John David King


John David King, longtime Newkirk resident, died peacefully with family at his side Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at his home. He was 82.

The son of James Dillard and Mamie Fife King, John David was born May 6, 1932, in rural Okfuskee County near Dustin, Okla.

His Creek name was Ekvlane, but he was known by his family and friends as Kahlon. John David “Ekvlane” was a direct descendant of Sandy Fife, Louisa Fife and Mamie Fife.

After Mamie died, his uncle, Jim Fife, became his guardian, and he and his siblings grew up in the Fife home with cousins, Bill, Carole, Sharon, Phyllis, Sandy, Tim, Brian and Robin.

He was educated at Graham Public School at Dustin, Euchee Boarding School for Indians at Sapulpa, Chilocco Indian School (Class of 1952), Oklahoma A&M, and the Federal Police Academy in Brigham City, Utah where he graduated at the top of his class.

On Oct. 18, 1952, John David and Claudine Williford were married in Weleetka, Okla. They were married 62 wonderful years. They spent their first four years on the Chilocco campus where John David was employed.

After eight years in Stillwater, they settled in Newkirk, where they raised five children. Together they made their home a secure and supportive place for their children and a welcoming place for family and friends where many happy memories were made.

We will miss his warmth and humor and how he watched over the family. He was very accepting of all and took a genuine interest in everyone he met. John David was told by many that he made a great difference in their lives.

During his college years in Stillwater, he worked for Willis Mfg. Co., and for the USDA as a watershed flow tech. He was then employed at Chilocco Indian School for 22 years, first in Boys Guidance and later as head of security. As a good Samaritan he once aided in saving the life of a fellow law enforcement officer in Tulsa.

During his years of employment at Chilocco he guided and positively influenced many a student. The students described him as a fair and caring guidance counselor.

John and Claudine considered some of these students a part of their family and they also maintained lifelong friendships with many others.

After Chilocco closed in 1980, he worked for 15 years at Conoco Oil Company in Ponca City as a senior research technician in the Petroleum Products Division until his retirement Jan. 1, 1995.

The military was a very important part of his life. John David served his country in the military 25 years, 3 months, and 5 days — first as a member of the Chilocco C (Charlie) Company, 279th Infantry, 45th Division which was activated during the Korean Conflict. During his years of enlistment he served in Infantry and Combat Engineering Units. At the time of his retirement in 1979, he was in the 120th Engineers, 45th Division holding the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (WO2).

He was a family man that loved outdoors, hunting and fishing. John David enjoyed trips to fish in Alaska, hunt elk in Colorado and deer and pheasant in Kansas and Oklahoma. These trips with family and his beloved dog Smoky and family friend Merlin Kennedy were some highlights of his outdoor life.

In retirement he and Claudine enjoyed travel in their fifth wheel camper beginning with a very special trip to Alaska. They enjoyed 15 years of travel over much of the country. They also continued to enjoy their special connections with their Chilocco family at the annual gatherings.

John David was very proud of each of his five children and their accomplishments. He also cherished the time spent with his grandchildren. His joy was his family.

He was a member of the Bear Clan of the Creek Tribe, Thlewarle Indian Baptist Church near Dustin, Newkirk Main Street, Chilocco National Alumni Association, Oklahoma Rifle Assn, the Ponca City Rifle and Pistol Club and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

In 2012 John David received a National Citizenship Award from the Chilocco National Alumni Association. He will be inducted into the Chilocco Hall of Fame in May 2015.

He is survived by Claudine, his wife of 62 years; their children Darrell and his wife Linda, of Newalla, Okla.; Damon and his wife Kathy, of Fulshear, Texas; Theron and his wife Sara, of Ponca City; Laura Stuemky and her husband James, of Del Norte, Colo.; Jonathan and his wife Carly, of Latham, Ill.; and one sister, Evelyn King Brogdon, of Ramona, Okla.

He is also survived by six grandchildren, Lindsey Warner and husband Scott; Thomas Stuemky and wife Taylor; Alison Foster and husband Hank; Kyle, Lauren and Adam King;

and seven step-grandchildren; Matthew and Michael Reilly; Meghan Reilly Doyle and husband Eric; Lance Griffith and wife Taunya; Shawn Griffith and husband John Vester; Olivia and Christian Jockisch; and several great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harold, Milford and Dan Lincoln; and sister, Ellen.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at First Baptist Church of Newkirk with the Rev. Rex Roberts officiating.

Burial will follow in Newkirk Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Creek Nation Honor Guard. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

The body will lie in state at the funeral home Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. The family will be at the funeral home to visit with friends Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.

Grandsons serving as casket bearers will be Thomas Stuemky, Hank Foster, Scott Warner, Jody VanAusdall, Bill Fife and Jeff Fife.

The family requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in his name to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave., Ponca City OK 74601-1923.