Noel Gene Pence, Sr. passed away at the age of 69 on Sunday, August 9, 2015 in Hugo, OK. Funeral services for Noel will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church of Hugo. Pastors Doug McClure and Dick McClure will officiate. Burial will follow at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hugo.
Noel was born February 21, 1946 in Hugo, OK, to Hershel Ira and Anna Lorene (Smith) Pence. Noel lived in Hugo most of his life. On June 12, 1965, Noel married his high school sweetheart, Nita. They celebrated 50 years together this past June. Noel's life would not have been the same without Nita by his side. He owned and operated Pence Heating & Air for more than 30 years. He served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in many ways. Noel served as a deacon of First Baptist Church of Hugo for 40 years. He conducted mission work in Mexico for over three decades. Also touching the broader community, Noel served on many nonprofit boards, including Choctaw Memorial Hospital, Little Dixie, Golden Age Home, and Kiamichi Country. Noel sat on the Hugo City Council, served as President of the Choctaw County Historical Society, and managed the Frisco Depot Museum.
Throughout his life, Noel was a member of Jaycees, Kiwanis, & Lions Club. He was awarded the 2005 Pride of Hugo Award and the 2009 Citizen of the Year award by the Hugo Chamber of Commerce.
Noel was an avid Sooners fan, and he also loved hunting deer, squirrel, and quail. Later in life, he collected and restored classic cars. He was the guy who could fix just about anything. He will be greatly missed.
Noel was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Lorene Pence, and one granddaughter, Maggi Kaye Buckles. He is survived by his wife, Nita Pence of the home; one son, Noel Gene Pence, Jr. and girlfriend, Kristin Knous, of Miami, FL; one daughter, Tami Kaye Buckles and husband, Johnny Rex, of Kingwood, TX; two grandchildren, Annie Grace Buckles and Johnny Rex Buckles, Jr. of Kingwood, TX; his father, Hershel Pence of Hugo, OK; two brothers, Norman Pence of Hugo, OK, and Hugh Pence and wife, Carolyn, of Hugo, OK; one sister, Cathy Welcher and husband, Clinton, of Ada, OK; one niece, Michele Pence of Hugo, OK; and one nephew, Dale Pence and wife, Natalie, of Medicine Lodge, KS.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, August 11, 2015 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Chapel in Hugo, OK.
Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Hugo, OK (designated for Mexico Missions), 300 East Jackson Street, Hugo, OK 74743, or to MDA Association (designated for ALS Research), PO Box 97075, Washington, D.C. 20077 (www.mda.org).
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book or send private condolences to the family at www.praterlampton.com.
