Richard Olen Liles, a longtime resident of Henryetta and former Henryetta Police Captain, died Jan. 30, 2016 in Tulsa at the age of 84. Richard was born in Okemah to Joseph Richard Liles and Minnie Lottie Bear Liles. He grew up in the Okemah area. He proudly served in the U.S. Army for several years including a tour of duty in Japan. Richard was married to Ellen C. Nichols Dec. 22, 1965 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. They remained happily married for 40 years before Ellen's death in 2006.
Richard served in several public service capacities during his working career. He served as a police officer in Albequerque and in Okemah before settling in Henryetta where he served as Captain in the Henryetta Police Department until he retired after many years of faithful service. Following his law enforcement career, Richard became well-known around Henryetta as a school bus driver where he served the children and families through the Henryetta Public School System. He was a longtime member of the Masonic Tulledega Lodge #201 of Henryetta where he served in numerous capacities throughout the years. He was also a 32nd degree Mason. He was a member of the Grand Enchantment of the Knights Templar.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father; by his devoted wife Ellen; by his stepson, Bobby Cluck; by his five brothers Joseph Liles, former Okmulgee County Sheriff Harry Liles, Paul Liles, Robert Leonard Liles, and James Liles; and by a son-in-law, James Patrick Bridgeford.
Richard is survived by daughter Detria Owens and husband Robert of Okmulgee, daughter, Trisha Withrow and husband Joe of Dewar, daughter Pat Bridgeford-Nabors and Jakie nabors of McAlester, and daughter Dorothy Wedinger and Jeff Taylor of Missouri; grandchildren, Shanna Kinslow of Henryetta, Colton Withrow and Jessica Withrow of Dewar, Thomas Wedinger of Missouri, Dr. Michael Cluck of San Jose, CA, Patrick Cluck of Las Vegas, NV, Marsha Bridgeford Sczepanski, and Lisa Bridgeford and husband Peter of Oklahoma City, and John Daniel Bridgeford and wife Brenda of Hartley, DE; great grandchildren, Tylor Kinslow, Seth Kinslow, Miles Cluck, Max Cluck, and Lillie Cluck, Chalia Bridgeford, and Rhian Bridgeford; a daughter-in-law, Vickie Cluck of Las Vegas, NV; brother, Charles Albert Liles and wife Diane of California; sister-in-law, Jeannie Cox of McKinney, TX; special friends, Bobby Patterson and wife Linda of Henryetta; other extended family and many good friends, fellow police officers, and church family.
Viewing for Richard will be held at Integrity Funeral Service Monday, February 1, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, February 2, 2016 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Integrity Chapel with Rev. Robert Honeycutt officiating. Interment will be held immediately following at Weleetka Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of Integrity Funeral Service. Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Army.
Pallbearers will be George Wayne Powell, Joe Withrow, Colton Withrow, Robert Owens, Jakie Nabors. Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Patterson, Richard Larney, Bob Barnett, and Dale Dickey.