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Bill Gene Hargrove, 89, passed away at Claremore Skilled Nursing on May 12, 2026. He was born in Blair, Oklahoma on June 2, 1936, to Gussie Dena (Cole) Hargrove and Nolan Ivan Hargrove. Bill was a 1954 graduate of Chelsea High School. After High School he served in the United States Army, from 1959 to 1961, and was honorably discharged as Private First Class. He began working at Munsingwear in the late 60’s and continued in that same building until retirement from Cinch in the early 2000’s. Bill was a farmer and rancher and had been on the same property since he was 3 years old. He enjoyed working on the farm and watching and caring for his livestock. He very much enjoyed very much the times his kids and grandkids came to help work the livestock. Bill loved meeting and having lunch with his Cinch family after his retirement, and he also loved to take drives with Carolyn, enjoying the countryside.
Preceding him in death was his special companion of 47 years, Carolyn Conlin, his parents, Dena and Nolan Hargrove, sisters, Helen Morris and Barbara McMurtrey, brothers in law, Pike Morris and Mickey McMurtrey, and niece NaLonnie Tomason.
Bill is survived by his son Nolan Hargrove and wife Tara of Claremore, step-daughters, Natalie Mullin and husband Bo of Afton, Denise Bowline of Bartlesville; grandchildren, Skyler Hargrove and wife Kayla of Owasso, Kyle Hargrove of Oklahoma City, Ricky Bowline of Langley, Cody Sturgess and wife Brittany of Tulia, Texas, Paul Hillerman and wife Tasha of Vinita, Kristen Sturgess of Big Cabin, Erin Waddle of Bartlesville, and Rowdy Mullin of Fort Benning, Georgia; his beautiful great-grandchildren, Harper and Knox Hargrove, Jesse Chaney, Meredith Chaney, Pecos Sturgess, Kendall Sturgess, Mavrick Bowline, Levi Hillerman, and Cade Hillerman; he is also blessed to have special nieces, Barbara Ann Black, Debi Hopkins, and Lana Daugherty. Bill will be missed for his uncanny wit and his infectious laugh and giggle. The kids will always remember the famous grandpa poke in the side!
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at the Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel in Vinita.
The graveside service and military honors will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the White Oak Cemetery, with Pastor Bob Whitchurch officiating. Online condolences may be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of the Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral and Cremation Services of Vinita. “Vinita’s only locally family owned and operated funeral home.”
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