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Dr. Stanley Paul DeFehr MD, age 67, passed away at his home surrounded by family and friends on May 24, 2018. He was born April 8, 1951 in Weatherford, Oklahoma, the second son to Paul and Elsie DeFehr. Stan was raised in Weatherford with his three brothers, Ken, Jody and Jeff, who have remained life-long friends. His family was embedded in the community as owners of the local John Deere implement. This legacy continues today, as DeFehr Implement has expanded throughout Oklahoma and Texas as part of the Western Equipment family of dealerships.
Stan graduated as salutatorian at Weatherford High School in 1969 and enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, where he was a President's Scholar. After initially pursuing a degree in engineering to further his dream to be an astronaut, Stan decided instead to enroll in medical school after acing his MCAT his junior year. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1976 with distinction, achieving membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Stan moved to Bartlesville in 1980, opening his medical practice in internal medicine with an interest in cardiology. He returned to the University of Oklahoma in 1983-84 to complete a second year of cardiology fellowship and began focusing solely on cardiology in the mid-1980s.
Stan's original practice in Bartlesville was with Doctors Daniel Houtman, Thomas Riggs, and James Young. He later formed BlueStem Cardiology with William Patrick Tinker and Gary Dykstra. In recent years, his practice has expanded to include several additional partners and advanced practice providers, including cardiologists Anderson Mehrle, Andrew Kurkklinsky, Katy Farguson, and Chris May. He has served tens of thousands of patients in clinics in Bartlesville, Nowata, and surrounding areas over the past 38 years and has enjoyed being on staff at Jane Phillips Medical Center.
Stan was recognized during the 1997 Bartlesville Centennial Celebration as the outstanding physician in the medical community. In addition to his work with patients, he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief of Staff at Jane Phillips and Governor of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. Stan was active in promoting health care policy in Oklahoma and Washington DC, advocating on behalf of physicians and their patients.
During medical school in 1974, Stan married Joyce Johnson. They were married for twenty-two years and had two children, Grant and Mary. Stan later married Cynthia Burkhart in 2003 and gained three more sons, Justin, Lee, and Ben. Stan and Cynthia were happily married for almost fifteen years.
Stan had a passion for his eight grandchildren, attending performances and games while having sleepovers and campouts at his property outside of town. He oversaw the construction of a treehouse along the creek and had recently installed a pool for the summer. His grandchildren enjoyed riding the John Deer Gator and playing sports on the front lawn. He delighted in hosting his nieces and nephews for summer vacations and holidays.
Stan imparted a passion for travel, entertainment, education, and the development of intellectual curiosity. He took family trips to Boston, Washington DC, New York City, New Orleans, Hilton Head, Disney, Hawaii, France, Italy, and Spain. He was an OU season ticket holder for over forty years and never missed an opportunity to attend the Red River Rivalry or a major bowl game. Stan also looked forward to the events for OU President's Associates and listening to the speakers at the Teach In each spring on campus in Norman.
In his youth, Stan enjoyed playing baseball in vacant neighborhood lots, where he played alongside his brothers and friends and developed a love for the game. He was a varsity athlete for the Weatherford Eagles in baseball, football, and basketball. His passion for baseball continued into adulthood, where he participated in numerous fantasy camps for the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Reds. Stan was named Camp MVP for the Dodgers in 2008 and also was a two-time recipient of the Don Drysdale award in 2008 and 2014 as the outstanding pitcher at the camp. He also traveled to Cuba on two occasions as part of a baseball outreach program, competing against local teams comprised of a combination of former amateur and professional players. Stan was thankful for sharing these experiences with his family, attending many of the camps alongside his children Mary, Ben, and Grant and his son-in-law Jon. Stan continued his baseball development in the off-season, taking weekly pitching and hitting lessons and throwing summer batting practice on occasion with the high school team.
Stan appreciated the arts and music. A member of the band in high school, he played the tuba, saxophone, base, and piano. He was known for singing in the office and even during procedures in the cath lab. He and Cynthia took ballroom dancing lessons in Bartlesville and at dance camps in New England, perfecting their steps in foxtrot, waltz, rumba, cha-cha-cha, tango and swing.
Stan accepted Christ at a young age and has been an active member of the Christian community in Bartlesville for over thirty-five years, first as a member at First Baptist Church and later as a member of East Cross United Methodist Church. Stan served as a physician on several medical missionary trips to Nicaragua with First Baptist, caring for thousands of patients while spreading the gospel. He was also involved as a past board member of K-Life Ministries.
Stan was passionate about serving his patients and the broader Bartlesville community. He was compassionate and caring, a servant leader in the model of Christ. He would take the extra time to know his patients personally as well and professionally, thankful for the gifts that God provided him and his ability to make an impact on those around him. He was appreciative of having the opportunity to serve on numerous civic boards and committees.
Stan embraced a philosophy of life based on finding happiness and contentment in personal interaction and combined experience. He valued quality time together over material possessions. He was independent in thought but selfless in action, focused on experiencing joy in helping others and culturing relationships.
The family wants to express their appreciation to the friendship and care offered by the medical staffs at MD Anderson and Jane Phillips over the past several years as Stan battled multiple myeloma. In particular, they are thankful for the advice and care of Doctors Wong, Manus, Myers, Mehrle, Matheson, and May, Jane Phillips's oncology department, the nursing staff of the Jane Phillips CCU, and BlueStem Cardiology. They are especially thankful for the long-time friendship and care of his Nurse Practitioner, Mollie Bechtelheimer.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Elsie DeFehr.
He is survived by his wife Cynthia DeFehr, his children Grant DeFehr and wife Summer, Mary Eve and husband Jon, Justin Marshall and wife Laurie, Lee Brammer and wife Amanda, Ben Brammer and wife Morgan, and his three brothers, Ken and wife Sally, Jody and wife Ellen, and Jeff and wife Melanie. Stan's legacy lives on in eight grandchildren, Brooks, Ryan, Luke, Burke, Katie Marie, Presley, Hollis, and Asa Paul, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family, including his BlueStem Cardiology and Jane Phillips cath lab family.
Funeral services for Stan will be held at First Baptist Church in Bartlesville on Wednesday, May 30, at 2pm.
Anyone wishing to donate in the memory of Stan, please send donations to the Bartlesville Public Schools at 1100 S. Jennings, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74003 or BlueStem Medical Foundation at 3500 Frank Phillips Blvd., Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74006.
Friends who wish may sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.stumpff.org.
Published in Examiner-Enterprise from May 27 to June 26, 2018
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