Services for Jerry Don Christian, 69, of Byng are 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Ada, Pastor Dan Megehee and Rev. Zac Christian will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. The family will receive friends and share memories from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Criswell Funeral Home.
Mr. Christian died Monday, March 2, 2015 at an Oklahoma City hospital. He was born December 30, 1945 in Ada to Coe Edward and Mary Marie Andrews Christian. He graduated from Byng High School in 1964 and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Math from East Central University in 1970.
He married Debbie Deaton on June 9, 1972 at the Lovelady Baptist Church. Mr. Christian began his working career in May 1970 as a Math Instructor and Baseball, Basketball and Swimming Coach at Byng High School. In December, 1973, he went to work for the Department of the Army (the Oklahoma National Guard). He managed the officer Education Program. From January 1977 to June 1979, he served as the Field Service Officer, responsible for planning and executing all support missions to support 15,000 troops. From June 1979 to February 1985, he served as the Company Commander, Field Service Officer, Personnel Officer and later Training Technician. In November 1985, he was the Administrative Officer, overseeing and managing all operations of a Battalion with 540 part-time and 50 full-time personnel.
From December 1974 to December 1980, Mr. Christian was a Co-partner of CRC Specialty Company, which was an advertising company and the co- owner of Action Real Estate. He was the owner of Christians Distributors, a wholesale/Retail operation for over 2000 products, 4-J Cutting Horses, Action Plastics Company and C & M Consultants.
From 1986 until the current time, he was the owner of Ada Tag Agency. Mr. Christian was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Ada and Lovelady Baptist Church. Currently, he was a Charter-member and Chairman of the Board of Crosscut Cowboy Church. He was the president of the local National Wild Turkey Board and also a State Board member. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association. Formerly, he served as the President of the State Coaches Association from 1972-1973, Vice-President of Optimist Club from 1974-1976, a member of the National Cutting Horse Association, member of the Quarter Horse Association and member of the Professional Negotiators Association.
Mr. Christian had served on the Byng School Board and the Cowboy Crisis Fund.
Survivors include his wife Debbie, of the home; two daughters, Dara Christian of Byng and Jerica Reed and her husband Thomas of Byng; his father, Edward Christian of Ada; two grandchildren, Cody Reed and Dylan Reed; four brothers, Eddie Christian, Byng, John Christian, Francis, Larry Christian, Stonewall and Wayne Christian, Ada; a sister, Linda Marie Thompson, Houston, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother and a brother, James Christian.
Bearers will be Blake Crawford, Derrell Meek, Rick May, Jeremiah Shockley, Chris Christian, Zac Christian, Cheyenne Christian and Jason Christian. Honorary bearers will be Ted Holt, Dan Pizzino, Arnold Muncrief, Bob Gray, Joe Cantrell, Steve Crawford, Gary Haney and Marion Craig.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Cowboy Crisis Fund, P. O. Box 243, Fittstown, OK 74842.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
