Page created by: Kimberly Hicks

Howard Glenn McClaflin, 89, passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease on December 26, 2017 in Littleton, CO. Celebration of life and internment services will be held 1:00 PM Friday, May 4th, 2018 at Enid Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum, Enid, OK.

Howard was born in Manchester, OK on July 11, 1928, to Glenn and Irene (Hess) McClaflin. He grew up on a farm near the community of Wakita, OK. As a teenager, Howard, along with his grandfather and uncles would spend the summer harvesting wheat, traveling from Texas to North Dakota.

Howard attended Manchester High School where he met his future wife, Francis Bernice Fowler. The couple married on November 20, 1946. He started working for Adams Hard Facing as a welder when he was 18 years old. Howard's coworkers said, "He was such a good welder that he could weld a broken heart!"

Howard and his wife had three children; Carolyn Marie, Cynthia Sue and Roger Glenn. In 1950, they relocated to Guymon, OK with Adams Hard Facing, where he worked for 38 years before retiring as a Supervisor.

Howard was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows, volunteered with the Texas County Sheriff's department and the Boy Scouts. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fresh water fishing, shooting trap and teaching gun safety.

In addition to his full-time job, Howard started a hay bailing business in 1974, then later managed the farm of Dr. Robert Pracht. From spring to fall, Howard would work at full day at Adams, come home for dinner, then head out to farm until sunset. After retiring from Adams, he managed Dr. Pracht's farm full-time until the couple moved to Enid in 2003. There was not a piece of equipment or irrigation system that Howard could not fix.

After the passing of his wife in 2011, Howard moved to Colorado to live with his daughter Carolyn. His final home was at Sunrise at Orchard where he was a favorite of the staff and aides.

Howard and Bernice loved spending time with their five grandchildren who spent every summer at their house. They took the grandchildren on car trips from California to Wyoming and all places in between. On those trips, the grandkids learned to take care of all their business when Papa stopped for gas but he would often surprise them with a stop at a roadside attraction such as the World's Largest Hand Dug Well.

No matter how busy Howard was during those memorable summers, he always made time to take evening drives in the country, teach the kids to shoot targets or spend time at Lake Meredith.

He had a quick-wit, loved to tease and play jokes. He was very generous of his time and wallet, always making sure his kids and grandkids had the essentials. Even when they didn't need it, he regularly slipped them a $20 for gas or lunch money. He will be remembered by all for his caring, giving and gentle spirit.

Howard is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Larry Haught of Castle Rock, CO; son-in-law, William Harden of Phelan, CA; brother, Robert McClaflin of Heavner, OK; sister, Darlene Smith of Fort Smith, AR; grandson and wife, Randal and Birgitt Hicks; grandson and wife, Jeffery and Juanita Harden of Phelan, CA; granddaughter, Kimberly Hicks of Los Angeles, CA; grandson and wife, Nicholas and Mary Craig of Thornton, CO; grandson and wife, Breton and Paula Harden of Ontario, CA; step-granddaughter, Jodi Bargamian of Ellicott City, MD; step-grandson, Greg Haught of Castle Rock, CO; eight great-grandchildren: Skyler, Jaden, Kendra, Gavin, Michael, Elizabeth, Mason and Mya; several nieces and nephews and many great-grandpets.

Howard is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bernice, brother John McCalfin; daughter, Cynthia Harden; and son, Roger McClaflin. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research through this tribute page.