Gene Paul Goforth, Sr.

Gene Paul Goforth was born August 22, 1936, at Okeene Oklahoma to Otis and Lillian (Bisel) Goforth and passed away in Okeene on Friday, June 28, 2024, at the age of 87. He was a life-long resident of the Okeene community.

Gene attended Okeene Public Schools and graduated from Okeene High School in 1955. He then attended Okmulgee Tech and graduated in 1957. He married Juanita Schultz on April 23, 1958, at the First Baptist Church in Okeene. The couple settled in Okeene to raise a family, and Gene started working with his father in the family business, Goforth Equipment. Gene took over the business in 1967 and continued operating in the same location until closing earlier this year. He also farmed and ranched during this time.

Gene was a member of the Okeene United Methodist Church, the Masons, and the Okeene Chamber of Commerce, and he was a past member of the Okeene City Council. In the 1980’s he was the sports photographer for the Okeene Record. Gene was an avid supporter of everything in Okeene from the schools to the town. He was well-known around town, and everyone in Okeene knew Gene by his “honk.”

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, O.L. and Lillian Goforth, his wife Juanita, his brother, Lowell, his sister-in-law, Phyllis, and one nephew, Warren Goforth.

He is survived by his children, daughter, Terry Goforth and her husband Wayne Trail of Weatherford, son Gene Paul Goforth, Jr and his husband Wayne Markham of Oklahoma City, and son Michael Goforth and his wife Kandy (King) Goforth of Colorado Springs, four grandchildren, Katie Trail of Stillwater, Emily Trail of Lawton, Ashton Goforth and her husband Corey Brown of Colorado Springs, and Bradon Goforth of Colorado Springs, as well as numerous other in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services for Gene Goforth will be Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at the Okeene United Methodist Church with Pastor Bennet Peters officiating. Burial will follow in the Roselawn Cemetery in Okeene. Wilkinson Mortuary of Okeene is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Okeene Hospital Foundation and the Okeene Schools.