George Franklin McGuire of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Tuesday evening, December 16, 2008, at his home in Blackwell at the age of 81 years.

George Franklin McGuire was born on February 22, 1927, in Kaw City, Oklahoma, to Gladney Horton and Carrie Alta Alma Irene (McDannald) McGuire. He grew up and attended schools in Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, California and Oklahoma, completing his education at Fairland Public Schools in Fairland, Oklahoma. Following his education he entered the United States Army where he received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He later received training in deep sea diving at Camp Gordon Johnson, Florida, before serving during World War II in France and Germany. He was honorably discharged on January 8, 1947, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He married Betty King on March 28, 1949, in Bentonville, Arkansas, and to this union five children were born. Following is his dad's footsteps, he rode bareback horses in rodeos retiring in 1960. He also broke and shod horses for people from 1949 until 1983. He married Shirley Hurst on July 15, 1969, in Miami, Oklahoma, and they settled in Blackwell and to this union a son was born. He also worked at the Hazel-Atlas Glass Plant in Blackwell until it closed. He then began working for the Midland Flour Mill in Blackwell which later became International Multifoods. He began as a window washer before becoming a flour packer, then blender and retired after thirty-eight years as warehouse foreman. He was a member of The Tabernacle Church in Blackwell. He also held membership in the American Paint Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley McGuire of Blackwell, Oklahoma; two daughters, Susan Bell of Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Deborah Wallace of Verden, Oklahoma; two sons, Jackie McGuire and wife Jan of Columbia, Illinois, and Darrin McGuire and wife Cindy of Blackwell, Oklahoma; two sisters, Rosetta Mess and husband Bob of Salem, Oregon, and Alma Cochran and husband Earl of Wilhoit, Arizona; two brothers, Thomas McGuire and wife Cecelia of Skull Valley, Arizona, and Harold McGuire and wife Victoria of Parker, Arizona; fourteen grandchildren; and fifteen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Tommy and Michael McGuire; three brothers, Ralph, Ricky and Kennel McGuire; and two sons-in-law, Daryl Bell and Gary Wallace.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 20th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Johnson of The Tabernacle officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery with military rites being performed by the Blackwell American Legion and V.F.W.

Casketbearers will be Jason Bell, Sean McGuire, Audey McGuire, Robert Nichols, John Bennett and Brian Hymer.

A memorial has been established with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for cancer research in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home.