Criswell wore a white hat

The Purcell community lost one of the really great guys with the recent death of Jimmy Criswell.

When he died suddenly while on vacation in Alaska wife, Larrie, and the rest of the family had a major problem on their hands just getting him back for a funeral service.

Word spread like wildfire that it was going to cost $3,000 to fly him back home, not to mention Larrie with a change of flight plans.

Mayor Ted Cox put the word out that a fund-raiser was needed.

As a testament to Jimmy and to the credit of Purcell and the Heart of Oklahoma that $3,000 was raised in about 30 minutes.

Ted told me he had numerous callers say just tell me how much more you need to meet the $3,000 total and I’ll make up the difference.

Thing was the $3,000 goal had already been met and more.

Meanwhile, donations continued to pour in more than making up for the cost of the funeral itself, Cox reported.

Jimmy was a dandy and everyone knew it. When a need arose to lend a helping hand, the community did just exactly what Jimmy would have done if he knew someone in need.

He’d take the shirt off his back and do it with that classic grin.

We miss that grin and his always pleasant demeanor but we are glad he didn’t suffer.

Take care old friend and Godspeed.

Just in case there are still folks out there wanting to donate, Wilson-Little employees tell me the checks should be made out to Larrie and not Jimmy anymore.