NORMAN — Jimmie Kile Morehead, 77, passed away Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, in Norman.
Graveside services will be noon Friday at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Oklahoma City.
Jim was born June 9, 1935, in Oklahoma City to Neva Pauline Porter Morehead and Kile Marshal Morehead. Jim graduated from Capitol Hill High School in 1953 and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and graduated with a BS in petroleum engineering in 1959.
He served the community as a Norman police officer before entering active duty in the U.S. Army. On April 15, 1961, he married his college sweetheart, Patricia Ann Maloney, to whom he was married 51 years.
Lt. Col. Morehead retired with more than 26 years combined active duty and Reserve experience. He is a graduate of the command and general staff college on the commandant’s list as well as the honor graduate of combat intelligence officers course, nuclear weapons employment school, nuclear weapons assembly school and several others. His military decorations include three Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (four campaigns), two Armed Forces Reserve Medals, Army Service Ribbon, four Overseas Service Ribbons and Meritorious Unit Citation.
In 1984, he received a presidential appointment from President Reagan to organize and serve as the first chairman of the Oklahoma Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program — an endeavor which he found personally rewarding and which expanded into neighboring states of Kansas, Missouri, Akansas and Texas. He served as executive director of the Oklahoma Association of General Contractors until his retirement in 1997.
Jim was an avid sportsman and served as president of the Rod and Gun Club in Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was an excellent trainer of hunting dogs and was active in wildlife and habitat conservation. He loved the great outdoors and was known to be so stealth that small animals climbed right up to him while he silently waited for deer to approach.
He enjoyed scuba diving while living in Hawaii and cycling, too. He enjoyed fishing and his cabin at Lake Texoma. He was an amazingly talented craftsman and enjoyed antique restoration. He was so very skilled and his talents will be greatly missed. Everything he did in life was done with precision, dedication, excellence and leadership. Above all he loved, provided for and protected his family. We will longingly miss him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Michael Ellison Roberts.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia M. Morehead; daughter, Lisa Anne Roberts and son-in-law Dr. Victor Alan Roberts; and the true joy of his life, his beloved grandson, Benjamin Henry Roberts.
Arrangements are by Primrose Funeral Service.
Condolences may be shared at www.primrosefuneralservice.com.
Norman Transcript, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012
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