Elmer Edward Carmichael
(May 19, 1921 - September 26, 2011)
Elmer Edward Carmichael, 90, of Crescent, Oklahoma, was born on May 19, 1921, to Mark and Margaret (Thum) Carmichael in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. He passed away on Monday, September 26, 2011, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Elmer attended grade school and high school in Crescent, graduating with the Class of 1940. He worked at the Crescent Lumber Yard prior to joining the U.S. Coast Guard in the fall of 1941. He took part in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Salerno, Italy, as well as the D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. It was during the D-Day operations that his ship -- the LCI(L)-85, one of the ships shuttling troops onto the beaches of Normandy – was fatally damaged. After transporting wounded soldiers to the medical ship, the LCI(L)-85 attempted a final return to Omaha Beach before sinking.
Elmer married Bette Lee Steen on March 27, 1945 in Crescent. Following his discharge from the U.S. Coast Guard, he returned to Crescent and began work at the Farmers & Merchants Bank. He served 28 years at Farmers & Merchants, beginning as a bookkeeper and working his way up to President. In 1973, he moved to a post at First National Bank in Okeene, Oklahoma, eventually becoming its President, and retired in 1985.
Elmer was very active in community affairs. He served on the Crescent Fire Department for 20 years, 2 years as chief. He was on the Crescent City Council, serving 4 years as Mayor. He was active in both the Crescent Lions Club and the Okeene Kiwanis Club, serving as President of both organizations. He was also a member of the Okeene Municipal Hospital Board for 9 years. Elmer's great pride in the service to one's country can be seen in his active role in the Crescent American Legion, of which he was a lifetime member.
Elmer is survived by his 2 daughters, Debbie Rice, and her husband, Jerry, of Boise City, Oklahoma, and Becky Carmichael, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; one granddaughter, Amy Cornforth, and her husband, Tony, of Goldsby, Oklahoma; 3 great-granddaughters, Emily, Aubrey and Katy Cornforth, of Goldsby; one brother-in-law, John Steen, and his wife, Annamae, of Crescent, Oklahoma; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceeded in death by his wife, Bette, on February 21, 2011 ; his parents; 3 brothers, Dortis Carmichael, Robert Carmichael and Jimmy Carmichael; and one grandson, Aaron Rice.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 30, 2011, at 10:00 am, at the First Baptist Church in Crescent, with Rev. Jerry Rice officiating. Burial will be at Oakland-Knowles Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Legion Post #200 in Crescent, Oklahoma, or to the charity of the donors choice. Services will be under the direction of Abernathy-Aaron Funeral Home in Crescent, Oklahoma.
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