J. M. Gamble

© Cheyenne Star

29 Jul 2004

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

J. M. Gamble was born September 27, 1914 in Sunny Point, Oklahoma to Lela Ellen and John Emory Gamble. He passed away July 25, 2004 at Elk City, Oklahoma at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 28 days.

J. M. attended school at Sunny Point before graduating from Sweetwater. He continued his education at Southwest State College in Weatherford.

He met Eunice Males who was teaching at Grimes and they were married on May 14, 1938 in Weatherford. They both taught at New Liberty and Buffalo before moving to Erick in 1948. He taught and coached for ten years and then concentrated on farming and ranching, which he also did while teaching.

J. M. and Eunice were recognized as Farm Bureau Family of the year in 1986. In 1987 he received the Golden Eagle Award for recognition as Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Top Volunteer Membership Recruiter.

He also served on the Board of Directors of the Beckham County Farm Bureau. J. M. was an active member of the Erick community. In 1995, he was recognized by the First American Bank of Erick for twenty years of service to the bank and surrounding community. He was also an Honorary Chapter Farmer of the Erick FFA and a Life Member of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Alumni Association.

He was a member of Erick First Baptist Church where he served for fifty years as the Sunday School Director and also served many years as a Deacon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and one grandson.

Services were held July 27, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at Erick First Baptist Church officiated by Charlie Floyd.

Burial was held at Erick Cemetery, Erick, Beckham County, Oklahoma under the direction of Fathree-Albert Funeral Home. A memorial trust fund was set up for the Erick High School at First American Bank, Box 1228, Erick, OK 73645.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Ellen Driscoll, Idalu, Texas; one son, Marvin Gamble and wife, Marlene, Tryon, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Terry Driscol, Susan Hess, Paul Driscoll, John Gamble, Danyelle Gamble-Noland and Andrea Chapman; eight great grandchildren; one brother Melvin Gamble, Erick, Oklahoma; and a host of other relatives and friends.