Mack Yoakum

Mack D. Yoakum, 80 has died after a short illness on Sept. 29, 2012 with his family by his side in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mack was born July 10, 1932 in Allen, Oklahoma to Doc and Myrtle (Webb) Yoakum. His life has been a great inspiration to our friends and family. He was a beloved husband, son and son-in-law and the most awesome Father, Grand Father and Great Grand Father the Lord could have ever blessed our family with, and we are truly thankful. Mack was born in the depression and worked very hard and long thru those years in Oklahoma. At 15 years old he joined the 45th Okla. National Guard in 1947. In 1950 he left school early and was deployed to Korea with the 45th Inf. Div. to relieve the 1st Calvary in Korea. He was injured in Korea and spent a year in various hospitals. After the war, he rough-necked in North Dakota, Oklahoma and various states. During 1953 he married his high-school sweetheart L. Vermell Muse. Mack & Vermell was part of the second wave of Okies that followed a relocated refinery from Allen, Oklahoma to Corpus Christi, Texas. Suntide Refinery (latter to be Sun Oil Company and Flint Hills) was where Mack and his young bride Vermell started their new life in Corpus Christi. Mack retired after 38 years as a shift supervisor. During the Suntide years, Mack attended Officers Command School (Army Rangers) in Fort Benning Ga. (1964-65). After which he was part of "MAG" Military Assessment Group for all services for the Southern Command and participated in various CID assignments (40 yr. career). Daddy was a Master Story Teller, Master Mason and a member of the American Legion, VFW, Al Amin Shrine Temple and Grace United Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother (H.D.) and two sisters (Adele and Billie). Mack is survived by his wife of 59 years, L. Vermell Muse Yoakum, three children, Mary Lynn Cazier-Wilcox (Brill), Steven D. Yoakum (Grace) and Denise Mock (Tim), seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. After retiring one of his greatest achievements was taking his wife & three widowed sisters-in-laws on cross-country trips without incident (he actually seemed to enjoy them). Donations can be made to the Allen Historical Society, Allen, Oklahoma 74825, or the Shriner Burn Center. Visitation will be at Sawyer-George Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012 from 4:00-8:00pm. Daddy will make his last trip to Allen, Oklahoma for his Military and Masonic Honors graveside services to be held Saturday, October. 6, 2012 at 2:00pm.