Memorial services for Doyle Reece Wardrop will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at the Freedom United Methodist Church with Rev. Carolyn Murrow officiating. Arrangements were entrusted to Marshall Funeral Home of Alva.

Doyle Reece Wardrop, 67, was born November 15, 1949, to Foy Reece and Nena Mae (Olson) Wardrop at Alva General Hospital in Alva, Oklahoma, and passed away August 16, 2017, at Alva, Oklahoma.

Doyle grew up on the family farm 6.5 miles west of Camp Houston in western Woods County, Oklahoma. He started school at Centerview Rural School and graduated Freedom High School, Freedom, Oklahoma, in 1968. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University, majoring in Agriculture. He spent many hours working with Professor Leo Brandt showing livestock across the United States. In 1970, Doyle entered the U. S. Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and served with distinction until his honorable discharge in 1972.

Doyle started in the horse business near Lafayette, Louisiana, after his discharge from the Army. He was well known and respected in the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred Racing Industry across the country, having trained numerous award winning horses. He owned and operated Southern Horse Transportation while managing Iron Horse Acres near Sunset, Louisiana.

In 2002, he returned home to Woods County and took over the operation of the family farm and ranch. He also managed the Jim Darnell Ranch in far northwest Woods County for many years. Doyle married Kay Decker in 2010. They continued to live on the farm until recently moving to Alva, Oklahoma.

Doyle served on the Woods County Election Board for many years, was Commander of Hatch-Vincent American Legion Post in Freedom, was a member of the Freedom Chamber of Commerce, the Cimarron Cowboys Association, served on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and was active in the Woods County Republican Party for a number of years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nena and Foy Wardrop.

Doyle is survived by his wife, Kay, of Alva; his daughter Kendra Wardrop Barrilleaux and his son-in-law, Adam Barrilleaux of Cypress, Texas; his daughter, Shelby Wardrop of Broussard, Louisiana; three granddaughters, Graison and Addison Barrilleaux of Cypress, Texas, and Bailey Wardrop of Broussard, Louisiana; three sisters, Connie Brown, Jana Stein, and Jill Elmore; numerous other relatives and many, many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Foundation for the Social Sciences Department Doyle Wardrop Fund.