Funeral services for Emmeral “Tom” Givens, 85, of Chickasha, will be held at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Shepherd Street Christian Church with Pastor Milton Bowens officiating.
Emmeral “Tom” Givens was born on March 27, 1932 to Milton and Olivia Givens in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He passed away on April 17, 2017 at his home in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
Tom grew up in Chickasha and attended Lincoln School. He then began working as a hay farmer and also held other various jobs that included working at the Compress and working for the City of Chickasha.
He often attended First and Georgia Church of Christ.
He married Janice Kay Nelson on March 25, 1977 and this union was blendedly-blessed with eight children.
Tom was a man of few words and was very easy-going. He enjoyed barbecuing, sitting outside, playing cards and dominoes, watching westerns, and spending time with his brothers. He LOVED grape soda and could fry chicken like no other. He was even almost cast to play the part of “Buckwheat” in the Little Rascals.
He was preceded in death by both parents; four brothers, Ernestine, James, Sam, and Willie; four sisters, Bobbie, Mildred, Rose, and Virgil; one son, Desmond; and one grandson, Vida Blu Tawkoyty.
He is survived by his wife of the home, Janice Givens; four brothers, Burley Givens, Hugh Dean Givens and Harley Lewis of Chickasha and Claude Givens of Long Beach, California; seven children, Alisha Givens-Lewis (Jeff) and Robert Taylor, Sr. (Gayla) of Lawton, Bobby Ray (Coon) Thompson and Deon Nelson of Chickasha, Terry Anderson of Oklahoma City, Bruce Nelson of Marysville, California, and Marian Nelson of Sacramento, California; 28 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a host of other family, friends, and loved ones.
Family viewing will be on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and open to the public thereafter until 5:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Interment will be in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.