Funeral services for Willard Mantooth, 84, of Wayne will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 19, 2024 at the Emmaual Baptist Church in Purcell. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
The family will receive guests and relatives for a visitation from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, January 18, 2024.
Mr. Mantooth passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2024.
Willard Berry Mantooth was born on December 12, 1939 in Purcell, Oklahoma, the oldest of four children born to Willard Lee Mantooth and Mozelle Gertrude (Garrison) Mantooth. He attended Purcell Public Schools and graduated with the Dragon Class of 1958.
Shortly after graduating high school, he joined his dad running heavy equipment, where they worked side by side for several years. In the mid 1960s, Willard bravely answered the call to serve his country. He joined the United States Army where he served his country honorably and faithfully.
When he returned, it was fate that he was introduced to a young woman named Rena Louise Blackwood. As the story goes, she was a waitress at a restaurant that he was eating at, and he couldn’t leave without asking her out on a date. The two quickly fell in love and were married on December 5, 1970. The couple shared 53 wonderful years of marriage together.
Willard was a man of many talents, and he was always venturing into new career opportunities. In addition to construction, he also drove a truck across the country for several years before eventually retiring in 2007. Willard was very independent, driven, and motivated. When he wasn’t working, he loved attending auctions. Whether it was for cars, trucks, heavy equipment, or just about anything, he was there! It’s been said that, “He never met an auction he didn’t like.”
More than anything, Willard was a family man. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He truly cherished every moment with them. Willard was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and a true friend. He will be dearly missed!
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Mozelle Mantooth; sisters, Brenda Mantooth and Carolyn Wall; brother, Jerry Mantooth; niece, Michelle Mantooth; and nephews, Shane Spencer and Brian Wall.
Willard is survived by his loving wife, Rena Mantooth of the home; sons, Berry Mantooth and wife, Tanya, of Wayne and Chad Mantooth of Purcell; five grandchildren, Caitlin, Joseph, Justin, Ashley and Katie; nieces, Kim Cline and husband, Aaron, of Norman, Teresa Piazza of Wayne, Adrianne Wall of Purcell and Denise Nash of Noble; nephew, Shawn Spencer of Wayne and a host of other family and friends.
Online condolences may be made at wilsonlittle.com.
