Homer E. 'Gene' Tickel

Homer Eugene ‘Gene’ Tickel, 85, of Muskogee, Oklahoma was born May 12, 1928 and passed away Saturday, April 19, 2014. He was the first born to Homer and Alma Tickel. Gene was born in the oil fields of Seminole, Oklahoma as his father worked for Shell Oil Co. He had one brother, Gerald Tickel of Madill, Oklahoma. Gene began working in a grocery store as a package boy at the young age of 13. He worked for $1 a day and a day was 16 hours. At the age of 15, he had learned to do everything in the store and worked for $2.50 a day, and this for an 80 hour week. At the age of 16, Gene was a riveter in an aircraft factory where he helped make C-54 parts and C-47 airplanes to help the war efforts. At the age of 17, he graduated from Meeker High School and enlisted in the Army Air Corp. Upon being discharged from the Air Corp, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma. It was there that he met and later married Deloris Keisling. After graduating from OU, Gene and Deloris moved to Muskogee where they raised their children, Gail, Mike, and Susan. Gene retired from Prudential Insurance where he had a very successful career. He was an avid golfer; enjoyed working in his yard and garden, and listening to Big Band Music. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Alma Tickel; and a great grandchild, Callie Slader. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Deloris; children, Gail Thompson and husband, Dean, Mike Tickel and wife, Pam, all of Muskogee, Susan Amerson and husband Connie of Ft. Gibson; brother, Gerald Tickel of Madill; grandchildren, Melonie Underwood of Broken Arrow, Karrie Couch of Owasso, Amber Madewell of Muskogee, Angela McCoy of Bentonville, Arkansas, Ashley Tickel of Tulsa; six great grandchildren, Emily, Hayden, Mason, Reagen, Talen, and Hudson; nephews; and other family members and friends. The family wishes to extend a special “Thank you” to Angel Westbrook for her caring, kindness and concern during Gene’s illness. The family requests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 600 E. Okmulgee, Muskogee, OK, 74403. The family will receive friends from 5:30pm-7:30pm, Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at Cornerstone Funeral Home. Funeral services celebrating Gene’s life will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Muskogee with Dr. Jack Kemper officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery with Terry Freeman, Roy Banks, David Thomson, Robert Couch, Bob Manke, and Shawn McCoy serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the First United Methodist Church Friendship Class.

Homer E. 'Gene' Tickel

May 12, 1928 - April 19, 2014