Basil Vaughn Myers

Basil Vaughn Myers passed away on March 15, 2017, at 89 years of age.

Basil was born in Osage Indian Territory to Orville Harvey and Julia E Rice Myers. Basil was a very accomplished and intelligent man. He attended Oklahoma State University (OSU) in the late 1940's and went on to obtain his Master’s Degree in 1969. Basil spent a significant part of his life working for the OSU Extension Service of the 4-H program. Some of the programs still run today, such as The 4-H Chick Embryo program (where student watch chicks develop and hatch), the 4-H Horse show at the Tulsa State Fair and a 4-H Dog obedience show that he started with his wife, Beth. Basil and Beth were born and raised together, and in June of 1953, he made her his wife. They enjoyed 52 years of marriage before Beth passed away in May of 2005. They enjoyed doing many things together including raising Brangus Cattle until 2000 as well as traveling together. Basil was a hard worker, serving on the Board of Directors of the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce for 4 years, and as National Chairman of the National County Agents Association, Association Director of the Oklahoma Rural Co-op board, on the Board of the Grand River Dam Authority for seven years and as its Chairman in 1995. Even when Basil retired in 1990 as a County Extension Director in Muskogee County, his work did not stop. He spent a lot of time in Shrine service work driving vans with patients to the Shrine hospital from Muskogee to Shreveport Louisiana which was a 325 mile trip one way. In Basil’s free time he enjoyed fishing and playing Domino's. On March 30, 2011, at the age of 83, Basil was united in marriage to Fern Waters, and the couple established their home in Pawnee County Oklahoma where he resided until his passing.

Basil was always a joy to be around. He loved people and going to functions where others were at. Basil was an active member of the First Christian Church in Pawnee for many years. He enjoyed the times going with Fern on vacations with family. Basil was a former member of the Lions Club in Pawnee. He also enjoyed going to flea markets and attending the men’s prayer breakfast.

Basil was preceded in death by a wife Beth Myers, parents Julia and Orville Myers, and siblings Douglas, Tracy, Troy Myers, Basil's twin (died at birth) Audrey Myers Picket and Gilda Myers Bear-Miller. Basil is survived by his second wife Fern Myers, siblings Travis Myers and Harvey Myers, children Garry Myers and wife Susan of California, Gina Myers of Oklahoma and Gayla Patterson and husband Roger of Arkansas; step son Mark Waters and wife Carolyn of Pawnee, Oklahoma; grandchildren Matthew McNeil and wife Rhonda, Clifford L Taylor and wife Stephanie, Heather Patterson Thein and husband Joshua and Michelle Rhodes plus seven great grandchildren.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at 11:00 am at the First Christian Church in Pawnee. Visitation will be held on Friday from 10 am to 7 pm at the Poteet Funeral Home. Services will also take place on Monday 10:00 in Muskogee, Oklahoma at the Foster Petering Funeral Home with burial to follow in the Green Hill Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers to, please make a donation to the Shriners children’s burn center in Muskogee or the First Christian Church in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Funeral arrangments were under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home and Cremation Services.