Funeral service for J. D. Edmonson, 101, will be Friday, August 12, 2011 at First United Methodist Church In Medford at 10:00 A.M. Burial will be in Rose Mound Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Medford.  Viewing will be Wednesday 11:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. and Thursday 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. with family present 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.

My Life Story by John Davis “J. D.” Edmonson:

John Davis “J. D.” Edmonson was born on November 12, 1909 at Clinton, Oklahoma, the son of Ed Edmonson and Elsie Davis Edmonson.  While I was three and four years of age I lived on the Yearger Plantation in Mounds, Louisiana with my family.  I entered first grade in Clinton, Oklahoma  and my brother and I drove a horse and buggy five miles each way.  I completed four and one-half years of school in Clinton, then moved to Oklahoma City where I attended five different schools.  I graduated high school at Navina, a small consolidated school in Logan County, in 1927.   Then I entered Oklahoma A & M College in September 1930 in the school of Agriculture.  While there I was a member of Phi Eta Sigma, Aggie Society, Collegiate 4-H Club, Block and Bridle, Alpha Zeta, Livestock  judging Team and Phi Kappa Phi.

Early December 1930, I pledged Farm House fraternity and was initiated May 2, 1931.  I was house treasurer my sophomore and junior years and business manager my senior year.  I attended Conclave at Illinois University in 1933.  While at Oklahoma A & M I was on the Livestock Judging Team that placed first at Fort Worth, third at Kansas City and second at Chicago.  As an individual, I placed third at Fort Worth, fourth at Kansas City and seventy at Chicago.  In my four years at A & M I had the highest grade average at graduation.

After graduation my brother and I worked wheat harvest at home and did some custom work for neighbors.  Then I received a call from Fred Merrifield, District Agent, offering me a job with the Federal Farm Program as an assistant agent.  I went to work at Newkirk, Oklahoma in Kay County on July 11, 1934.  I worked with the AAA (Farm Program), helped with 4-H monthly meetings, contests, poultry shows, stock shows, etc.  In September 1935, I was transferred to Osage County at Hominy as an Assistant County Agent.  On October 5, 1935 I married my college sweetheart, Dorothy Burris of Locust Grove.  At Hominy in 1936 the drought set in and early on the grasshoppers took over.  The government Grasshopper Poison Program, using white arsenic and bran, was implemented.  I transferred back to Kay County until October 1937 when I was named County Extension Agent for Woodward County.  I was in charge of the Federal Farm Program and the regular activities of the County Agent.  An Assistant Agent did the day to day office work of the Federal Farm Program.

While in Woodward County I called the first meeting to establish the R.E.A. Program in Northwest Oklahoma.  The original area included three counties.  This area now includes four and one-half counties and reaches into others.  I was invited to the 50th Anniversary and gave the welcome address.  At that time there were 4400 miles of distribution lines.

In the early forties, meetings were held, officers were selected and elections were held to establish the Woodward County Soil Conservation District.  This is still going strong.  My 4-H Livestock Program kept me busy.  A District Livestock Show was already established in Woodward.  We showed cattle, swine and sheep.  We had three district or local shows in Woodward County, the County Fair in September, the Stock Show in late February, a District Show in Enid in early March and the State Show in Oklahoma City.  The State Fair in Oklahoma City was held in September and Tulsa State Fair was held in October.

We also showed at American Royal in Kansas City in October and the Denver Stock Show in January.  We showed Grand Champion Steer at the Enid Stock Show and the Oklahoma City Stock Show, Grand Champion Lamb at Enid District Show, Champion 4-H Hereford Steer at Denver Western.  Many other Reserve Champions were shown including Reserve Grand Champion Barrow at Oklahoma City Stock Show.   In 1950 my 4-H Livestock Judging Team represented Oklahoma 4-H and FFA in Junior Livestock Judging at Chicago International Livestock Show and was the first team to have the first Individual.

On April 9, 1947 a tornado hit Woodward and left about two thirds of the town destroyed.  One hundred three lives were lost.  County 4-H Camps were held at Boiling Springs Park during the war years with long days and many committees working.  We were in charge of seven Rural War Bond Drives.

In January 1952 I transferred to Grant County as County Agriculture Agent.  We had a County Sheep Marketing Program through Wichita Stock Yards.  We graded lambs on the farm and shipped several trucks each year.  We held a sheep day each year and visited several sheep farms in the area.  We also held a lamb feed and program.  We had a Soils Lab in the County Office where we ran tests and gave recommendations for lime and other soil needs.  Our 4-H Livestock Program continued.  We had Grand Champion Lamb and Steer at Enid District and had Reserve Grand Champion Steer at Oklahoma City and Tulsa.  For approximately four years we held a 4-H Fish Fry at Salt Plains Lake.  We held 4-H Camp at Lew Wentz Camp at Ponca City each year.  One boy won a trip to National Institute of Cooperation in Raleigh, North Carolina.  I drove a state station wagon and on the return trip visited Mount Vernon, Washington D.C., the capital museum, the Ford Theater, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, the White House, Gettysburg battlefield, and the Lincoln Monument in Springfield, Illinois.  I represented Oklahoma County Ag Association on the Dow Study Tour of Southern Industry.  I have served as a District and Agriculture officer in 1960 and have served as committee chair in Oklahoma County Agents Association.  I was the National Association of County Agriculture Agents Vice Chair of Recognition and Awards Committee.  While serving as County Agent, Dorothy and I have attended the National County Agents Annual Meetings in Denver, Colorado, Little Rock, Arkansas, Houston, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Seattle, Washington, Miami Beach, Florida, Las Cruces, New Mexico, New Orleans, Louisiana, Honolulu, Hawaii, Louisville, Kentucky, Atlanta, Georgia and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

I have also served one term on Oklahoma Farm House Alumni Board.  Some twenty of my 4-H Club boys have joined the Oklahoma Chapter of Farm House Fraternity and three of them have served as president and others in other offices.  I was a member of the Kiwanis Club in Woodward for fourteen years.  I was a member of the Lions Club in Medford for fifty-four years, serving as president one year and as secretary for several years on two occasions.  I have done many other jobs. I was honored by being named a Melvin Jones Fellow in 2005.  I have been a member of the Masonic Lodge for sixty-five years and served the Medford Lodge #108 as Secretary for forty years.  I am a member of the Retired Teachers Organization of Oklahoma and have been honored by them as a very important member.

As stated earlier, Dorothy and I were married on October 5, 1935 by Reverend Don Schooler.  We are members of the First United Methodist Church and have served on most all boards of the church in Woodward and Medford.  We have two daughters, Eloise Schultz and husband Ron of Billings  and Eileen Smith of Edmond; grandchildren, David Schultz of Arlington, Texas, William Smith and wife, Ann of Edmond and John Smith and wife, Jeanne of Carmel, Indiana; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Courtney and Daniel Smith of Edmond  and Emily and Abigail Smith of Carmel, Indiana; one niece, Betty Ann Brayles of Apache Junction, Arizona and one nephew, John Edward Edmonson of Gilbert, Arizona.

My family members who have preceded are my parents; my wife, Dorothy who passed away April 30, 1997 after 62 years of marriage; my granddaughter, Linda Carol Schultz; my brother, Robert Edmonson; my son-in-law, Dale Smith.

It’s been a great life.
J. D. Edmonson

Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Oklahoma 4-H Foundation (Stillwater) or OSU Animal Science Department through the funeral home.

May this tribute bring comforting words and pleasant memories during this difficult time. It has been an honor serving your family.
Lanman Funeral Home Staff

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Eloise and Eileen: 
So sorry to hear of the death of your Dad.  What a wonderful legacy he has left for you.  He was loved by so many everywhere he lived.  I am going to try to come by to visit Thurs., however, Zane has a Dr.appointment late afternoon and it is always close to 6:00 before we get out.  I just want you to know You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Zane & Norma

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A long life that was filled with helping 4-H Members make their best better.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Mary Sue McBroom Sanders
Retired Extension 4-H Agent

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