Alvin L. "Roy" Barrett

Alvin Leroy Barrett was born May 3, 1938, in Wyandotte, Mich., to Albert L. and Myra M. Barrett. He died suddenly Friday morning, Oct. 23, 2015, at Share Medical Center in Alva. It was Roy's wish that he was to be cremated. Arrangements are under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. A memorial celebration of his life will be held Thursday afternoon, October 29, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at The Extreme in downtown Alva. Friends planning to attend the casual celebration are encouraged to share their favorite memories. Roy joined the U.S. Navy R.O.T.C. while attending Southwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan. He obtained special leave to attend his high school graduation and left immediately following to report for active duty at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago. He served in the aircraft maintenance division of the Navy at bases in Massachusetts, Newfoundland and Greenland. After his discharge from the Navy he worked for the U.S. Post Office in Taylor, Michigan, then attended Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas. He later moved to Ulysses, Kansas, where he helped his mother operate a restaurant. His reputation for red convertibles was legendary. During his youth he owned eight convertibles, seven of which were red including his prized 1960 Corvette. In 1962 Roy was hired by Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company in Ulysses, Kansas. He transferred to Alva in May 1966, where he worked until his retirement in January 1993. In 1963 he and Helen Shaw were united in marriage. To this union three children were born, Greg, Ricky and Marissa. Throughout his lifetime, in addition to working for PEPL, Roy worked part time for various gas stations in Kansas and Alva, enjoyed helping Vernie Hackney and Norman Schaffer in harvest, worked at the Sonic, Bike’s Burger Bar, Vista Diner, Value Added Products, and cooked at the Boulevard Bistro where he became known for his pie baking skills. For the past several months, he worked on the Tuesday night Newsgram crew, where he enjoyed a special camaraderie with his fellow workers. Roy loved to tease people, especially his grandkids and those he considered friends. He loved telling stories of him and a friend who had a paper route in Taylor. A neighbor baked pies every week and sat them in the open window to cool. He and his friend would swipe one of the fresh baked pies and wolf it down. After he became an adult, he learned she placed one on that window especially for the two neighbor boys. He loved being around young people, serving as youth sponsor for several years at the Alva Assembly of God Church. He later volunteered as a Chaplain’s Assistant at Bill Johnson Correctional Center where he found fulfillment in helping trainees. He was an avid fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He loved doing woodworking, having made three grandfather clocks, a dining table, a china cabinet and many shelves and sconces. His yard and garden were always a source of pride for him. He loved fishing, especially deep sea fishing. When fishing with his father-in-law in Kansas, he hooked a large walleye that he fought for several minutes before getting it in the boat. After safely securing the 7 lb. 14 oz. fish, he looked up and discovered the dam was on the wrong side of the lake. During the fight, the fish pulled Roy and the boat behind the buoys marking protected waters. Roy was also well known for his lack of skill in painting. Usually, more than the intended object ended up with a coat of paint. Roy was preceded in death by his parents; one sister Nellimae Harner; one brother, Jim Barrett, his father-in-law, Rev. Jesse Shaw, and a grandson, Braxton Tyler Hofen. His survivors include his wife, Helen, of the home; two sons Rev. Greg Barrett and his wife, Tica, of Marco Island, Florida; Rev. Rick Barrett and his wife, Chondra, of Vinita; a daughter, Marissa Hofen and her husband Brian of Dacoma; nine grandchildren, Jesse Barrett, Marissa Barrett and Madeline Barrett of Florida; Tayler Barrett, Chase Barrett and Kayla Barrett of Kansas and Oklahoma; Madison Hofen, Braden Hofen and Brooks Hofen of Dacoma. He is also survived by two sisters, Darlene Howe and her husband, Warren, of Bradenton, Florida, and Alberta King and her husband, Thurman, of Asheville, North Carolina; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. He was an active member of the Hopeton Wesleyan Church. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Hopeton Church Building Fund.

Alvin L. "Roy" Barrett

May 3, 1938 - October 23, 2015