William Creel

The city of Bartlesville has lost a dedicated leader of the community. William G. Creel was peacefully called back to the Lord while surrounded by his family in his home on October 19, 2009. Bill was born on February 19, 1929 in Bartlesville, OK and went on to attend Garfield Elementary School, Central Junior High and graduated from College High School in 1947. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1951, was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and remained an avid Sooners fan throughout his life. Bill took his first job with H.C. Price Company at the age of sixteen as a truck swamper in North Dakota. After graduation from OU, he moved to New Orleans with Price Company where he met and married his beloved wife of 58 years, Carol Lusk. While in New Orleans they were blessed with four children. In 1963 they left the United States for London to set up the first office of Price International. After five years in London and The Hague, they moved back to Bartlesville. He continued to travel extensively, building many of the world's largest pipelines in the Middle East, Alaska and Australia. In 1975 he was named Senior Vice President of H.C. Price Company. In 1976 Bill was named president of the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators. After 29 successful years with Price, Bill retired in 1979 to devote his time to his family and giving back to his hometown of Bartlesville. By 1980 Bill and Carol had five children and the first of their now fifteen grandchildren. Bill's strong personal involvement with his family strengthened his dedication to the Bartlesville community as a whole. He was active with St. John's Catholic Church and Rotary and he served on many boards and committees including: Treasurer of Junior Achievement and Friends of Frank Phillips Home, Chairman of the Bartlesville Superfund Committee, Tourism Advisory Council, First Vice President of the Green Country Marketing Association, Director of: OK Mozart, Oklahoma Heritage Association, the Bluestem Girl Scout's Council, Friends of Shin ‘EnKan, Bartlesville Clinic and WestStar Bank, Trustee of the Library Trust Authority, Jane Phillips Medical Center and Bartlesville Public School System. He served as Co-Chairman of the Bartlesville Centennial Commission, Vice Chairman of the Frank Philips Foundation, President of the Bartlesville Museum and Sculpture Garden. Bill is a life member of the Washington County Historical Society, the Landmark Preservation Council and the Price Tower Preservation Committee. In additions to these various activities, Bill served as President of the Chamber of Commerce from 1988 to 1991. In 1989 he received the Allied Arts and Humanities Award, Outstanding Citizen Award and the Green County Angel Award. In 1994, Bill's lifetime of dedication was recognized with the Governor's Arts Awards and February 19, 1994 was declared "Bill Creel Day" in the State of Oklahoma. These strides to enhance and preserve our town were recognized by the City of Bartlesville by naming him Historian of the Year in 1996. Bill was a Eucharistic Minister and drove the church van to pick up homebound people for St. John's Catholic Church. His unrelenting optimism and humble nature endeared him to all those lucky enough to know him. But, most importantly, Bill will be remembered for his dedication to his faith, his kindness and his consideration to all those around him. As involved as Bill was with the community, he was even more devoted to his family. He spent all of his free time talking, educating and loving his children and grandchildren. His honesty and integrity remains an inspiration to those he loved. He will be dearly missed. Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol; brother Don Creel and wife Barbara of Bartlesville; son William Hunt Creel II and wife Connie of Houston, grandson Abel John Sanchez II of George West, TX, granddaughter Mary Creel Watts and husband Ryan of Dallas, granddaughter Allison Creel of Oklahoma City, granddaughter Christina Creel of Goodwell, OK; daughter Kathleen Creel Lawrence and husband Dr. Forrest of Oklahoma City, granddaughter Dr. Katherine Lawrence Johnson and husband Daniel of Oklahoma City, granddaughter Nicole Lawrence Daniel and husband Gene of Tulsa, grandson Patrick Creel Lawrence of Hong Kong, granddaughter Jennifer Lawrence of Dallas; daughter Ann Creel Denyer and husband Dr. Michael of Idaho Falls, ID, grandson William Denyer of Hong Kong, granddaughter Kathleen Denyer of Austin, granddaughter Carol Ann Denyer of Austin, grandson Mark Creel Denyer of Moscow, ID; and daughter Kelly Creel Gave and husband Louis-Vincent of Hong Kong, grandson Henri William Gave of Hong Kong, grandson Georges Gave of Hong Kong, granddaughter Carol-Lynn Gave of Hong Kong. Bill was preceded in death by his parents William and Wilma Creel, sister Carol and his beloved daughter, Carol-Lynn Creel McDonnold. A rosary will be held at St. John's Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 7:00pm with a reception immediately following at the Parish Hall. A memorial mass will be held at St. John's Catholic Church on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, friends may honor Bill with contributions to: The William G. Creel Fund for Adult Day Care Scholarships for ElderCare, c/o Washington County ElderCare, 1223 Swan Drive, Bartlesville, OK 74006 or St. John's Catholic School, 121 E. 8th Street, Bartlesville, OK 74003.

Service Details

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 11:00am, St. John Before The Latin Gate

Interment Details

Memorial Park Cemetery Bartlesville