Ira D. Hart Jr. was born on June 22, 1931, to Ira D. and Wilma (McBride) Hart in Hammon, OK. Ira was called Home February 23rd, 2019. In childhood, Ira lived in Hastings, Victory, Porter High and Cooperton, OK, before moving to Anadarko, OK, in 1939. Ira graduated from Anadarko High School in 1949 then attended Oklahoma City University for one year.
On September 1, 1950, he enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard 45th Infantry Division after it was mobilized for active duty, serving in Fort Polk, LA, Hokkaido, Japan, and the Korean war zone. On returning from Korea in June of 1952, SFC Hart chose to remain in the National Guard until retirement with 23 years of service. In February 1955, he received a direct commission to immediately become commander of Anadarko’s Battery B, 158 Field Artillery Battalion, an assignment served in two stints, totaling over 8 years. Other duties included staff assignments as Battalion Communications Officer and Intelligence Officer in Lawton Ok; Division Artillery Liaison Officer in Enid, Ok; and Selective Service Officer in the Oklahoma Military Department Selective Services Unit in Oklahoma City, OK.
He married Mary Louise Keathley in Lawton, OK, on March 13, 1951. Ira graduated from Oklahoma State University (formerly Oklahoma A&M) in January 1955, earning a degree in Business Administration. Following his graduation, he returned with his wife and first son to Anadarko and joined his father in the family business. Together they were parents of four sons, John Keathley Hart, David Howard Hart, Paul Joseph Hart, and Stephen Donald Hart. Mary Louise was his loving helpmate for almost 25 years, until her death on January 8, 1976.
In 1964, due to his father’s illness, Ira assumed the major management responsibilities for the company and full management on the death of his father in 1968. He continued operating the business, with locations in Anadarko, OK and Carnegie, OK until closing in 1992 after 48 years of operation by the family.
Following dual careers as merchant and part-time soldier, Ira joined an international management consultant firm and traveled around the U.S. and Canada. After “retirement” from two careers, Ira soon found himself in a third. On April 1, 1996, he was named Assistant Director of Missions of Volunteers in Mission Ministry, Oklahoma Conference, of the United Methodist Church. Ira received the first VIM Warm Heart award at the 2005 Annual Conference. On March 31, 2008, he retired from Oklahoma Volunteers in Mission.
Ira was the oldest of seven children.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise; parents, Ira D. and Wilma Hart; son, Paul Hart; daughter-in-law, Lisa Hart (wife of Stephen); sister, Pauletta Wilson Talkington; brother, Allen (Mac) Hart; brother, Gordon Hart; and brother-in-law, Leon Wilson.
Ira is survived by three sons and their families: John Hart (Jeffery and Kathryn Hart, Carson, Camy and Jenna); David and Brenda Hart (Mary’glenda and Michael Lewis, Rocco and Lucca); Jennifer and Jeremy Edgar (Madison and McKenna); Paul’s widow, Michele Hart Corley (Joshua); Stephen Hart (Riley and Jake); Surviving siblings and in-laws include; Carole Hart McCarthy, Joe and Earlene Hart, Julane and Micheal Taylor, Sue (Hazel) Hart, Mary Hart, and Dale Talkington along with seventeen nieces and nephews, twenty nine great nieces and nephews and 9 great-great nieces and nephews. Ira is also survived by his long-time, devoted friend and companion, Mary Alice Young.
In honor of Ira’s love for “OSU” the family is requesting to wear something Orange.
Memorial Services will be held March 8th at 10:30 am at:
Church Of The Servant
14343 North MacArthur Blvd
Oklahoma City,
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