Harry Lee Millard

Harry Lee Millard passed away on March 13th, 2026, in Pauls Valley, OK, at the age of 91 years.

Harry was born on September 26th, 1934, in Blackwell, OK, to Frank Borland Millard and Ruby Ethel (Matthew) Millard. He was raised in Blackwell and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1953. He enrolled at Phillips University in Enid, OK, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1957. He married his college sweetheart, Rita Carrol Morgan, at the First Christian Church of Britton, OK, on June 8th 1956. He then served as a youth minister for a congregation in Casper, WY, while also working as a radio broadcaster on KSPR Radio. He continued his education at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, KY, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1961. He was ordained at 2nd Presbyterian Church in Lexington on June 2, 1961. He completed a Doctor of Divinity from McCormick Seminary in Chicago, IL in 1985.

Harry was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army on July 4, 1961, and served as an Army Chaplain with tours of duty in Korea (1963) and Vietnam (1969). During his military career, he served at Ft Bliss, TX, Ft Leavenworth, KS, Ft Hamilton, NY, and Ft Sill, OK. He was honorably discharged from the military with the rank of Major in 1970.

Harry accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church, Pauls Valley, and was installed as Pastor on March 1, 1970. He and Rita quickly fell in love with Pauls Valley. Harry plunged into community involvement, working with the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Pauls Valley Ministerial Alliance. He was an active member and Past President of Rotary, and a Paul Harris fellow. He served the district level of the Presbyterian Church, known as Indian Nations Presbytery, as its moderator and Chair of the Commission on Ministry. He was the self-appointed voice of the Marching Panthers for many years, announcing half-time shows from the press box and traveling with the band to away games and contests. During his ministry to this community, he baptized 66 infants and children, married 86 couples, and conducted 187 funerals and graveside services. He retired in December of 1999.

Harry loved camping and frequented Oklahoma state parks and lakesides for short getaways. Summer family vacations were monumental events, covering huge swaths of the US and Canada in a tiny collapsible camper before graduating to an Airstream travel trailer. He collected miniature fire trucks. He loved to announce to the family on Sunday afternoons that we were "going for a ride," cruising the country roads of Southern Oklahoma with no particular destination in mind.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rita, to whom he was married for over 61 years; his sister, Marcia Rosell; and his grandson, Cameron Millard. His surviving family includes one daughter, Dr. Gayle Millard, of San Antonio, Texas; one son, Duane Carl Millard, of Pauls Valley; one grandson, Jeremy Kolok, of San Antonio; and a sister, Rama Nilsen, of Sarasota, Florida.

The family has requested that, in light of Rita's love for Monarch Butterflies and Harry's continued support for their conservation in her name, in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to the Monarch Butterfly Fund at www.monarchconservation.org.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 10:30 am at First Presbyterian Church, co-officiated by Rev. Chaz Gowing and Rev. Dr. Jim Burns. A private interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the family's guestbook at www.stufflebeanfuneralhome.com.

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