Paul Otto Harland

Paul O. Harland

Paul Otto Harland was born in Texhoma, Oklahoma on February 24, 1934 to Otto and Madeline Harland. Paul was one of five children and their only son. His Grandparents were Carl & Bertha Muller and William & Ida Harland.  

Paul attended Texhoma High School for 12 years. He was active in the school choir, played in the band and played basketball & football. He also became a member and the first President of the Texhoma Future Farmers of America. Paul graduated from high school in 1952.  He attended Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell, OK and majored in Animal Husbandry. He also played in the band and sang in the choir. His junior year he transferred to Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas and continued his major and added a minor in Bible. Abilene is where he met his future wife, Rozilla McKnight.  They married in June of 1956. After graduation, Paul and Rozilla moved to Texhoma where he started farming alongside his father. Shortly after, Paul was drafted into the military. He spent time in Colorado, Georgia and Maryland. He received a “Hardship Discharge” to go home and help his father farm. Paul & Rozilla stayed in Texhoma and raised their four children, LaDonna, Bob, Terry and Susan on the Muller family farm.  Paul served as President of the Rotary Club, Booster Club and as the Secretary / Treasurer of the Texas County Junior Livestock. Paul was hired by Monsanto and moved to Shallowater, Kansas to manage a grain elevator. Paul and Rozilla lived there for 5 years before they were transferred back to Guymon, Oklahoma. He retired in 1998 from his career. Paul and Rozilla were blessed to move into Paul’s family farm house where he was born and raised.  They lived there 15 amazing years. Paul was a member of the Texhoma Church of Christ where he served as a song leader and Bible class teacher for many years. Paul and Rozilla were married 62 years. Paul passed away on January 22, 2019 from complications of a recent illness.

He is preceded in death by His parents, Otto and Madeline Harland; sister, Elene Green, and son, Bob Harland.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rozilla; three children, LaDonna from Midland, TX; Terry Harland and his wife Stacy from Mustang, OK; and Susan Mattocks and husband Larry of Oklahoma City, OK; daughter-in-law, Penny Harland of Moore, OK; 9 grandchildren, Megan, Sarah, Katie, Jared, Kelsey, Kennedy, Shelby, Will and Rylee; 5 great grandchildren, Kalia, Kamron, Aven, Evie and Gideon; three sisters, Joyce Chisum, Mary Beth Blake and Judy Morgan. And a host of extended family and friends.  

Anyone wishing to share stories or fond memories of Paul, please email the family at susanmattocks@cox.net.   

Viewing will be at Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, 709 S First St, Texhoma on Friday, Jan. 25th, 1-7 PM with the family being present from 5-7PM. 

Funeral services will be 2pm Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 at Church of Christ. 3rd & Elm St, Texhoma, with Ron Eggleston, officiating.   Interment with military rites will follow in Texhoma Cemetery. 

Memorials may be given “In Remembrance of Paul Harland” to the Texhoma Church of Christ, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Dir, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK  73942.  Friends may sign the online guestbook and send condolences at www.hensonnovak.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul Otto Harland, please visit our floral store.