Carl Dean McGlasson

Carl Dean McGlasson, 92, formerly of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Brookside Retirement Community in Overbrook, Kansas. His funeral service is scheduled for 10am Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Grace Memorial Chapel, 2016 N 14 Street, Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Carl was born March 3, 1934, in Elk County, KS, to William Howard and Cora Dolly (Green) McGlasson. He graduated from Cedar Vale High School in 1953 and went to work for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington, for three months, then to the U.S. Air Force for four years where he went through electronics school. He traveled the western states into Canada, down to old Mexico, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and some of the eastern states.

On March 5, 1955, he married Norma Champlin, and the couple lived in Ephrata Washington where Carl was stationed. After his tour of duty was complete the couple moved to Arkansas City, Kansas.

Carl worked several jobs as a carpenter and after this he worked as a jet engine electronics troubleshooter for GE at Strother Field, then worked for Peabody Gordon-Piat for about 14 years.

Carl and Norma began an apprenticeship at Lang’s Drapery Shop; learning the business of manufacturing and installation of custom-built drapes. After 5 years, Carl and Norma moved to Winfield, Kansas and started McGlasson Custom Drapery, which operated from 1974 to 1989. Some of the large window coverings in the bank buildings in Arkansas City, Kansas were made by McGlasson Drapery.

Carl enjoyed hunting and fishing whenever he could. When hunting season came about, one of his favorite hunting spots was at his Uncle Harry McGlasson’s ranch in Moline.

Carl never stopped learning and acquired a wide range of skills. He had a natural talent for sketching and a good eye for detail. He created several drawings of nature, landscapes and portraits of people. He was a skilled carpenter and built two of the houses his family lived in. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t build or fix. If you needed something remodeled, he could do it. He was even better known for his woodworking skills. He would have an idea, create a detailed sketch and build it. He accumulated a collection of serious woodworking tools in his shop and built many items using walnut and oak. Some of his builds include 3 dulcimers, wall clocks, tables, bookcases, picture frames, TV entertainment center, china cabinets, pepper mills, two chess cabinets with drawers and carved chess pieces stained in oak and ebony – which he presented to his children; and an entire bedroom suite out of walnut, which took him three years to accumulate enough walnut in large pieces to do so.

He didn’t stop there. If he wanted to learn how to do something, he did it. He wanted to fly a small plane, so he got his private pilot’s license. He wanted to learn how to play guitar, so he did it. He wanted to learn how to play bagpipes, so he took lessons and worked his way up to three songs he could play well. Amazing Grace was his favorite. Of course you can’t play bagpipes without Scottish kilt ensemble, so he traveled to Scotland and bought the kilt and the accessories. He enjoyed playing Amazing Grace in full Scottish attire at his church and during one of Ponca City’s Memorial Day celebrations.

On October 26, 2018, he married Betty Crenshaw, and the couple resided in Ponca City.

Carl spent his last few years at Brookside following a stroke. During this time, he became a favorite of the staff due to his orneriness. He would often fire staff if they did not meet his expectations, then hire them back. Some staff would be known to say “Carl has not fired me yet”.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents William and Dolly McGlasson; his brothers Delbert, John, and Elman; his sister Nedra Giles; former wife Norma; and twin grandsons Aaron J. and Matthew C. McGlasson.

He is survived by his brother, Robert McGlasson; his sister Dixie Trotter; his wife Betty; his son Steven (Janis) McGlasson; his daughter Carla McGlasson; and his granddaughter Rachel McGlasson.

Carl’s favorite bible verse was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”.

The family would like to thank Brookside for their exceptional care and moments of joy through golf cart rides and the plane ride that for a moment allowed him to soar and put a smile on his face.