Dr. Bennie W. Stehr

A graveside service for Dr. Bennie W. Stehr, 88, Clinton, OK resident will be held Monday, February 16, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at Tula Cemetery, CR 436, Oxford, MS. Coleman Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements. Dr. Stehr passed away Thursday, December 11, 2014 at Grace Living Center in Clinton, OK. He was raised in the Bessie and Clinton, OK areas. He attended Bessie Schools until its closing during his junior year. He continued his senior year in Clinton and graduated from Clinton High School in 1942 at age 16. He moved to California and tried to join the Army, but they would not accept him because of his age. He returned to Clinton and joined the Army in 1946, serving during WWII. While a young man, he was the projectionist at the Ritz theatre. He became a master at knowing who starred in movies and when they were produced and holds around four thousand copies of different movies. He holds a bachelor's degree in business education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a master's degree from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and a doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado. He was married to Mary Good on September 28, 1947 in East St. Louis, IL and she preceded him in death in 1979; he later married Allegra Peterson on July 9, 1978. Allegra preceded him in death in 2005. He met a lady friend, Eva "Tommie" Baker, and they enjoyed each other's company until her death. He has been a college and university teacher of business at the Cameron State University (Cameron State Agricultural College), University of Northern Colorado, University of Guam, Marshall University, northern Illinois University, and the University of Mississippi. He has co-authored two college textbooks in business teacher education. He was awarded the honor of Outstanding Business Educator of the Year for the state of Mississippi in 1981; in 1984 he received the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a business executive or educator involved in marketing education in Mississippi which was Honorary Life Membership in Mississippi DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America). He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Karolina Stehr; infant brothers, Alvin Stehr and Louie Stehr. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Kay Stehr of Meridian, MS; a sister, Wanita Sawatzky of Cordell, OK; two brothers, Freddie (Jaree) Stehr and Norman (Charlotte) Stehr; numerous nieces and nephews. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall of this website.