Otice C. Sircy

Otice Sircy, 84, of Arlington, Virginia passed away December 20, 2024 due to complications of pneumonia. Services will be at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Lawton, Oklahoma on Friday, March 14 at 2 pm. Reverend Stephanie Jenkins, rector, officiating. Special music will begin at 1:30 pm.

Otice was born September 15, 1940 in Wichita Falls, Texas to parents Otice and

Virginia (LaLonde) Sircy. He grew up in nearby Petrolia, Texas before graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree. He received a Master of English degree from the University of North Texas in Denton and completed further doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a concentration in British literature.

Sircy’s teaching career began with positions at various high schools in Texas. In 1968, he

began a long teaching career as an English professor at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. It was in Lawton that he met and married Virginia Rice, also a Cameron University faculty member, on August 30, 1969. After retiring from Cameron University in 2000, Sircy began a second career as Curator for the Percussive Arts Society Museum, responsible for the management and showcasing of the museum’s collection of valuable instruments. He also continued his study of the cello and performed as a member of the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra and various chamber music groups.

Otice was preceded in death by his parents, Otice C. Sircy and Virginia LaLonde Sircy, sister, Charlotte Wooden and cousin Jerry King. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Sircy (Arlington, VA); daughter, Catherine Sircy, daughter-in-law, Wendi Colby and their two children, Kelsa and Joely Coker (all of McLean, VA); numerous cousins including Cheryl Denson (Dallas, TX), Albert LaLonde (Austin, TX), Suzanne Foster (Austin, TX), and Jackie Sultzbaugh (Dallas, TX); several nieces and nephews including Laura Clarke (Port Angeles, Washington), Jan Butterfield (Richmond, VA), Sally Rasmussen (Portland, OR), and Paul Wooden (Wilton, ME).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (1313 D Avenue, Lawton, Oklahoma, 73507), St. Joseph’s Indian School (PO Box 300, Chamberlain, South Dakota, 57325-9919) or the charity of one’s choice. Services are scheduled for Friday, March 14, 2pm, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1313 SW “D” Avenue, Lawton, Oklahoma