Funeral service for Cecil Dale Southern will be 10 a.m., Monday, September 19, 2022, at Easton Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Perry Cox and Rev. Terry Jarrard officiating. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Army will follow at Woodland Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the funeral home 12-8 p.m. Saturday, and 1-6 p.m. Sunday; with the family greeting friends Sunday 3-5 p.m.

Cecil went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, September 14, at his home at the age of 84. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service of Sand Springs.

Cecil was the first-born son of Harvey and Evelyn Southern. His parents were struggling to make a living and feed their family during the Great Depression. They resided on an acreage in Enterprise, Oklahoma. Cecil learned to use the cast-off parts around the place to make his toys. He made a working toy car that he could ride when he was nine. He was continually learning about how things worked mechanically. His grandparents lived down the road, so he worked with his Grandpa Gulley repairing things on the farm. This relationship shaped Cecil into the man that he became.

Cecil's mechanical ability was spawned during this time with his grandpa. His grandpa owned one of the few cars in the area. Grandpa took Cecil driving and allowed him to sit on his lap to control the steering of the old car while Grandpa worked the gas pedal and the clutch. He always told him to guide it between the ditches to keep it on the road. That was the beginning of Cecil's bond with the automobile. He was driving long before he was 16.

Cecil's dad got a job in McAllister which was 35 miles from Enterprise. He informed Cecil that he would be driving him to work using Grandpa's car. Eventually, his dad found a room to rent in McAlester. Cecil was not afraid to try anything because of the mentoring he received from his grandpa. Grandpa trusted him to take care of his car because he knew how responsible Cecil was.

Cecil would spend his life pursuing mechanical knowledge. Most people believed he could fix anything mechanical. He passed on his skill to his son and grandson. Toward the end of his years his strength failed him so his son, Dan would help him get the job done.

Cecil told us that he went to school through the seventh grade. He did not mind school, but he hated being made fun of by the school bullies. They picked on him because of his speech impediment. As a result, he got into many fights because he was always fearless. He had developed quite a temper in his youth.

During our years in Enterprise, Cecil became a brother three times. He had a sister, Patricia, a brother, Jim and a little sister, Judy. Cecil knew the struggle his mom had keeping the family fed and clothed so he volunteered to quit school and go to work full-time.

Grandpa died when Cecil was fifteen, so his mom moved the family to California seeking opportunity for them. Cecil worked at a gas station providing car service to the customers. California did not work out, so our mother moved us back to Oklahoma, but she was determined to improve our financial prospects. She moved us to Tulsa and that has been home ever since. Cecil went to worked in a rod shop manufacturing rods for the oil industry. It was hot and dirty work! He handed over his paycheck weekly to our mother to use for the family. He did this until he married for the good of the family.

Cecil married a young woman named Joyce Jane Mears in 1959. She was a blessing to all of us. He was 21 and she was 18. They married in the pastor's study at Easton Heights Baptist church.  That marriage lasted 63 years. They had one daughter, Pamela, that died a few hours after birth and a son, Daniel Ray. He has been the joy of their lives. Dan had a son, Chasen, and he was the delight of Cecil's old age.

Cecil was drafted into the Army shortly after he married and that gave him the opportunity to get trained in the mechanics he loved. He spent most of his time in Germany and was able to work in the motor pool. He worked on large trucks and cars keeping the Army vehicles maintained and repaired. During his time there, he broke both ankles because of being pushed off a large truck with a full pack. This injury would cause him problems later which resulted in the wearing of a brace on one leg. Cecil liked the Army because no one made fun of his speech. They told him that he sounded like a Cajun from Louisiana. He was respected for his abilities and given the opportunity for more training. The Army gave him the confidence that he could make car repair his vocation after his tour of duty was complete.

Cecil returned to civilian life and went to work for OTASCO (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Co.) He hated to leave after 15 years, but the company closed. He decided to open his own business. He opened his business in Brookside and his customers from OTASCO followed him. He did well until the building ownership changed hands and he had to relocate to North Sheridan. His business suffered because many of his customers did not follow him. He closed his business and went to work for Regal Car lots. He stayed with them for many years. In retirement, he worked for the Car Auction which was a dream for him. He got to drive all the many kinds of vehicles without having to fix them.

The last five years, Cecil spent more time with his family. He missed working so much because he always enjoyed being with people. Cecil was a friend to all. He remembered his own humble beginnings so he would fix cars for people never knowing if they would be able to pay him. He had rescued family members many times and fixed the car on the side of the road in order to save a towing expense. Most people would settle with him after payday. Cecil had a work ethic that provided for his family throughout the years. He also spent his retirement years mentoring his grandson the way he had been mentored by his grandpa.

During our visits, Cecil told us that he loved John 3:16," For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.". He learned it as a little child at the Enterprise Baptist Church. He had the assurance of knowing he had Jesus in his heart giving him the hope of Heaven. We all knew that because Cecil lived his life for others seldom thinking of himself. He will be missed by all of us for his kind heart and boisterous sense of humor. Our hearts are grateful that we knew and loved Cecil.

Leave your memories of Cecil and view his tribute online at www.mogro.co.