John Keith St. Clair

John K. St. Clair, 95, of Perry, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home of Perry.

Graveside services will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at Grace Hill Cemetery, Perry. Reverend Martin Foster will officiate. Interment will immediately follow. A time of visitation will be held on Monday, July 27, 2020 from 6PM to 8PM at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home in Perry.

John grew up during dust bowl and the great depression. John was one of five boys who were raised with a strong work ethic. Each son was assigned a chore in the household; i.e., laundry, gardening, etc. John’s strong work ethic helped him to excel in both academics, sports and business. He was President of the National Honor Society and President of the 1943 Perry High School class. He was captain of both the football and wrestling teams and an All-State football player and a two-time State Champion wrestler. He was Perry’s first and second wrestling State Champion in 1942 and 1943. As a result, he was offered a football scholarship from OU and a wrestling scholarship from OSU.

However, John was drafted into WW II, immediately following graduation. He entered the Army Air Force and became a bombardier. Before he left for his deployment to Europe, he married his high school sweetheart, Rose Mary Shappell.

He served almost three years in the European theater, flying 13 missions before the war ended. He remained in Europe during the Occupation where he was able to attend the Nuremberg war trials. He attained the rank of Captain prior to returning home and received numerous medals and honors while serving in WW II.

Upon his return, OSU honored his Wrestling Scholarship and he studied Engineering there for three years. As his family grew, he left OSU and became an Oklahoma game warden for the next fifteen years. Again, as the family grew, he started his own plumbing business. By 1965, his plumbing business became his full-time occupation and he opened his business in downtown Perry. He continued to grow his business by adding electric and heat/air. He was in business downtown for 40 plus years.

At the end of this career, he became the manager of his daughters’ liquor store and worked until he fully retired in 2010. He only retired due to his health.

His children and grandchildren were the love of his life, including his wife, Rosie. John’s children want him to be remembered as a humble, Christian man.

Survivors include his four children, Randy St. Clair and wife Jean of Covington, GA, Mary “Kathy” Shelton, Cheryl St. Clair, and Kraig St. Clair and wife Lori all of Perry, OK; fourteen grandchildren, Amber St. Clair of Covington, GA, Natalie Gillespie (Will) of Hull, GA, Hollie Kinnecom (Dan) of Roanoke, TX, David Shelton (April) of Stillwater, OK, Kristi Shelton-Johnson (Bryan) of Ada, OK, Shelby Shelton (Zan) of Edmond, OK, Jeffery Shelton (Erin) of Rockport, MA, John McLaughlin of Fleishman, NY, Patrick McLaughlin of Somerville, MA, Trevor McLaughlin of Menifee, CA, Jason St. Clair of Tulsa, OK, Tysea Miller (Jeff) of Sedgewick, KS, Jeremy St. Clair (Leslie) of Bridgecreek, OK, and Stephanie Fox (Grady) of Perry, OK; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild on the way. John was preceded in death by his wife, Rosie; his parents, Mack and Laura; his four brothers, Jack, Don, Hugh, and Tolbert; numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law; and two nieces and one nephew.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.dightonmarler.com

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Oklahoma Alzheimer’s Association or American Heart Association in c/o Dighton-Marler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Perry, OK, 73077.