Burford D. Monnet

Burford Darrough Monnet died of natural causes in Tulsa on May 18 aged 99 years. He died as he wished: in the familiar surroundings of his home for the past 60 years, with his books, and the many mementos and good memories of a long marriage and a large family. Our father was born in Tulsa in 1923. His father (Eugene O. Monnet) was a prominent local lawyer and his grandfather (Julien C. Monnet) founded the O.U. Law School. As a young man he was a spectacular tennis player and was a letterman on both high school and college tennis teams. In the family tradition, in 1941 he started his university education at O.U. intending to become a lawyer. But, as for all of his generation, these plans were disrupted by war. Dad started his military service in February, 1943 with the Army Air Force. Assigned to a photo-reconnaissance squadron he served in New Guinea, the Philippines, Okinawa and Japan rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. He was discharged in February, 1946. Later in 1946 he married my Mother: Annabelle Goodman of Fort Smith, Arkansas. They were married in Fort Smith but soon returned to Tulsa. Burford and Annabelle had five children and remained married for 67 years. Mom predeceased Dad in 2013. Like most of the men who served in that war, Dad did not like to discuss it. However, he brought back from the Pacific Theater a large collection of photographs documenting his experiences. He shared his photos with me and we reviewed and discussed them. It was obvious he had seen some terrible things. After that, he lost all interest in exploring the wider world. Instead, he decided to stay the remainder of his life in the city of his birth and that he loved. And, except for two brief periods in West Texas and in Norman, he did just that. After the war he resumed his university education at T.U. and then O.U. Law School and was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1953. Dad worked for a few years in private practice and then joined Standard Oil (Indiana) as in-house counsel. During his very long working career he remained with Standard Oil and its successor companies. His work always focused on the oil and gas industry and he became very expert. Dad's expertise was acknowledged. When corporate headquarters transferred his legal department from Tulsa to Chicago he told them "I won't go." They let him stay. Remarkably by today's standards, he continued working to the age of 65. But after retirement, the company asked him to return, which he did and worked for a few more years. The years after retirement were probably his happiest. Dad devoted himself to the many friends, family, children and grandchildren. Youngest daughter Katharine kept the parents youthful. Oldest daughter Maureen was a social whirlwind. Brothers John (also a lawyer) and Bob (a successful entrepreneur) produced three beautiful and remarkably talented granddaughters. Even eldest son Bill (he lives in California) visited often for fishing trips. And there were the books. Dad was always a voracious reader with an especial interest in American and Oklahoma history from the Civil War through to WWII. He read every book that he got and he kept them all. He had an incredibly good memory (better than anyone else I've known) and he knew the answer to any question of fact about his period of interest. Today, his home of 60 years remains stuffed with his books. Dad was remarkably healthy during his entire life until the last 4 years. Then his physical abilities began to diminish so that he was more and more constrained. But his mind and memory remained razor sharp almost to the end. And he adjusted to his reduced life with remarkable good humor. It was only in the last few weeks that his mind and memory began to fail. He recognized this and understood it was time to go. Burford Monnet, my father, died in his home as he wished. In death as in life, he did it the way he wanted. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday at Boston Ave. United Methodist Church.

Burford D. Monnet

July 16, 1923 - May 18, 2023