Tommie Jack Kiester

Tommie Jack Kiester was born on April 1, 1933 at Maud, Oklahoma to Carl Kinsey Kiester and Goldie Jessie (Beaubien) Kiester. He passed from this life on August 1, 2011 with loved ones at his side. When he was a small child, the family moved to Duncan, Oklahoma, where Tommie attended Duncan Schools, graduating from high school in 1951. He delivered the Duncan Banner Newspaper from when he was a kid until he was a senior in high school. For the next two years, Tommie attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He transferred in his junior year to Purdue University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University. He was a 32nd Degree Mason. After serving two years of active duty in the United States Army, he spent another four years in the United States Army Reserve. While on active duty, Tommie served on specialist projects for NASA, including the design of rockets and personal propulsion systems. Following the military service, Tommie lived in Oklahoma City, where he was very active in civic activities. He and his brother owned Keco Plastics Molding in Oklahoma City for several years. After selling that business, he moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado, where he worked for Water Pic, then being a plastic design engineer, he went into business for himself as TK Designs. On December 4, 1994 in Longmont, Colorado, Tommie married his high school sweetheart, Myrna Lee (Black) Kiester and upon retiring, they moved to Eufaula, Oklahoma, where he continued TK Designs until again retiring. Being the active individual he had always been, he worked at several post-retirement jobs, the latest of which was with Eufaula Pharmacy. Kiester has been active in various organizations since moving to the area, including having represented the City of Eufaula as a member of Oklahoma District Library System board in Muskogee. He served as president of Friends of the Eufaula Memorial Library, and was treasurer of Eufaula Library Memorial Trust. He was active in the former Eufaula Writers Guild. He has published several short stories. The Reverend Mike Brannon performed the service, which was held at Eufaula First United Methodist Church where Tommie was a lay speaker, sang tenor in the choir, and was currently secretary of Eufaula United Methodist Men. He served on various committees including his latest office as chairman of Evangelism. He recently started the Exercise for Seniors group that meets at the church on Wednesday mornings. The First United Methodist Church choir performed “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “I’ll Fly Away”. Kelly Davis sang, “Jesus, I Believe What You Said” and Bill Smith sang “He Touched Me.” Norman and Carolyn Stauffer provided prelude and postlude on the piano and organ. He leaves behind his wife, Myrna, of the home; son, Steve Kiester and wife, Vicki, of Ft. Worth, TX; daughter, Janet Limbeck and husband, Jerry, of Loveland, CO; sister, Patsy Nixon and husband, Jack, of Duncan, OK; brother, Joel Kiester, of Boulder, CO; stepsons, Stephen Perry and Mark Perry, Sr., of Modesto, CA; one granddaughter; one step granddaughter; three grandsons; three step grandsons including, Mark Perry, Jr., of Eufaula, OK; two great granddaughters; and two great grandsons.