Joe A. Fair of Waurika, Oklahoma left this life on Tuesday May 3, 2011 after a short illness. He lived 87 years, 3 months and 20 days. Services were held on Friday May 6th at Corum Baptist Church outside Comanche, Oklahoma. Rev. Bruce Humphries, Pastor of Corum Baptist Church and Rev. Jeremy Fair, Joe’s oldest grandson and Pastor of Arlington Presbyterian Church, Arlington, Texas officiated. Burial was at Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche with military honors.

Joe was born on January 13, 1924 to Claude and Cordie Fullerton Fair in Grant, Oklahoma. He grew up in the Lake Creek area of Delta County, Texas. He married Jean Council on October 6, 1951 in Arkansas. Joe and Jean moved to Oklahoma in 1956. In 1961, they moved to Geronimo, Oklahoma where they raised their family. In 1989, Joe built a cabin near Waurika Lake so he could fish more. Joe and Jean eventually made it their permanent home.

Joe was a simple, plainspoken man with a generous spirit who taught his children and grandchildren the importance of personal character and hard work. He was a carpenter by trade. He loved to fish, build things and work in his garden. Joe loved spending time with his family.

Joe served in the Philippine Islands during WWII with the U.S. Army. Joe was self employed as a building contractor for many years and retired in 1979 from the Carpenter shop at Fort Sill. He was a member of Corum Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of the home, two sisters, Marie Lee of Dallas, Texas and Geraldine Hancock of Emory, Texas. He is also survived by his four children: one daughter and son-in-law, Vanda and Jay Quarles of Lawton, three sons and two daughters-in-law, Dwight Fair of Waurika, Randy and Donna Fair of Duncan and Steve and Debbie Fair of Duncan. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and spouses, Jeremy and Kimberly Fair, Stacy and Michael Morgan, Brandon Fair, Bryan and Dawn Fair, Melissa and Jesse Neugebauer, Jason Quarles, and Brin Fair and three great grandchildren, Caedmon, Creth and Cale Fair, and many nieces and nephews. Joe is also survived by special friends, Marvin and Bonnie McConnell, Darla Foley, and his Corum Baptist Church family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

Pallbearers were his grandsons and grandsons in law: Jason Quarles, Brandon Fair, Bryan Fair, Brin Fair, Michael Morgan and Jesse Neugebauer. Honorary pallbuilders will be members of the Senior Sunday School Class of Corum Baptist Church.

Consolations can be sent to the family by emailing okgop@aol.com.

The text of the gospel message preached by Jeremy Fair at his grandfather's funeral will be posted later this week.