Harold Dean Arter Sr.

Harold Dean Arter Sr., 84, of Shady Point, OK passed from this life on Friday, September 13, 2019  at Fort Smith, AR.  He was born on January 29, 1935 at Tahona, OK to Everett & Sally (Griffin) Arter. 

          Mr. Arter graduated from Panama High School in 1953.  In 1954 he married his sweetheart, Geneve Louise Hobbs.  He was a veteran of the United States Army in which he served as a specialist with the 552 Guided Missile in Europe.  Harold worked for Johnson Controls of Poteau for 16 years as a painter, steel fabricator, draftsman, construction engineer and plant foreman.  He then attended Poteau Junior College where he obtained his Associate Degree before going on to Southeastern Oklahoma State College where he graduated with a degree in science and education.  He began teaching science at Panama High School at the age of 40.  He also taught at McCurtain for a brief time and Keota for seven years.  Mr. Arter had such a passion for education and the well-being of his students that he went on to obtain his Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Northeastern State University and returned to Panama as the High School Principal where he stayed until his retirement.

          Harold didn’t email, tweet, text or Facebook and he refused to play games on his cell phone but he did work hard all of his life.  If you asked him a question you would get a straight answer.  If he told you a hen was dipping snuff you could reach under her wing and pull out a snuffbox.  He loved God, his wife of 65 years, his children and being “Pops” to his grandchildren.  He also genuinely cared for the students he had in school.  He was a rancher who enjoyed gardening and sharing his harvest with others.  He was an outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping and just being outside in nature.  Mr. Arter attended Bennington Church in Bennington, OK. 

          Harold is survived and will be missed by his wife, Geneve, of the home; a son, Harold Dean Arter, Jr. and wife Bonita of Shady Point, OK; a daughter, Regina Ann Nichols and husband Greg of Poteau, OK; three grandsons, Brent Nichols of Poteau, Wesley Dean Arter and Spencer Lee Arter of Shady Point, OK; a sister, Ferna Lee Nunley of Nubbin Ridge, OK; a half-sister, Ruby Potter of Cameron, OK, as well as a host of nieces, nephews and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, J.R. Arter; two half-brothers, Eddie & Elbert Arter.

          Services will be 10 am, Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at Evans Chapel of Memories, Poteau, OK with Mike Bunch, Matt Stimack & Bryan Fouts officiating.  Interment will follow at Oakland Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Jerald Fox, Jerry Pierce, Curtis Howze, Kent Bledsoe, Willard Stacy & Bill Lowrimore.