Mount Olive Cemetery, Kay County, Oklahoma

Boyd Odell Briggs of Blackwell, Okla., died Tuesday afternoon, May 1, 2012, at Blackwell Regional Hospital, Blackwell, Okla., at the age of 92.

Boyd Odell “Short” Briggs was born Oct. 29, 1919, in Madill, Okla., to Ernest and Manerva Mason Briggs. He attended Whitefield Public Schools. He enlisted in the United States Army in March 1942 and was discharged in September 1945. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, where he received the Purple Heart Medal. He married Dana Lee Hiten Dec. 27, 1945, in Wellington, Kan. She preceded him in death on Nov. 7, 1997. He retired from the Blackwell Zinc Co. as a furnace operator. He enjoyed hunting, training mules to jump, watching baseball and pro wrestling on television, and going to rodeos to watch bull riding.

He drove the bus for the senior citizen center and played pitch every Tuesday. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, lifetime member of Disabled Americam Veterans, Blackwell First Free Will Baptist Church, and he loved his church and his family. He is survived by his companion, Ruth Kelle of Blackwell; one daughter, Dianna Waldie of Enid; two sons, Jimmie Dale Briggs and wife Rosalie of Blackwell, and Danny Joe Briggs and wife Helen of Blackwell; six grandchildren, Tonya Criner of Ponca City, Shelly Cassady of Ponca City, Okla., Marcy Ropp of Enid, Okla., Jennifpher Waldie of Enid, Okla., Erik Waldie of Blackwell, and Jason Miller of Woodward, Okla.; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Jimmie Dale Briggs Jr.; and one son-in-law, Earl Waldie.

Service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, May 4, 2012, at First Free Will Baptist Church, Blackwell, Okla., with Rev. Kevin Bookout officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Nardin, Okla. Military Rites will be preformed by the United States Army of Fort Sill, Okla.

Honorary casketbearers will be members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. Casketbearers will be David Sprueill, Koby Jernigan, Erik Waldie, Dalton Criner, Ky Cassady and Lester Knight.

Online condolences can be made at robertsandsonfh.com.

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