Harold William McGuire

Beloved Husband and Father, Harold William McGuire, 83, of Slapout, Oklahoma, went to be with the Lord on February 17, 2022.

Harold William McGuire came into this world on a cold, rainy day in the early morning hours of January 7, 1939. Ralph Allen McGuire drove his wife Lela Frances to Shattuck, Oklahoma to deliver a strapping 10lb 7oz blue-eyed baby boy.

Harold grew up on the McGuire family farm helping his Grandpa Arch and his Dad gathering eggs, milking cows, slopping hogs, gardening, working cattle, riding horses, driving the tractor, and playing with his little brother Floyd and later, little sister Carol.  

Cattle business for Harold started at a young age when he accompanied his dad Ralph on the train from Laverne to St. Louis, MO to sell cattle. While in St. Louis, Harold wanted to go to a western movie, but instead, his dad took him to the opening night of the Billy Graham Crusades. It was here that Harold developed a love for the quartet harmony of the Blackwood Brothers and a love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

He started school at Overstreet, a one room schoolhouse near Slapout, and graduated 8^th grade. From there, he attended and graduated from Laverne High School, where he met his high school sweetheart Judy Bowers.

In 1961 he graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry from Oklahoma State University.

Harold grew up attending Fairview United Methodist Church with his parents and received Christ at an early age. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Judy, they rededicated their lives to the Lord and became members of Fairview United Methodist Church.

After college they came back to the family farm. Their family started to grow as they welcomed their first daughter Sherri Renee’, followed by Desiree Michelle, James Dean their only son, and Deonda Joan.  Six years later, along came the three little girls, Cynthia Diane, Priscilla Tamara, and Melanie Lynette.

Harold was a true-blue American cowboy who spent his life working as a farmer and rancher. He and his brother Floyd helped their dad build and establish McGuire Feed Yards Inc.  For a time, he owned and operated a gun shop, where he reloaded ammunition and rebuilt guns.

As a hobby, he created hand tooled custom leather goods. He especially enjoyed hunting with his son James.  A great joy for Harold was making his homemade ice cream and sharing it with the community. He also loved driving the tractor where he spent hours talking to the Lord.

Harold had a beautiful voice and led worship in the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Laverne, as well as led worship for the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Conventions. He was a powerful teacher and preacher of the Word of God and served as Pastor of The Gospel Lighthouse Church for a season.

Over the years, every summer, Harold took his family on vacation. They traveled throughout the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. He and Judy traveled internationally to Italy, Spain, Morocco, Mexico, and most recently Ireland.

Harold enjoyed his father-in-law and mother-in-law Charles and Mabel Bowers as well the entire Bowers & McGuire family with all his nieces, nephews, and cousins. He traveled to many family reunions where he truly enjoyed getting to know extended family and spending time with his own.

Harold was a hero to his children and grandchildren whom he loved spending time with, and most of all his beloved wife of 63 years, Judy.

He leaves a legacy of integrity, hard work, generosity, showing Christ’s love, and serving people.

Harold is preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Lela McGuire, his brother Floyd McGuire, sister Carol and her husband Mike McDaniel, and his son in law Paul Edney.

He is survived by his wife Judy, sister-in-law Esther McGuire, children Sherri McGuire, Desiree Edney, James McGuire and wife Stephanie, Deonda McGuire, Cynthia Murphy and husband Marc, Priscilla Sirois and husband John, Melanie Bradshaw and husband Jonathan.  Grandchildren Tyson Uselman and wife Shelby, Taylor Uselman, Reagan and Patten McGuire, and Lisette and William Sirios, great grandchildren; Jacob, Kaitlyn, Ashley, Adeline and Ty Weston.

Harold will be deeply missed, and we honor him with great joy knowing that he is with his heavenly Father and surrounded by loved ones.  His greatest desire for this celebration of life service is that everyone has the opportunity to give their lives to Jesus Christ as Savior.