Daddy was also was known as A.D. Provence,Dude Provence and Oather Duain Provence and Auther Duain Provence. Daddy was born in Antlers, Pushmataha County Oklahoma. Daddy's birth year is shown on various government records as 1923 and 1924 but throughout his life various census records use both dates, his military records show both dates as does his driver's licenses through out his life. One reason for this is daddy could barely read or write ( he only went to the 3rd grade in school and so it changed depending on who was writing it down). I believe his true birth year was 1924 as that was what was used when he had to register for the draft in WW2. Daddy's family moved to the area of Burkburnett Texas when he was just a small child. He was raised in the area just outside Burkburnett Texas in the Red River area called Newtown and Goat Island(they no longer exist) His wife (our mother) Patsy Ruth (Bruner) Provence is also buried in this cemetery(they were married July 3, 1946 in Wichita Falls Texas) along with one of their infant daughters Shirley Sue Provence. Daddy's father was John Thomas Provence ( he went by the initials of J.T. ( and Tom) Provence and daddy's mother was Lollie Mae (Fraley) Provence-Marshall and daddys step father was George Marshall. They are all also buried here. He also has one brother buried here Hubert Monroe Provence. In addition his grandparents on his mother's side ( Fraleys)are also buried here and they are Joseph Franklin Fraley and Ida Larisol (Lacy) Fraley. During WW II daddy was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army assigned to the 37th Infantry Division, 129th Infantry Regiment, Company K. His Army military records are under his name of Oather D. Provence. He was a .30 cal Machine Gunner and was awarded numerous medals for actions during combat against the Japanese in the Pacific Theater of Operations throughout Solomon Islands ( all through the Phillipines) Including the battle for Guadacanal where he was wounded at the battle for Henderson Airfield. He was awarded the Purple heart, Bronze star with V, Combat Infantry Badge, and numerous other medals for combat actions. He saw extensive combat action in the Philippine Islands especially in Bougainville, Henderson Field and in the city of Manila around the "Walled City" and the battle for Ft. Stotsenberg. Daddy was shot in his head and chest that he received the purple heart for in the battle for control of Henderson airfield on Guadalcanal. After the war he worked in the oilfields around Burkburnett and across the river in Southern Oklahoma from 1945 until 1963 then moved with his family to 8545 MacAlpine street In Garden Grove California. He then worked for G. E. Kadane and sons Oil, Mobil Oil and Armstrong Petroleum in the oilfields ( called the Banning Oil field) in Newport Beach (Superior ave and PCH)Calif for over 20 years. These jobs were all in the same location it's just that at different times different companies ran the oil fields. In the oilfields he worked as a driller, a roustabout, an operator and many other positions in his 45 plus years in the oilfield work. He was a hard worker all of his life. His first jobs was picking cotton in the cotton fields around Burkburnett Texas starting when he was 6 years old and other hard farming jobs. He had to quit school in the 3rd grade so he could pick cotton and help the family survive during the depression. One of the farms he worked on as a child and teenager was the Clark farm that is still in operation just outside of Burkburnett. Daddy never really got to know his dad John Thomas Provence because he was only about 8-9 years old when his father died. When daddy retired he and mother moved back to Burkburnett Texas in 1984 with my mother Patsy Ruth (Bruner) Provence and they both lived there until they both passed away.... Sharon ( my sister) and I love and miss you both terribly as does Barb and both of your grandkids and your 3 great grandbabies (Kody Young who is Eriks son Erikas son ). Interestingly Erika your granddaughter was born on mothers birthday and her son Kody your great grandson was born on your birthday) and your two great granddaughters (Juliette and Gabriella Provence, Michaels two daughters. Daddy you and mother would really really really love them as much as Barb and I do. You and mother watch over Erika and Michael and your 3 great grandbabies as their angels.
Daddy always worked really really hard as did mother. My sister Sharon and I inherited those same work ethics from them. Thank you daddy and mother for everything you have done to help me become a good person and man. I'm 71 now and Barb and I have been married for 49 years (soon to be 50 years in a couple of weeks.) . I have been a lucky man Barb has put up with me for all these years I couldn't have found a better wife or mother to our two kids and grandbabies. I know you and mother loved her as much as I do. Love u and miss u you both a whole bunch. Every day I think about both of you.