Dan Kelly Whitehouse, affectionately known to many as “Chief”, or “Commissioner” passed from this life and onto the next on Saturday, February 13,2021 at St. Francis Hospital at the age of 82 years, 2 months, and 12 days.
At the time of his death, he resided west of Sapulpa, OK. Dan was born on the 1st of December 1938, in Sapulpa to Luther and Louise Whitehouse. He had one younger brother, Jimmy. Dan attended Sapulpa Public schools where he made many life-long friends. He loved to tell the story when he was a Junior in high school, he forged his parent’s signature to play football and to wrestle for the Chieftains. Even though he only played for those two years, he was an excellent wrestler and a starting linebacker, while also playing some halfback. Dan met his first wife, Juletta Ripley, at Sapulpa High School. While he was attending Rolla Missouri School of Mines, they became engaged. When he came home for Christmas break, he told his mother they were going to getting married on the 21st of December 1957, in Red Fork, and she could come if she wanted. If you knew him, you know this sounds just like him.
He worked 21 years at the Sapulpa Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief for eleven years. Prior to retiring from the Sapulpa Fire Department, he met Naomi E. Calhoun- Austin and they were wed on March 28, 1980 in Sapulpa. After retiring, he ran for and won election to the office of Creek County Commissioner for District One. Being a man of his word and a believer in term limits, he served two terms and called it good. He then started a machine shop specializing in compound archery components and accessories, designing cams that advanced the industry. Upon the sale of that company, he and his second wife, Naomi, bought a farm and ranch in northern Missouri. They raised some of best Angus cattle in the area, eventually selling many bulls to other cattlemen to improve their herds. He also owned a convenience store, a laundry mat, and restaurant. He found is way back home to Whitehouse Drive to retire…again. After Naomi’s passing on May 22, 2012, he married Carlita Belk on April 11, 2014.
Dan had many hobbies, never really finding anything he couldn’t do well. He built and drove race cars of many kinds: stock cars, Sprint cars, Midgets, Micros, and rail dragsters. In the early sixties, he was an avid calf roper and later, a pilot. For fun he played softball and basketball with the fire house guys. He built multiple homes, the last one being at the age of ???. In the last few years, he served as a deacon in his local church, took up bowling in a league, and started to build antique car replicas. Later in life, Dan made the most important decision of his life in accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
He is survived by his wife CarlitaWhitehouse; sons, Dannie D. Whitehouse and his wife Mary of Eufaula, OK, and Carrol D. Whitehouse and wife Nancy of Mahomet, IL; daughters, Julia Bell and husband Dwaine of St. Louis, MO, and Michelle Morquecho and husband Mickey of Flower Mound, TX; and the legacy of 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, numerous nephews and nieces, and many friends.
Dan was preceded in death by wife Juletta Whitehouse, wife Naomi Whitehouse, son Kevin
