Harold Melrose

Harold Francis Melrose was born on a farm southeast of Carmen to Adam Lee and Cora Esther Galer on January 13, 1924.  He attended school at Rich Valley and Carmen.

His mother died when he was fourteen and he left home at age fifteen and lived the first winter with his Aunt Alice and Uncle Vernon Stanley and helped Vernon chop wood.  He then worked for the R.B. Baker family for $1 a day and room and board.

He and Frances Peck were married at Cleo Springs on June 8, 1941.  They made their home on a farm west of McWillie.  After the Boys School opened in Helena he worked there and farmed.  They moved into Helena in 1975.  After retiring from farming in 1980 he enjoyed fishing at Grand Lake.  After Frances's death he moved to Enid.

He and Winnie (Krob) Helterbrake were married August 23, 2009 at the Elm Flat Christian Church near Cleo Springs. They made their home in Enid. They enjoyed keeping up with all their grandkid’s activities.

He is survived by his wife, Winnie of Enid; children, Joan (Paul) Cook of Helena, Leroy (Pat) Melrose of Oklahoma City, Laura (David) Reiswig of Yukon, Mary Beth Gray of Piedmont;  step-children, Len (Vicki) Coulter of Aline, Myron (Debra) Coulter of Aline, Loretta Coulter of Enid; grandchildren, Mark Cook of Aline, Jeff (Martina) Melrose of Grapevine, Texas, Traci (Reggie) Miller of Oklahoma City, Shaila (Jeff) Grulkey of Yukon, Shawn (Katy) Reiswig of Edmond, Angela (Matt) Cole of Edmond, Amber Bellew (fiancé, Garrett Renshaw) of Piedmont;  great-grandchildren, Emily and Conner Melrose of Grapevine, Texas,  Aaron Miller of Oklahoma City, Tana (Spencer) Rooker of Mustang,  Baylie (Will) Bones of Edmond, Collin and Logan Grulkey of Yukon, Britten Reiswig and Emily Hamilton of Edmond, Grady Renshaw of Piedmont; great-great grandchildren, Sutton and Laney Bones of Edmond, Hudson Rooker of Mustang; step-grandchildren, Carrie (Micah)Thompson of Oologah, Jason Coulter of Waukomis, Miranda (Matt) Buergler of Edmond, Brice (Tammie) Quigley of Enid, Brian Coulter of McWillie,  Lindsay (Matt) Garinger of Waukomis, Lacey (Greg) Williams of Enid; step-great-grandchildren, Ashley (Ben) Hill of Owasso, Ryan Thompson of Oologah, Blake Thompson (fiancé, Kalista Price) of Owasso,  Kyle Thompson of Oologah,  Owen, Emma and Liam Coulter of Waukomis, Jesse (Miranda) Quigley of Enid, Zakk (Samantha) Quigley of Enid, Aubrey and Charlie Long of Edmond, Wyatt and Harper Buergler of Edmond, Kelsey and Keegan Armstrong of Waukomis, Kasen Garinger of Waukomis, Bryson, Brynli and Kaylee Williams of Enid; step-great-great-grandchildren, Parker Thompson of Owasso, Grayson and Myla Quigley of Enid, Zaylon Quigley of Enid; sisters, Wanda Nickel of Waggoner, Vera Hughes of Ponder, Texas and  half-sister, Marilyn Huff of Kettering, Ohio; step-brother, Gary (Doris) Booze of Aline.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; parents, Lee and Esther; step-mother, Grace Bruner Melrose; brothers, Marvin, Eldon and Laverne; sister, Virginia Ryel; step-brother, Oval Booze; step-sisters, Jean Jack, Joyce Krepel and Nadine Harvey;  infant twin grandsons, Ryan and Brandon Gray and great-granddaughter, Dani Melrose.

He was greatly loved-not only by his "blood" family, but also by his "step" family and "church" family-and he will be greatly missed by his loving family and many caring and loving friends he has left behind.  He was very thankful for his wonderful family and felt he had accomplished in 96 years all that he set out to do in his life.