The Legendary LOVE

Dewey Muirhead was a young man just minding his own business in 1941 when he went to a Church pie supper and he saw the most beautiful girl selling her pineapple cake. He bought it. One year later, they married. And, as they say, the rest is history.

When I learned Inez’s father literally sold a cow to buy her a wedding dress, I envisioned a white lace gown. But back in 1942, farmers were struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Inez got a wedding dress, but it was a sensible shirtwaist, multi-purpose blue and white dress. Definitely, not the “wedding gown” I envisioned. She was proud of that dress and told the story often, as she stood beside her husband, Dewey; he describes his bride of 79 years as the “sweetest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”

Dewey worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1939-to 1941. The CCC was one of the New Deal programs that built infrastructure projects in Oklahoma and across the entire country. The program was designed to relieve the economic hardship caused by the Great Depression in 1929. They asked if anyone could cook.

of Dewey and Inez

By Lisa Sydnor

Dewey looked at all the heavy machinery and tools and then thought about the manual labor involved and said, “I’m a cook.”

He had to learn to cook in a hurry. Talk about On the Job Training (OJT)! Apparently, that worked out okay, as he still likes to cook his breakfast every morning and he loves his bacon, eggs and waffles.

In July 1942, Dewey shipped out to serve in the Army Air Corps. He recalls his bride crying as she ran beside the tracks calling his name as the troop train took him from Ft Smith Arkansas to fight in World War II. Muirhead said, “We knew we were going to Europe and into combat.” Dewey served as an (MP) in the Military Police Corps and loved his motorcycle. He served primarily in Germany

and Finland and was part of the Battle of the Bulge. The soldiers were ferried from the ship to shore. Dewey was responsible to see that all got off the ferry, They were taking fire. It became so heavy that everyone was trying to find cover and get away from the ferry. One thing he remembers about this time is the intense cold, remarking he thought he would never be warm again. While in Germany, Dewey met Clark Gable who was a co-pilot on a B-17 Flying Fortress and according to Dewey, “soft-spoken, kind, and a very nice man.”

Inez left Oklahoma and joined her sister in California where they roomed together. Her sister was a welder in a large shipyard. Inez sorted and distributed tools to assigned workstations. The sisters worked together in the shipyard for more than two years.

Dewey remarked, “My sweet Inez wasn’t Rosie the Riveter and I wasn’t Clark Gable. But we both served our country.”

During his service, he was on many ships, including aircraft carriers and the RMS Queen Elizabeth (QE),

which was the largest luxury liner ever built at that time. She first entered service in February 1940 as a troopship and it was not until October 1946 that she served in her intended role as an ocean liner. More than 12,000 personnel were aboard the QE with Dewey. Everything had to be done in shifts. They worked in shifts. They loaded onto and disembarked from, the QE by climbing cargo nets, dropping to the decks of ferries, in shifts. They ate in shifts; cleaned the ship in shifts; and, slept in shifts on bunks ten (10) racks high.

When they returned to America they were to dock at the New York harbor. However, the QE was too large to sail into the harbor or to dock. The soldiers shimmied down cargo and landing nets. When it was time to leave, the QE pulled out of New York harbor, and for five days the ship was winding through German U boats and four times torpedoes narrowly missed the lumbering ship. This was the only time he saw the Statue of Liberty.

Upon his return to the States, he was stationed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and began preparing to return to the front line in the Pacific. Then the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, they surrendered to the Allies on August 15th, 1945. Dewey stated, “I didn’t want to go back. I also couldn’t imagine the destruction and devastation created by the bomb. I was happy it ended the war.” Dewey served three years and received several accommodations for his service.

For the next 45+ years, Dewey was an oilfield worker in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Inez was a stay home mom, raising their son, Tommy, and daughter, Marilyn. As the children became more independent, Inez worked in Ell’s Jewelry Store in Wewoka, later she worked at Big Yank Manufacturing until retirement in the mid-1980s. Being an oilfield wife is much like being a military wife. You are keeping hearth and home together; raising the children; paying the bills; seeing to repairs. Dewey retired from the oilfield in the mid-80s. He and Inez spent a lot of time together. They loved flea markets, church activities, going to

classic car shows, participating in patriotic events, bargaining for that special item, and any reason to “celebrate.” Dewey and Inez made it work.

Over the years, Dewey helped with caregiving for his mother, his sister, and sister-in-law. He was the go-to guy to see that financial obligations were met.

Dewey and Inez celebrated their 79th anniversary on July 15, 2021. They were known across the state as one of the oldest living married couples in Oklahoma at the time of her death. It is amazing that 79 years later, they still made each other laugh, had private jokes, loved to snuggle and hold hands, and would “discuss/argue” the finer points of life with each other. Inez lost her battle with dementia and age on December 10, 2021, at the age of 98. Dewey misses his love. As he talked about Inez, he reminisced how he loved her smile, how she loved a compliment (especially after having her hair done), her laughter, and how she enjoyed riding in his classic cars, he teared up and said, “ I just want her to reappear and lay her head on my shoulder one last time. I wouldn’t even care when my arm went numb, because she would be there, smiling up at me.” But at 99 years young, he knows his memories will have to sustain him. Tear-filled, sad eyes looked at me and my heart broke as it is abundantly clear Dewey loved and misses his sweet Inez. On July 29, 2022, Dewey will celebrate his 100th birthday and his family and friends plan a huge blowout celebration.

Dewey and Inez are grandparents to four grandsons, Tim, Terry, Jason, and Marty. These young men blessed them with ten great-grandchildren. The greats called Inez, “Inee” and Dewey is “Dewdee.”

Dewey is known around Wewoka as a real wheeler-dealer. He loves a good barter or “horse-trading.” He is a classic car buff! Or should I say, enthusiast? He has owned a Model “A” Roadster, a Shelby Mustang, other Mustangs and Camaros. He and Inez participated in the Classic Car Show Parades for many years. In October of 2020, the classic car club honored him with a plaque stating, “Dewey Muirhead 46 years of Sorghum Festival Service.” His daughter, Marilyn Moody, accepted for Dewey as he was recovering from medical issues. Until 2020, Dewey could be seen at every car show helping in any way possible, from parking cars to directing traffic. But his forte is visiting – yeah – I mean talking! He has never met a stranger; will talk to anyone who will pretend to listen, and is the life of the party. With a twinkle in his eyes and a big grin, Dewey Muirhead is still visiting and bringing joy to others.

Dewey and Inez Muirhead shared a legendary love, a bond that can only be created. A love that never happens merely by accident. Their marriage was a true partnership, one where a husband and wife fully commit to loving selflessly and tirelessly. An ethereal connection that only death could separate. They cherished and respected one another’s unique differences that made them stronger through all the trials and tribulations and the laughter and joy of life and marriage. They shared an unconditional epic love for one another, that has become so rare. Although Inez is no longer here on earth-

Now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

In loving memory of Inez Muirhead June 11th, 1923 - December 10th, 2021

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