Funeral services for Howard Suffern, 90, of Lawton will be held Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 1:30 pm at

Northwest Church of Christ in Lawton, where he was a longtime member.

Entombment with military honors will be in the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Mr. Suffern went to his heavenly reward on Tuesday, March 2, 2022 at the Lawton/Ft. Sill Veterans Center.

Howard was born Oct. 16, 1931 in Cass County, IL to Lewis and Velma (Walbert) Suffern.  Growing up, he helped his father working on

the family farm until joining the US Army at the age of 17, in April 1949. While stationed at Ft Sill

he met Mary Louise Giles at church and they fell in love. They were married May 6, 1950, and

two months later Howard was sent to Korea. He served in Korea from July 1950 until July 1951.

He was honorably discharged in June of 1952. During his time in the Army, he earned the

Korean Service Medal with 5 bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal. After leaving

the Army, Howard went to work in the auto mechanic business with his father-in-law, Lawrence

Giles. In 1958 he opened his own auto service center, Howard's Auto Service, which was the

"go to" auto service center in Lawton for many years. In 1980 he began a career working in

Civil Service at Ft. Sill, from which he retired in 1996. Howard's favorite hobbies were hunting

and fishing; he could be found most Saturday mornings out on the lake. Howard was a member

of 8th and Lee Church of Christ for many years, where he served as Deacon and Elder.

After his beloved wife Mary passed away, he married Nell Mayes in 1983. She preceded him in

death on November 26, 2016.

He spent his later years at the Lawton/Ft. Sill VA center, where he enjoyed the company of the

other veterans and the caring staff there. He particularly enjoyed playing dominoes each

evening and fishing at the pond. His family stayed close by, and he participated in many family

activities, outings, and gatherings over those years. He cherished time with his family more than

anything else in his life.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Leisa Wiersema and her husband Jimmy, of Elgin,

OK, and his grandchildren, Robbe and Jeremy Lohman, Kasey and Mike Arcabella, Ryan and

Whitney Stamper, Daren and Becky Stamper, and Brian and Darla Wiersema. He has ten

great-grandchildren: Jordan, Jake, John, Rylie, Luke, Alexis, Shai, Maddy, Justin, and Klay, and

three great-great-grandchildren: Liam, Wesley, and Cecelia.

When Howard married Nell he was also blessed with a loving step-family which widened the

circle of love that surrounded him: Bill and Beverly Mayes, of Krum, TX, Terry and Denise

Mayes of Katy, TX, and Ricky and Dinah Mayes of Duncan, OK. Grandchildren: Tonya and

Brock Mayberry, Bonnie and Nathan Gatewood, Crystal and Brian Pack, Candace and Jeff

Hilton, Jason and Lacey Mayes, and Jenny and Chase Towell. Great grandchildren are

Mackenzie, Erin, Atalie, Riley, Harper, Xander, Jasper, Aubrey, Grayson, and Felicity.

Howard was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Suffern, his second wife Nell Suffern, his

daughter Laurel Baker, and his son-in-law, Rick Stamper.

The family would especially like to thank the staff at the Lawton/Ft Sill Veterans Center for their

superb care of Howard. Without exception they were kind, compassionate, skilled at their work,

and they loved him as much as he loved them. His family is forever grateful.