Opal Olive Moss Fenton and Niles Wendell Fenton were excited to welcome their first-born son into the world on Wednesday, September 26, 1945.  Elvin Gleed was born at the Mooreland community hospital in Mooreland OK. The original receipt from the hospital indicates the total cost for his delivery was $00.00.

Gleed milked cows, operated tractors, baled hay, built fences, worked on equipment and helped the family make a life on the farm. As a young boy, Gleed's favorite toy was Lincoln logs, foretelling his career in construction.

Gleed's mother was a teacher, so he attended the school where she taught. He attended school at Mutual, Woodward, Weatherford, Yukon and graduated from Taloga high school in 1964.

Gleed's college choice was Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. During his stay at OSU another Taloga graduate, Chuck Pickering, shared housing with Gleed. In later years Chuck's daughter married Gleed's son just as Gleed's mother and Ann's mother had lived together in high school before their kids married. The unusual connection continues as Ann and Gleed's grandfathers, Lyman Moss and Rollie Cunningham, were church elders together.

Gleed completed his associate degree in construction technology in 1968 and his Bachelor of Science in industrial arts education in 1969. As he traveled Gleed continued his love of learning and finished his associate survey technology degree in 1994. With a few more hours he would have finished his instrumentation degree. Gleed was a lifetime member of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association.

Gleed felt everyone should have a skill to better provide for the family. With this in mind he served on the first high plains technology board, representing the Sharon- Mutual school district. He was involved in designing the building and hiring the first set of instructors.

After one year of teaching Gleed realized he did not want to be a teacher and entered the field of construction in 1970. Gleed spent the next 46 years in construction. Most of his years were in the position of quality control manager. He was the middleman between the corps of engineers and the general contractor. Gleed was the peace maker. During his career Gleed constructed the stage building, hodges building, Irwin Chevrolet in Woodward and the William Blythe building on the William Key campus in Fort Supply, Ok. he constructed projects on all five of the bases in Oklahoma as well as projects in Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, and Utah. Gleed was highly respected by his peers and was often called on to solve problems. He retired in November, 2016.

Ann and Gleed went on their first date on a bet. They soon fell in love and became engaged. It was August and Gleed thought December would be a good time to marry.  Ann, however, wanted to be a June bride. Gleed agreed to wait until June 1. Ann was in college at Weatherford and Gleed in Stillwater. They survived the test of time and distance and were married June 1, 1968. Gleed took his bride to Vici for the summer before going back to OSU, living in his cousin's rent house that quickly became known as the honeymoon cottage.

Over the next several years Elvin Wendell, Aron Wayne and Olin Wade joined the family. Life had new meaning with three young sons. Gleed taught his boys the value of honesty, hard work, and commitment.

Gleed had goals for his life. He wanted to be a landowner, have a good cattle herd, educate his sons, and own an airplane. As a private pilot he enjoyed flying to jobs and, on occasion a short trip. He reached the final item on his goal list when he and Ann visited Alaska on their 35th anniversary as Olin finished his optometry degree.

Gleed was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on February 11, 1968. It was very cold in Cushing, Oklahoma that Sunday when brother Harold Case broke the ice on the pond for his baptism.

Gleed's favorite time was when the kids and grandkids came home. Lovingly known as "Papa" Gleed was proud of his family. He often said he hoped to live long enough to see what career path they chose. He was a cheerleader for all their efforts and was generous when assistance was needed.

After living in the house, he helped build at Sharon for 21 years, Gleed returned to the home and farm of his youth after his parents passed away in 1997 and 1998.

Gleed was a work-a-holic and expected those around him to be the same. This attitude was known to the family as the Fenton stubborn.

Gleed enjoyed working with his cattle, being a steward of the land, and watching the deer, turkey, and quail from his patio. He so enjoyed his retirement and being home after traveling so many years.

He will be missed by

Ann

Elvin's family

Aron's family

Olin's family

His brother, Lawson, and his family

Ann's family members

Cousins and friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the

Vici Food Bank or Sunnyside Cemetery

c/o Shaw Funeral Home

P.O. Box 276

Vici, OK 73859.