Deceased Name: Harland Stonecipher

© Criswell Funeral Home

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

 

CENTRAHOMA- A celebration of life for Harland Stonecipher will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Hallie Brown Ford Performing Arts Center’s Ataloa Theatre on the campus of East Central University. Burial will follow at Centrahoma Cemetery. Rev. Mickey Keith will preside at the services. The family will host visitation at Criswell Funeral Home on Wednesday, Nov. 12, between 5-7 p.m.

Mr. Stonecipher died Monday, November 10, 2014 at a local hospital. He was born June 4, 1938 in Ashland, OK to Allen Clinton and Viola Johnson Stonecipher. He attended Tupelo Schools and was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from East Central State College in 1959. While in college, he would marry his “soulmate,” Shirley Ann Thompson, in 1958. The couple celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary earlier this year.

After a brief career as a school teacher and debate coach, Mr. Stonecipher joined his mentor, Charlie Walls, in the life insurance business. While on a sales trip in 1969, Mr. Stonecipher was in an automobile accident that ultimately led to his founding and creation of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. in 1972.

For 40 years, Mr. Stonecipher led his company as Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The company’s initial one-room operation grew and would become listed on the American Stock Exchange. In 1999, the company moved to the world’s largest exchange, the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PPD.

His vision of making quality legal services available to every North American led to more than 1.4 million families owning the membership and more than 300,000 sales associates taking advantage of the business opportunity. He devised a proprietary network of provider law firms to deliver the legal services.

Throughout his tenure with Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., Mr. Stonecipher became recognized for his vision and accomplishments. A renowned orator, he was asked to speak before a variety of businesses, associatons and organizations, including several attorney general associations.

In 2002, he was recognized by Ernst & Young as their Southwest Master Enterpreneur of the Year. His alma mater, ECU, recognized him as Distinguished Alumnus in 1987. He and Shirley would later bestow a gift to the university which led to the naming of the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business.

Aside from his business pursuits, Mr. Stonecipher was appointed to three consecutive terms as a commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman.

He and Shirley also funded the construction of the Life Community Church located just southwest of LegalShield’s home office on Stonecipher Boulevard. The church is scheduled to open in December of this year.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Shirley; son, Allen Stonecipher and wife Karen; grandsons, Greg and Zane Stonecipher, all of Centrahoma, Okla.; Sister, Vircle Thetford of Ada; Brother, Verman Stonecipher of Ada and several nieces and nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Brent Stonecipher; daughter-in-law Tina Stonecipher; granddaughter Nikki Stonecipher and two brothers, Doyin and L.C.Stonecipher.

Pallbearers are Mike Turpen, Earl Jones, Nick Serba, Orland Aldridge, John Long and Melvin Hall.

Honorary bearers include: Kennith Moore, Steve Breed, Dr. Fletcher Brothers, Jim Clements, John Hail, John Addison, Agar Thomas, Gov. Bill Anoatubby, Lt. Gov. Jefferson Keel, Bill Lance, Fran Tarkenton, Congressman Tom Cole, Gov. Brad Henry, Gov. Frank Keating, Glenn Coffee, Gov. Mary Fallin, Gayle Serba, Mark Brown, Randy Harp, Steve Williamson, Kathy Pinson, Keri Prince, Melanie Lawson, Leslie Fisher, Linda Brown, Vicky Mapp, Bruce Redwine, Jeannie Forneris, Travis Reed, Shane Procter, President John Hargrave, Phyllis Danley, Wendell Godwin, Dr. Shelley Hamby, Dr. Gerald Williamson, all of LegalShield’s Platinum Executive Directors, all of his coyote and coon hunting friends, and all of the partners for the Provider Firm Network at LegalShield.

The family extends thanks to Dr. Tim Medcalf and his medical staff. “Dr. Medcalf is a doctor all the time,” Harland said. The family also requests memorial gifts be made either to Life Community Church, P.O. Box 860, Ada, OK 74821 or to the ECU Foundation, c/o Nikki Stonecipher Memorial Scholarship, 1100 E. 14th, PMB Y-8, Ada, OK 74820.

CRISWELL FUNERAL HOME -ADA

|Centrahoma Cemetery Index|

|Home| |Coal Co. Index| |Coal Co. Misc. Obit Index| |Area Coordinator