Doran Francis Myers
Doran Francis Myers passed away Thursday (May 28, 2009) in
Hobart, Okla.
Born Dec. 15, 1922, in Columbus, Kan., to Dora Hawkins Myers
and Charles Clark Myers, Doran was one of 10 children. A graduate of Columbus
High school, class of 1941, Doran enrolled in Independence Junior College, on a
basketball scholarship and continued his basketball career later as a
celebrated contributor to the Haymaker squad. Fondly referred to as 'horizontal
Myers,' Doran was an avid athlete in basketball, and track and field.
Feeling God's call to ministry, Doran enrolled at Phillips
University in Enid, Okla., where he soon found his life partner, Jean, at the
student's church services conducted at Garfield County Poor Farm. Jean and
Doran married Aug. 29, 1944, while Doran served as pastor of the Verden and
Gotebo churches, hitchhiking between the two each weekend.
Ordained into the ministry of the Christian Church
(Disciples in Christ) on Aug. 28, 1947, in Ponca City, Okla., Doran pastored
congregations in Watonga and Tulsa, Okla., Pratt and Newton in Kansas and
Fremont, Neb. Doran and Jean officially retired from the ministry in 1987.
Moving in and out of retirement, he served as interim pastor for many churches
in Oklahoma as well as associate regional minister for the Christian Church.
Always being the team player, Doran's personal assessment of
his ministry was one of 'reconciler' or 'peacemaker.' Those who loved him knew
this was his gift, as the love of the Lord always was evident in his life. He
enjoyed tremendous satisfaction and success as a pastor, serving all he
encountered with generosity and gentleness, with his wife of 62 years by his
side.
Doran is preceded in death by his wife, Jean Powell Myers,
in 2007, his parents C.C. and Dora Myers, sisters Maybeth and Maxine, and his
brothers Lloyd, Clayton, Jim, Jack, Bill, John and Bob.
Growing up on the family farm, Doran harbored a love for the
outdoors and animals. His affection for nature has continued through the
generations of children and grandchildren he leaves behind. Those remaining to
cherish his memory are his children and favorite musicians, Stephen (Erika)
Myers of Vallejo, Calif.; Kathy (Perk) Johnson of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; Tom
Myers and friend Bev Shor of Newton; and Ruth (Craig) Moore of Hobart; grandchildren,
Marcene (Mike) Pullen, Mark Johnson, Jeremy (Holli) Moore, Jacob Moore and
fiance, Kim Potts; Kyle (Esmi) Moore, Stephen (Monica) Myers, Jennifer (Lance)
Bookout, Correna Ragland, Roberta (Tim) Steeves; Daniel, Michele and Paula
Tuziak; and great-grandchildren, Andrew Bauer, John Pullen, Savannah Johnson,
Mabry, Carlee, Parker, J.D. Moore, Danielle and Taylor Myers, Josh and Erin
Warren, and Sarah and Chandler Steeves. He also is survived by many nieces and
nephews.
A celebration of Doran's life will be at 1 p.m. June 9 at
the First Christian Church in Hobart with the Revs. Mark Morey and Tom Jewell
officiating under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home in Hobart.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to
the 'Doran and Jean Myers Scholarship Fund' at Phillips Theological Seminary,
901 Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK 74116 or First Christian Church, 101 S. Park Road,
Hobart, OK.
