Carl F. Orr

Carl F. Orr, age 93, died Thursday night, August 7, 2014. Carl was born January 7, 1921 to Herbert S. and Mabel Orr in Lawton, Oklahoma. He was the third of 5 children. While attending Lawton High School, he played football and ran track. Upon graduation in 1940, his football coach insisted Carl play college football at Cameron College. His coach went so far as to pick Carl up from home and take him to the first practice. Of course Carl didn’t know the coach had already signed him up for college and had a football Jersey waiting for him when they arrived at football practice. His coach refused to take no for an answer. While playing for Cameron, Carl had a career ending leg injury. Even though he wasn’t able to continue playing football, he found the love of his life in the cafeteria line at Cameron. Although she played “hard to get” and rejected his first request for a date, he was determined. She said “yes” the second time he asked her out. He didn’t have to ask her twice to marry him a few months later. On September 8, 1941 Carl and Lorene Mowery eloped to Oklahoma City, because they didn’t want the big church wedding her family was planning. Shortly after settling down in Lawton, Oklahoma, war came. The US Air Corps moved them in 1943 to Ft. Sumner, New Mexico where Carl served until discharged in 1945. Carl and Lorene relocated to Oklahoma City. In 1964 they moved the family to Edmond, Oklahoma where they resided until July 2010, when they moved to League City, Texas to be close to their daughter, Debbie. On September 18, 2012, his wife of 71 years, and the love of his life past away, with Carl by her side.

Carl worked as a salesman in the food industry for Osmond Company, Tidy House and then Pillsbury until he retired in 1984. He also owned a small farm in Carney, Oklahoma and raised cattle. He enjoyed getting away and just being outside. It wasn’t unusual to find him standing outside with the water hose, watering the garden or sitting on the fence post watching the livestock. It was therapy to him. Even though his football career was cut short by an injury, he loved watching all sports, especially college football. Come Saturday afternoon every fall, he could be found listening to the radio. As more games were being televised, he had his TV schedule marked with each game he was planning on watching.

In 1942 Carl and Lorene had a baby, Carla Sue, who only survived a few months. In 1955 they adopted Carl Jr., and 10 months later they adopted Debbie. Carl Jr. passed away in 2003 but gave him a granddaughter, Katie. Katie married Brad Hall and they have two children, Burgundy and Justin. Debbie marred Terry Henderson and gave him two grandsons, Matt and Jared Henderson. Matt married Leann and they have two children, Evie and Liam. Jared married Sara and they have one child, Emma.

Funeral Services will be held at Forest Park East, Webster, Texas on Monday, August 18, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. with burial immediately following. Visitation will also be at Forest Park East on Sunday, August 17, 2014 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.