George Robert Highfill's Obituary
A Life Remembered: George Robert Highfill September 21, 2017 Floral Haven Funeral Home 6500 South 129th East Avenue, Broken Arrow, OK 3pm in the ChapelGeorge Robert Highfill was born on January 13th, 1944. He died peacefully on September 16, 2017.George was born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma, his beloved hometown. He graduated from Muskogee High School in 1962 and went on to Bacone College, also in Muskogee, and Northeastern University in Tahlequah.George joined the workforce as a salesman, working for Anderson Wholesale in his early career. He relocated to Tulsa and moved into the insurance business, acquiring his own Farmer’s Insurance Office, and then later joined American Automobile Association (AAA) where he served as Vice President of Insurance Services until his retirement in 2000. During his retirement, George took on part-time work at his all-time favorite store, Bass Pro Shop.George loved his hometown of Muskogee. He remained close with his boyhood friends throughout his life. Oh how he loved to reminisce about the fun and mischief they enjoyed in those early days! He also was known to entertain his friends and family by singing the karaoke version of his favorite song…. you guessed it… “Okie from Muskogee” by Merle Haggard. George had lots of other close friends from all the places he lived and worked, he was that kind of guy, well loved by many.In junior high George played football and in high school played the trumpet in the marching band. On many occasions he was let out of school to play taps for local residents. He even received a partial music scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. Although attending OU was not meant to be, this didn’t stop him from becoming a lifelong fan of OU football, a passion he gleefully passed on to his daughter Alycia.George also was a member of the Bedouin Shrine Temple of Muskogee. He ran for the shrine ring under the campaign name of “Georgy Porgy” and although he didn’t win, that nickname stuck. He was hence forth affectionately known as “Georgy Porgy.” The Shriners are known for their charity work and George really loved to dress up in his “Snoopy” costume and march in Shriner parades. As you might imagine, Snoopy was very popular and George loved every minute of it.George had many interests. He loved food, or more to the point, he loved to eat! Especially spicy food. If George could’ve eaten bar-b-que ribs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, he would have been in hog heaven! He also loved outdoor sports, especially motorcycling and boating. Dirt bikes were his favorite. He spent many-a weekend riding cross-country with his buddies.But George’s most favorite thing of all was fishing. He liked all kinds of fishing, but lake fishing was his absolute love. As mentioned, during his retirement years, George worked at Bass Pro Shop and his friends and family liked to say he was “working at the candy store.” As usual, George generated lots of fun at the store and had customers driving in from distant places just to consult with him.George was married twice – first to Jeanette and then to Sondra. He was both Dad and Stepdad to five kids: Alycia, Curt, Sheri, Janna and Rusty. Says George’s wife Sondra, “He kept busy helping to raise this big family. He fixed old cars, boats, and motorcycles – any and all vehicles that we shared. He taught his kids and grandkids how to fish and most especially how to have fun!” Sondra also says that, thanks to George’s position with AAA, they took many trips all over the USA so George could attend insurance conferences. As a result, they got to stay at several posh hotels and resorts and explore many interesting cities. She told George, “if all we do is stay home and watch TV in our retirement years that is a-okay, we had a ball traveling the country.”George was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Billie and Bill Cress and his father, Charles Highfill; and by his Aunt and Uncle, Lurlee and JJ Walker.He is survived by his wife Sondra Highfill; his brother Chuck Highfill (wife Heidi); his children Alycia Highfill and Curt Rampp; his stepchildren Sheri Unzicker (husband Eric and son Leo); Janna Caywood (husband Joseph Briggs); Rusty Caywood (wife Jennifer and son and daughter, Tyler and Kyndall.); and his beloved dog, Angel.George loved life and was a master at having fun. As a result, life with George was fun! This is how we will remember him – as a fun-loving guy who shared his zest for life and his love of friends, family and fishing with everyone around him. Godspeed, we love you, GRH.Memorial Service will be 3:00 PM, Thursday, September 21st, Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.In lieu of flowers memorial contributions maybe made to www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org
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