Alan Stout

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Alan Stout, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

       He was the son of Leroy and Margaret Stout. Raised in Oklahoma's small towns Tuttle, Cleveland, Mangum, Crescent and settled in Del City., he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

      As a young boy, Alan was always aware of how others around him felt and this quality served him well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, Alan was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if Alan was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where he could concentrate, Alan also had the ability to relate well with his family and friends. Alan was raised with two siblings. He had two younger brothers, Keith and Loren. Alan was constantly involved in activities with his family. Alan and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

      Growing up, Alan was one of those children who didn't need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. Alan was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, Alan was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. Alan took part in a number of activities as a child. He showed an early interest and talent in creative arts and music. He began piano at age seven, wrote poetry, music and stories at an early age. He was a Boy Scout and Scout patrol leader. In his spare time he liked entering piano and trombone contest . He loved hunting and shot his first deer in 1974. Alan's memorable achievement was always being request to play the piano at church, community and school events.

      Alan enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. Alan was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Alan was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from Crescent High School in 1974. However, his attendance at Mangum High School grades 9th through 11th he considered this HIS High School. Alan enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class always had something to do with music. Alan considered both parents as favorite teachers, mother literature and father band director. He had the lead role in his junior class play at Mangum High School. Alan was a vocalist and accomplished pianist in Classical music. He was in high demand for entertainment in both high school and other events.

      Alan had a good disposition for the challenges of college. He always enjoyed reading, so all of those lengthy required reading assignments seemed to be less of a burden for him. In fact, Alan seemed to absorb and remember everything he read. Not all things came easily to Alan, however, and he found success by being a diligent and accurate person who would dig into a project and work through until it reached its completion. He was very thorough and labored long and hard in order to reach his goals. He attended both Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas and Evangel College at Springfield, Missouri. His major was Classical Piano. He did not earn a degree, but did accomplished being expelled from SW for playing Rock and Roll on the Steinway in the Chapel. Same offense as Jerry Lee Lewis, same outcome.

      Most folks would say that Alan was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. Alan was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, Alan best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, Alan kept. While growing up, some of his best friends were Sammy Sells, Jim Norris, Keith Stumbaugh, Tommy Parker and Randy Trotter. Later in life, he became friends with Larry McElyea, Brian Womack, ?

      Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Alan. He was totally committed to Glenna and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Alan naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Alan disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

      Alan was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, Alan was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, Alan was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Alan was blessed with two children, daughter Stephanie and son Bryan. They were also blessed with two grandchildren, Taylor and Marissa.

      If you gave Alan a deadline, he would meet it. At work, Alan was always on task. Without hesitation, Alan could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was Worship leader for Bethel Temple and New Harvest Church. He was on the Worship team at Cornerstone Church in MWS and Riverside Church in Edmond. He was employed for Snappy Snack, division of Coca Cola, and Diversified Construction. During that time, Alan excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. Alan was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, Alan had a true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

      Alan liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced Alan's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, Alan preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were singing and playing the piano. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing when time permitted. Alan was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

      While thorough and measured in his approach to things, Alan often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. In high school, Alan played football a short time. A head injury ended his career as quickly as it began. He played Ice Hockey in college with a group of guy's from frozen tundra states in the North. These guy's were very good at the game and he really enjoyed their company and teaching. Recreational sports included flag football. At STOUT family reunions fights with hurling water balloons and shooting pop-bottle rocket at each other was considered a good time. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Top team on his list was Green Bay, Green Bay and Green Bay Packers. When OKC acquired the basketball team, Thunder, they quickly grabbed his heart.

      Due to his excellent organizational skills, Alan was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which he belonged. Alan could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. Alan was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. In high school, Alan was a Honor Student, member of the VICA (vice president), Student of Today and attended Boy's State. In college, Alan traveled with the Living Hands Singer who sang in sign language.

      Alan was active in the community. He was practical and grounded and based his decisions on first hand experience. He was responsible and liked working to achieve results rather than just chattering about possibilities. Alan was a member of several community groups, serving in several ministries fighting gang's overtaking our community and helping the homeless come to know Christ.

      An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, his faith was important to Alan. His compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in his personal beliefs. He was a tongue talking, devil stomping, holy spirit filled follower of Jesus Christ for 50 years,. During that time, he was the pianist and vocals for Praise and Worship. Reign Dance a prison and homeless outreach ministry. Church to the Streets ministry aimed at keeping children out of the hands of violence, gangs and drug dealers.

      Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Alan had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included ski trips to Colorado with family and friends, Stout reunions at lakes around the state and our cruise to Cozumel. In 1995 he accompanied his mother on a trip to Europe. They visited London, Paris, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany and Amsterdam. It was fortunate for his mother he was on this trip. She twisted her ankle and had her strong son there to assist her while walking on crutches. He truly enjoyed the time spent with his mother during this trip, and has the photos to prove it.

      Alan had Kebab. She was a Brittany who loved finding and retrieving birds for her master. I learned a lot from that dog, sit as close as you can, kiss as often as possible and snuggle in bed., who was his best friend for 12 years. Alan grieved years for her. He would tear up at memories and stories of their adventures. His family was rounded out by his man cat charcoal. Alan was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.

      Alan passed away on September 28, 2016 at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. In March, heart med, Amiodarone, turned toxic causing Sepsis, lead to Xarelto internal bleeding and severe lung damage. Being weak he fell of the patio and broke his back. September lungs quit working and stroke left him brain dead. He was removed from life support. He is survived by wife Glenna; children Stephanie and Bryan; grandchildren Taylor and Marissa; mother Marg; brothers Keith and Loren. Services were held at Sunny Lane Chapel. Glenna's Knight in Shining Armor was laid to rest in Sunny Lane cemetery in Del City, Oklahoma.

      It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Alan was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. Alan was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. Alan Stout was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with Alan. He will be missed.

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February 29, 1956—September 28, 2016

Alan Stout passed away on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 in Oklahoma City, OK. Alan was born February 29, 1956 in Livingston, Texas to Leroy Monroe Stout and Marg Malson-Stout.

Alan’s youth encompassed hunting, fishing, and camping. He was an accomplished piano player, played the trombone, and could sing beautifully. His favorite line was to tell people he was a leap-year baby, and that he was really only 15 years old. In 1976, Alan married Miss Glenna Moore. Together, for the next 40 years, Alan and Glenna shared many good memories. He took pride in their annual family vacations with their two children, Stephanie and Bryan. As an ordained minister, Alan led Christian worship at Riverside Church in Edmond, Cornerstone Church in Midwest City, New Harvest, OKC, Bethel Temple in Del City, Reign Dance Prison outreach and Church to the Streets an awesome children and teen outreach. Alan is preceded in death by his father, Leroy Stout. He is survived by his wife, Glenna Stout; daughter, Stephanie Stout; son, Bryan Stout; mother, Marg Stout-Allen and husband Paul; brothers: Keith Stout and wife Sally, and Loren Stout and wife Kelly; grandchildren, Taylor Haden, Marissa Garcia, Jordan Williams, and Brighten Moore. Alan left behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins. September 28, 2016 Alan joined multitudes of family, friends and warriors in the Kingdom of God. By choice, we will see him again in the near future.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunny Lane Funeral Home, Del City, OK.