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© Strode Funeral Home
Stillwater, Oklahoma
November 2021

Jack Welton Tevebaugh
July 8, 1942 ~ November 24, 2021

Jack Welton Tevebaugh was born July 8, 1942 in Edmond, Oklahoma, the second of four children, to Shirley and Leonard Tevebaugh. He attended Britton Elementary and graduated from John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in May 1960. He briefly attended Oklahoma State University and then transferred to Central State College in Edmond. In December 1960, Jack proudly joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and served until December 1966. One warm, sunny Saturday in December 1962, he was working at his part-time job at John A. Brown Department Store in Penn Square Mall when his coffee buddy co-worker, Arlene, brought Karilyn Shore into the store to meet him. The following week, he saw her in the book department where she was working evenings during the Christmas season. He offered to buy her a cup of coffee (10 cents each) if she could put a nickel in with his 15 cents! Those 2 cups of coffee led to a 58-year partnership of caring, sharing, and working together.

Jack and Karilyn were married in Meade, Kansas on October 5, 1963. Over the next decade, they welcomed four children into their family. They moved many times and lived in several states over the years, spending 16 years in Perry, Oklahoma, where his children attended school and participated in a variety of activities. In 1997, they ultimately settled in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Jack passed peacefully from this life on November 24, 2021 at his home, with his little dog Phoebe by his side.

His careers included time at General Electric, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and Credit Service in Oklahoma City, where he drove 60 miles from Perry so his kids could continue their school years in their hometown without interruption. Although he spent over two hours each day commuting, he always made his children’s activities a priority and attended virtually every competition and performance they were in. His children were his life, and one of his proudest accomplishments was setting an example for them by going back to college and graduating with a Bachelor's degree the same year as two of his children. He then went on to complete a Master of Business Administration degree, which enabled him to finish his work life as the Manager of Supply and Receiving in the Physical Plant at Oklahoma State University, where he retired in 2011.

Jack is survived by his wife, Karilyn; son Tod Tevebaugh of Stillwater, Oklahoma; son Jon Trent Tevebaugh and wife, Lori, of Cherokee, Oklahoma; son Treynor Tevebaugh and wife, Leslie, of Woodward, Oklahoma; and daughter Tara (Tevebaugh) Hochstetler and husband, Brad, of Traverse City, Michigan. He is also survived by his six grandchildren Sean, Parker, Jonah, Presley, Jackson, and Lucy; one brother, Leonard and wife, Sachiko; sister Sherry and husband, Ron; and sister Cindy; brothers-in-law Curtis and wife, Patti, and Stan and wife, Pam; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Jack loved his wife, children, grandchildren, pets, birds, and cattle, flowers, and many varieties of plants. He and Karilyn spent countless hours over 24 years transforming their acreage south of Stillwater from a rough, overgrown, wooded mess to a peaceful home place where they enjoyed entertaining family and friends. He was a true believer and honored that faith by enjoying his lovely home amid the splendor of Mother Nature which included a large vegetable garden, vineyard, winery, hummingbird sanctuary, azalea garden, expansive lawn sloping to a large fishing pond, flock of chickens, various faithful pets, and his herd of registered Black Angus; but armadillos and racoons, not so much. Each day he and Karilyn marveled at the fact they could see the sunrises and sunsets, moon and stars from their home. He was a hard working steward of their place, always building something whether it was a barn or a little birdhouse. If Karilyn could think of it, he could build it; he was true to his word for as long as he was physically able.

Jack loved visiting and spending time with his children and watching his grandchildren’s sporting events, dance recitals, theatre performances, and absolutely any other activity in which they participated. He even joined them when possible, taking 20-mile bike rides and attempting white water kayaking. It didn’t always go smoothly, but Jack kept his sense of humor until the very end and never took himself too seriously. We harassed him relentlessly and he always responded with a good-natured chuckle and chagrined shake of his head.

Tenacity and endurance were two of his defining traits, along with unconditional love. He needed all three to survive the last 14 years of health hurdles after his initial cancer diagnosis in 2007. He won the initial battle, but his head and neck were severely damaged from radiation and chemotherapy and caused him significant physical and emotional turmoil, especially in his later years. Through it all, Jack never complained and did everything he could to be with his family a little bit longer. Unfortunately, his body was done with him, even if we weren't.

Among his final words were "I've had a good life. I have a good family."" which brings to mind his long-time favorite phrase, "Life is good.""

Indeed, his life was so good.

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This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma Cemeteries