Charles Lee Been, 82, of Howe, OK passed away Sunday,
January 29, 2017 in Heavener, OK. Charlie
was born April 13, 1934 in Midland, AR to Floyd Lee & Evadna June (Miller)
Been. Charles attended school in Hartford, AR and
graduated in 1952. He then attended
barber college in Tulsa, OK. Upon
graduation Charlie came to Poteau, OK and began his career as a barber in 1955;
first working in Roy Green's Barber Shop located on main street next to the Victory
Theater. He soon opened Charlie's Barber
Shop and continued to cut hair, provide shaves, entertain with stories, tell
jokes and always have the coffee pot on
for 61 years. When you entered the door
of the barbershop not only were you assured a great haircut, but more often
than not, one could listen to conversations ranging from the Bible to politics,
hunting to fishing, identifying wildflowers to raising cattle and growing
chickens, as well as everything in between.
Charlie was known to be a great storyteller and loved jokes - loved
telling them and loved hearing them. Let it not go without saying, Charlie did
not shy away from pulling pranks on the
unsuspecting from time to time. Remember
the mannequin Charlie got from the western store he put in the bathroom when
the barbershop was by Firestone Tire Shop?
Charlie was civic-minded and had a vested interest in the
town of Poteau & it's citizens. As a
young man Charlie donated time as a scout leader & was able to take his
group to Philmont in New Mexico. He was
a longtime member of the Poteau Kiwanis Club and always strived for perfect
attendance - which he maintained throughout his active membership - close to 30
years. As a Kiwanis member he
participated often in various club sponsored activities & always with a
smile & his good natured way.
Barber, Storyteller, Lover of Jokes, conversationalist,
friend, father, husband, grandpa & great-grandpa. All of these sum up Charlie Been who is loved
and greatly missed. In his lifetime
Charlie amassed innumerable friendships to whom he was very loyal & held in
high regard. He was preceded in death by
his parents & son, Brett Montgomery.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Joyce of the home; children,
Danny Been of Little Rock, AR, Susie Roper of Barling, AR, Wendy & Kevin
Fry of Mannford, OK; grandchildren, Riley Fry, Peri Fry, Karla Reynolds, Amanda
Angel, Nathan Been & Shelah Lisle; great grandchildren, Kelsey Miles,
Tiffany Davis, Mallory Kinsey, Kyle Crissler, Autumn Been, Emmah Been, Micah
Been; other relatives & loved ones.
Services will be 2 pm, Friday, February 3, 2017 at Evans Chapel of
Memories, Poteau, OK. Interment will
follow in Mount Olive Cemetery, Midland, AR.
The family will be at the funeral home on Thursday evening
from 6-8 pm to visit with relatives & friends.