In Loving Memory of
Bernard Landon Nine
December 19, 1923 – January 2, 2018
The Last Mile
Don’t want to ask for much oh Lord
Just a horse back in the back pasture.
This time perhaps could you keep it green
And maybe leave it that way forever after.
Pretty much the simple life ole Lord
Was always good enough for me.
Just a few old cows that I could tend
And Maybe a little cake and hay to feed.
I have a question or two oh Lord to ask
Why was you so good to my family and me.
And let me live a life that I loved
And live in a country where we were free.
And about that little ole country church
I hope I kept my promise to you Lord
I want to thank you for the life you gave me
And letting me live to the age of 94.
I know you’ll take care of my wife and kids
Just like you always looked out for me
Just remind them to go to church oh Lord
And be a Christian is all I want them to be
You know all I have oh Lord is really
Yours just mine for a little while
Today I want to ask one thing could it be
Just you and me to ride together for about a mile.
Family and friends gathered January 6th, 2018 to turn back the clock at the request of a 94-year-old cowboy that was a steadfast pillar of the Slapout, Oklahoma community. To honor Bernard Landon Nine’s last wishes, the family and community rode on horseback, wearing white shirts and blue jeans, as they followed the wagon carrying Nine to his final resting place. The procession was led by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Captain Stan Walker with his white car. His grandson namesake Landon Nine lead the riderless horse behind the horse drawn hearse as they approached the cemetery adjacent to Bernard’s boyhood home and the field he had plowed with horses in his younger years (the golden field seen in the aerial video footage). Bernard leaves behind his 90-year-old wife of almost 70 years of marriage among a host of family and friends.
Obituary
Bernard Landon Nine was born at home north of Gage, Oklahoma on December 19, 1923. He just turned 94 years old and was still feeding cattle most every day and often bought a few cattle at the sale. His parents were BJ and Edna Nine and his older brothers were Raymond and Kenneth. Bernard graduated in 1940 from Laverne and attended Panhandle College for 5 days. His advisor said if you will stick around I will make a farmer or rancher out of you so he decided he might as well go home to learn that. As a 14 and 15 year old kid he worked 2 summers for Arch McGuire for one dollar a day. Then ran cattle with his dad and later himself.
One childhood memory of Bernard’s was that the English Teacher thought he copied from Fritz Wheeler. But that wasn’t true – Bernard told his teacher “The truth is, Fritz and I had both copied off of Evelyn Rolf.” His brothers and he hunted coyotes with a horse and a dog for 10 years.
Bernard first met his wife roller skating. He skated up behind her as a young girl and whispered “When you grow up I want to go with you.” Phillis and Bernard were later married at the Fairview Methodist Church near Slapout and have been married over 69 years.
He rode a horse most all his life and would ride his horse to church 4 miles and if he had enough money he would go by Slapout to get something to eat. He rodeoed for 4 or 5 years with Oden Shepard, Earl Alley, and Pauli Bentley. Once entered a rodeo at Dodge City and his part of the winnings was $11.25. He felt rich as that was 2 weeks’ worth of work. He and his brothers once bought a box of cherry chocolates for his Mom but the temptation was too great so by the time they got home to give it to her they had eaten the bottom layer, but still looking like it was full. The family had 1 pickup for 2 adults and 3 boys to share. The highlight as a kid was hoping to go to Laverne on a Saturday night to the drugstore and theater. He has always had a love for sports, but with the family having only 1 pickup, he didn’t get to play sports in high school. However he played softball for many years and also coached the women’s softball. He played tennis in his cowboy boots with one year winning with his partner Delvin Jett. He also played horseshoes at Slapout on Sunday.
Some of his fondest memories were gathering cattle with his good friend Kenneth Pinkard. When asked about his kids he said he had 2 boys and 2 girls – spoiled as could possibly be, with 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
He said he would have bought more land when it was $10.00 per acer, but couldn’t borrow the money to buy it. When he asked if he had accomplished all his dreams he said not quite I still like to run cattle. When asked what legacy do you leave behind? He said the Methodist Church and hope all of his family is interested in church and is honest. The biggest part of Bernard’s life was spent feeding cattle, but he and Phyllis always made time for their grandkids sports and events.
Proceeding him in death was his parents, Ben & Edna Nine and his 2 brothers, Raymond and Kenneth Nine, and a granddaughter Hallie Ann Nine.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis of the home, 4 children and spouses, 11 grandchildren and their spouses, 14 great grandchildren, and other friends and family.
