crow and husband, Lawrence, of Tahlequah and Shirley Glory and husband, Dale, of Tahlequah; three brothers, Joe Harper and wife, Roberta, of Tahlequah, Ray Harper and wife, Norma, of Tahlequah and Leon Harper and wife, Etta, of Tahlequah; three sister-in-laws, Marie Wyatt of Stillwater, Irene Crawford of Cushing and Fern Urban of Baytown, Texas; eight grandchildren, Bryce and Kavan Meyers, of Owasso, Travis Beams and wife, Ericka, of Oklahoma City, Dustin Beams and wife C.C., of Yukon, Terrill Story, Tyson Story and Lindsey Freeman, of Perkins; Tyler Story of Perkins and Ryan Chelsey and husband, Tony, of El Paso, Texas; six great grandchildren, Reagan Stanfield and Natalie and Greyson Beams of Oklahoma City, Brooklyn Beams of Yukon and Tatum and Brooke Story of Perkins; and numerous nieces, nephews, family members and friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Alyeen Ryals.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Kirk Ranch and training facility located five miles east of Perkins on state highway 33. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Roy Hood of Tulsa. All of John’s family and friends are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to the First United Methodist Church in Perkins.

        

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