Claremore Daily Progress

Obituaries

October 26, 2012

Billy Joe Sowells

Staff Reports Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — Services for Billy Joe Sowells were 10 a.m. today at First Baptist Church. Burial followed in Lone Elm Cemetery under the direction of Rice Funeral Service.  Bill passed away on Wednesday Oct. 24, 2012 at the age of 54.

A Claremore native, Bill was born on Sept. 23, 1958 to Billy Ned and Lois (Dilldine) Sowells.  He grew up in Claremore and graduated with the Class of 1977 from Foyil High School.  He had an especially close relationship with his sister and the two defended and looked out for each other.  Employed in management at local grocery stores, Bill was admired for his people skills and strong leadership ability.  On Sept. 1, 1994 he began a career at Nupar where he worked as a paint line supervisor until his retirement in May of 2012.  Mechanically inclined, dependable, honest and hardworking, he was successful in every endeavor.  

Bill took care of everyone’s cars, a skill he inherited from his father.  If it was broken, he could – and would – fix it.  Referred to as a perfectionist by his family, Bill seldom made mistakes, other than the one his mother will always remember when using her garage, he moved her car out and left it running all night.

Bill and Dina Jobe married on July 8, 2000 in a Tulsa ceremony. Bill enjoyed spending time with family coloring Easter eggs, carving pumpkins, enjoying his grandchildren, or playing with the five dogs that he now allowed at his home.  He was proud of the accomplishments of all of his children; his daughter, Heather and son, William, for their degrees in nursing, for Brad and his military accomplishments, which included a Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism, and for Brynnan’s academic accomplishments at Sequoyah High School.

A dedicated husband, son and father, Bill’s passing leaves his family with a legacy of love, loyalty and devotion.  He is survived by his wife, Dina, of their Claremore home; children Heather Dark and husband, Stephen, of Claremore, Bradley Joe Sowells and wife Monica, of Pryor, William Santillan and wife, Kayla, of Owasso, and Brynnan Sowells, also of Claremore; grandchildren Braden Alan Sowells, Lauren Diane Sowells, Jaxon Ray Dark, and Jaylen Marie Dark; his mother and stepfather, Lois and Jon Kalusha; father Billy N. Sowells and wife, Linda; sisters Tana Welsh and husband, Eddie of Claremore, Jolie Pressler and husband, Wayland, of Tulsa and Diana Carriso and husband, Douglass, of Broken Arrow; mother-in-law Brenda Jobe; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Ronnie Jobe, James Jobe, and Jenny Hentges; niece Tara Bunney and husband, Kyle, of Tulsa; numerous cousins, aunts and uncles; and his only great nephew, Hayden Bunney.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

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