Funeral services for Laurence Houston Newkirk, 82, of Maysville will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at the 7th & Monroe Church of Christ in Purcell. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Mr. Newkirk passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026 at the Lexington Nursing Home.
Born February 12, 1944, on the Newkirk family farm near Purcell, he was the oldest of five children born to Justin William Newkirk and Floy Martha (Hopkins) Newkirk.
He began school at Stealy, later graduating with the Wayne Bulldog Class of 1962. Laurence married his best friend and life partner, Judy Kay Gleason, on December 17, 1966 in Carnegie, Okla. They first made their home in Odessa, Texas. They were the proud parents of son, Thomas and daughters, Julynn and Jenny.
Laurence worked as a welder, primarily in the oil field, and was instrumental in constructing, and sharing his knowledge for many large projects throughout the country By the late 1980s, he and Judy returned back home to Oklahoma to be closer to family. Laurence continued to work when and where he could, and lastly worked for B.J.’s Construction.
Away from work, he enjoyed mowing and never missed an opportunity to go fishing. He loved watching old westerns and just piddling around the family farm. Laurence was a man of great faith and a longtime member of the 7th and Monroe Church of Christ in Purcell. He was a wonderful husband and father, grandfather, brother, uncle and a true friend. He will be dearly missed!
He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Kay Newkirk in February of this year; his parents, Justin and Floy Newkirk; siblings, Rebekah Taylor and her husband, Ray, and Justin Newkirk and sister-in-law, Terri Newkirk.
Laurence is survived by his children, Julynn Patton of Marble Falls, Texas, Thomas Newkirk and wife, Tara, of Little Rock, Ark., and Jenny Newkirk Hill and husband, Ron, of Purcell; brothers, Kenneth Newkirk and wife, Wanda, of Little Axe, Okla., and Earl Newkirk of Purcell; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.
Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonlittle.com.