Denver Clyde Merrell

Denver Clyde Merrell, age 79 and a life-long resident of Konawa, Oklahoma, passed away from this life July 10, 2017 at Alliance Health Hospital in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 14, 2017 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Konawa.  Rev. Ed Bray and Ed George will officiate, and burial will follow at Vamoosa Cemetery.  Casket bearers are Aaron Harrell, Joe French, Jim Miller, Thurman Rail, Ralph Carter, Allen Foster, John Reed, and Robert Berndsen.  The Family will receive guests at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening. Denver was born January 30, 1938 in Vamoosa, Oklahoma to Oscar H. Merrell and Ida E. (Hanna) Merrell.  Denver lived in Vamoosa and the Konawa area most of his life.  He graduated from Vamoosa High School in 1956, and he married Wynema Harper August 25, 1959 in St. Louis, Oklahoma.  Denver worked as a truck driver, roughneck, oilfield pumper, welder, and a horseshoer.  He also did other various jobs, but his passion was roping.  He started off as a calf roper, but soon became a team roper and competing as a header and heeler.  He, along with Jerry Shoemake, Ken Lance, Everett Shaw, Jim Rutherford, Jim Miller, and a few others were instrumental in organizing the first Oklahoma Dally Team Ropers Association.  He was also the Reserve World Champion Team Roper in the International Professional Rodeo Association.  He passed his love of roping to his daughters and to many other family members and friends.  He was always willing to lend a helping hand or encouraging words of advice.  He enjoyed watching Denema and Lorie rope, and he loved roping with Christy and Chelsey.  When he could no longer rope, he enjoyed playing with Cassidy and Alli and watching them on their horses.  He was a charter member of Cross Timbers Church of Konawa, and a member of AQHA and USTRC. He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Wynema (Harper) Merrell of the home; two daughters, Denema Merrell of Choctaw, Oklahoma, and Lorie Patterson and husband, Charlie of Konawa; two granddaughters, Christy Wilson and husband, Adam of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Chelsey McGee and husband, William of Goldsby, Oklahoma; two great granddaughters, Cassidy Wilson and Alli McGee; one brother, Jack Merrell and wife, Janet of Konawa; four sisters, Norma McKeever of Konawa, Bobbie Womack and husband, Jerry of Littleton, Colorado, Lola Garner of Konawa, and Linda Bowerman and husband, Wayne of Neosho, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Ida Merrell; two brothers, Oscar Lynn Merrell and John Merrell; and two sisters, Etta Jane Merrell and Lavon Hubble. Funeral Information: July 14, 2017, 10:00 AM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel of Konawa located at 217 N. Broadway, Konawa, OK 74849