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He was born on August 22, 1940 on his family’s farm in Lindsey, Oklahoma, to the late Jess and Beulah Adams Clagg.
Willie was number six of seven siblings and quite the scrapper. He recalled a period in his youth he labeled, “nose skinnings,'' which included squirrel and rabbit hunting adventures with his pup, Pepe; catching quail mid-flight (and wrecking) on his little Cushman Eagle motorcycle; and grumblings in the ole broomcorn patch about whupping up on some bigger boys in town.
After he graduated high school (and his nose healed), he joined the United States Air Force in Lincoln, Nebraska. Upon his return to Oklahoma, he visited Straight Street Free Will Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma, where he met his future wife, Patricia Ann (Pat) Garner. He recalled the moment he saw “the prettiest gal he’d ever seen playing the piano.” At that moment, Willie nervously flipped some match heads that were in his pocket and lit his pants on fire. He quickly exited the church, but was on fire for the Lord (and Pat!) ever since.
Willie and Pat were married 56 years and raised three children on an acreage east of Norman. Willie retired from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center where he was a research assistant and widely known and respected for his work with nonhuman primates. It wasn’t uncommon to see a baboon running around the Clagg family farm or even a dog nursing a piglet. Willie served as a deacon and song leader in the church for many years, and he and Pat loved to sing and play bluegrass and gospel music with family and friends.
Perhaps Willie’s greatest claim to fame was the impact he had on his children, grandchildren, and greats. He was young at heart and carried a car full of yard games, musical instruments, and disguises. He was the life of the party and best known by his great grandchildren as “Papahaha.” Although he will be sorely missed, there is peace knowing he is reunited with his beloved Pat, who went to be with the Lord in April of 2020.
Willie was also preceded in passing by his parents, Jess and Beulah; brother, Michael Clagg; sisters, Marylou Peters, Ozella Smith, Margie Belle, and Lucy Beatrice Clagg. He leaves on this side his three children that include daughter, Julie Gibbs (Robert) of Shawnee, son Brian (Melanie) Clagg of Norman, daughter Christina Clagg of Norman, and one sister, Sue Adams Clagg of Sherman, Texas. His grandchildren include Bolen Gibbs (Candice) of Edmond, Natasha Wittman (Micah) of Cedar Park, Texas; Shyla Stokes of Oklahoma City, Justin Valentine (Kyrsten) of Bixby; Kaleigh, Addisyn, and Mackenzie Clagg of Norman. His great grandchildren include Elias, London, Evelyn, Tori, Owen, Josiah, and one on the way.
A private memorial is planned for a future date.
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