David Alan Tarpley

Services for David Alan Tarpley will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at First Assembly of God. Revs. Bill Armstrong and Curtis Owens will officiate. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of Rice Funeral Service. Friends may visit at the funeral home until 8:00 this evening, with the family receiving visitors from 6 — 8 p.m.

David passed away Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005. He was 39.

Born Nov. 27, 1965 in Austin, Texas to Joe M. and Evalyn Anna Adamsen Tarpley, David was reared and educated in Texas and Oklahoma communities. He graduated from Claremore High School in 1984. A strong work ethic was evident early in David's life. At the age of 15, David began his career at Warehouse Market as a grocery bagger. That employment continued for over 19 years with David eventually managing the meat market there.

David and Angela Stimson met as teenagers and after completing their education, the two chose to marry on Sept. 7, 1985. Four children blessed the Tarpley home and David was a hands-on, devoted daddy. Merging his favorite hobbies with his favorite people, he played baseball as a boy and later coached his sons' teams. He also liked to ride bulls in his early years, but Angela voted that down where her boys were concerned. Hunting, fishing and camping were also among the favorite family pastimes. Angela passed away May 19, 1999, and now dad would provide his children with even more love and security, encouraged and supported by a loving extended family.

On Jan. 26, 2001, David and Tammy Rogers married. Not only did they enjoy sharing the happiness that their new relationship brought, but they also treasured one another's children. A part of the church family at the Timber Ridge Assembly of God through the past years, David and Tammy's partnership often extended to their Sunday School class, their church choir, and as coaches for the Junior Bible Quiz participants.

Truly devoted to his faith and his family, David did take time just for himself. Over the years, he was quite interested in guns and knives and anything that had to do with hunting and fishing and the beauty of the outdoors. Often able to participate in outdoor rendezvous, he even made his own outfittings. Through that participation, he became quite an accomplished bowhunter and tomahawk marksman. It seems that most of his favorite hobbies took him to the outdoors. He enjoyed motorcycles, and in past years took great pride in his gardening efforts and beekeeping.

In recent years, as illness became a constant challenge, David had to be away from work and even to pursue other work ventures. Retraining at TCC, David was a dean's honor roll student and looked forward to taking on new work opportunities.

David is survived by his wife, Tammy of their home in Claremore; his children, Zac, Jessye, Reid and Summer Tarpley, all of Claremore, Matt Rogers and his wife, Tammy, of Oklahoma City, and Michael Rogers and his fiancé, Betty Gordon, also of Claremore; his granddaughter, Emily Rogers, of Claremore; his father, Joe M. Tarpley and his wife, Belle, of League City, Texas; his siblings, Amy Cotter and her husband, Chris, of Kingwood, Texas, Janet Sheridan and her husband, Clinton, of Rifle, Colo., John Tarpley and his wife, Jeanette, who reside in Okinawa, Japan while he serves aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, Braeden Clark-Tarpley of League City and Brittany Harvison and her husband, Howard, also of League City; in-laws, Herbert and Wanda Tilley of Sapulpa; and grandmother, Maggie Tilley of Tulsa.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Angela, and his mother, Evalyn Cook.


2005/01/18-Claremore Daily Progress