Samuel Max Barrett's Obituary
Samuel Max Barrett of Watonga, Oklahoma passed away Thursday February 19, 2015 at the age of 94. He was born in Wynnewood, OK on October 15, 1920 to Samuel Martin and Alma Kathryn (Prim) Barrett. After completing high school in Wynnewood at the age of 16, he spent a year taking prep courses at Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, OK. He became a lifelong fan of the University of Oklahoma Sooners while attending the University of Oklahoma where he completed 60 hours of undergraduate studies. He was then accepted to study at the dental school in Kansas City, MO. It was while he was in dental school that he met his future wife, Marjorie Jane Borgstadt of Concordia, MO. while she was attending business school. They met on a blind date December 6, 1941 (the day before Pearl Harbor). He was allowed to finish dental school with the obligation to go into the US Army as a dentist. When he graduated in December of 1943, he immediately entered the Army and began officer training. Upon graduation from Army training, he and Marjorie were married in Rockford, IL Feb. 12th 1944. Soon afterward he shipped off to Europe where he served as a LT. in the Army Medical Corp, attached to the 22nd Infantry Regiment. He was separated from the service in 1946, having attained the rank of Captain. His service obligation completed, Max, as he was known to most, and Marjorie decided to make their home in Watonga, OK where he practiced dentistry for 50 years and they raised their family of four children. In addition to managing his dental practice and raising a family, Dr. Barrett was an active community leader. Among the many organizations he actively participated in and supported were First Methodist Church of Watonga, Kiwanis Club, Watonga School Board, the Oklahoma Dental Association, Jr. Jaycees, Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts, 4-H club and VFW. Dr. Barrett was also responsible for giving a number of local dentists their start by allowing them to begin their practices in his office before going out on their own. Among those dentists were Dr. Fred Lucas, Dr. Andrea Scoville, Dr. Fred Winter of Okeene and Dr. Robert Edsall who eventually bought Barrett’s practice. He truly loved the practice of dentistry and was known for miles around for his quality work. Dr. Barrett is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marjorie and his sister, Jo Anne Barrett Mullen. He is survived by his son, Sam & wife Paula of Presque Isle, ME.; son, Dan and wife Anita of Yelm, WA.; son, Andy and wife Linda of Watonga; and daughter Jane Malcolm and husband Jerry of Tulsa, OK, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren of which he took great pleasure in spending time with. Memorial services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Watonga at 11 am, Saturday, March 7th. Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Watonga, First United Methodist Church of Tulsa, or Phoenix Circle Art Foundation in Watonga.
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