Billy Percifield

Billy Percifield, 76-year-old resident of Keyes, Oklahoma passed away on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Cimarron Memorial Hospital in Boise City, Oklahoma.

Billy Joe Percifield was born March 28, 1947, in the family home in Protection, Kansas. He was the 5 th of 6 children born to Vivian Tence Percifield and Leatha Prilliman Percifield. Bill attended school in Protection until his sophomore year. During his sophomore year of high school, Bill made the decision to travel to California where he found a job as a welder building dental equipment. While in California, he had a minor scrape with the law which resulted in his return to Protection. Upon his return to Protection, Bill worked for local businesses until he enlisted in the Army at the age of 18. While in the Army, Bill was stationed in Germany where he worked various jobs as a mechanic, a driver for an officer, and as a gunner. Bill’s unit was shipped to Vietnam, but he was unable to go with his unit because he was hospitalized at the time of their deployment. After Bill’s discharge from the Army he returned to Protection where he married Linda Kay McCarl in 1969. Linda brought two daughters to this union, Lisa and Laura. Bill worked with his family as a custom harvester and in 1970 he and Linda relocated to Keyes where in 1971 Stephanie was born. A short time after Stephanie was born the family relocated to Sterling, Colorado, where Bill found work in a millwright position involved in the construction of elevators. They then moved to Moreno, Colorado, where he worked as a welder for Wisdom Manufacturing, a company that constructed carnival rides. After leaving Wisdom Manufacturing, Bill worked for a local farmer harvesting pinto beans.

In 1973, the family returned to the Keyes area where Bill worked as a truck driver for several different trucking companies which included Perryton Equity, Shupe Brothers and Chris Hunt Water Hauling. In 1974, Bill and Linda welcomed another daughter Brenda. Bill struggled with alcoholism for many years and one result of that was that he and Linda divorced in 1983. Bill’s alcohol dependency caused his employment opportunities to be very limited over the next several years.

Bill obtained his sobriety in May of 1990 and maintained that sobriety for the remainder of his life. He always attributed his sobriety to “finally becoming humble enough to admit he couldn’t beat it on his own and had to have the help of a higher power.” Gary Ingram was willing to give Bill a chance, so he hired him to drive tractor and do other farming related work. Bill completed his GED and also became certified in refrigeration from Seward Community College after he became sober.

Bill began managing the TePee Bar in Keyes where he met his future second wife, Sandra June Fox. Bill and Sandy were working together managing the TePee when Bill was given the opportunity to go to work for Cimarron County District 3 under Commissioner Richard Gardner. Bill continued to work at the County and was promoted to foreman when Susie Williams was elected Commissioner. When Susie retired as Commissioner, Bill decided to run for the office. He was elected for two terms as the Cimarron County District 3 Commissioner. During Bill’s first term in office, he and Sandy were married on January 14, 2005 in Clayton, New Mexico. Sandy continued to manage the TePee while Bill served as Commissioner until they sold the bar and were able to purchase their first “real house” where they resided together until their deaths.

When Bill finished his time as an elected official, he began hauling milk for transport companies coast to coast. Bill hauled milk until Sandy’s health began to fail and he felt it necessary to come home to help care for her.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Vivian Tence and Lea Percifield, one brother Jim Percified, two sisters Darlene Percified and Phyllis Lindeman and wife Sandra June Percifield.

He is survived by one brother Wade and Kathy Percifield of Toronto KS, one sister Marge and Nick Wilmarth of Keyes, OK, daughter Stephanie and Bob Cochran of Keyes, OK, daughter Brenda Percifield of Keyes, OK, stepdaughter Lisa Fry of Elkhart, KS, stepdaughter Laura and Craig Cook of Logan, NM and unofficially adopted son Thomas Hicks of Keyes, OK.

He is also survived by granddaughters Erica and David Bailey of Keyes, OK, Mackenzie and Brad Ottinger of Kaw City, OK, Tristian Williams of Stillwater, OK and grandson Tyler Brown of Keyes, OK, step grandsons Elliott and Colton Fry of Keyes, OK, Blake Cook of Des Moines, NM and step granddaughter Brittani and Victor Estrada of Garland TX. Bill is also survived by three great grandchildren, Landen Williams, Chanley Bailey and Cooper Ottinger, seven step great grandchildren, Tessa, Lane, Ally, Aspen, and Ryan Cook and Sayge and Owen Estrada along with
many beloved nieces and nephews.

Graveside Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October, 24, 2023 at Willowbar Cemetery outside of Keyes, Oklahoma with Britt Smith officiating.

Memorial Contributions may be made in Billy's name to Cimarron Memorial Hospital P.O. Box 1059, Boise City, Oklahoma 73933

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