Clifford "Oscar" Durland

Clifford "Oscar" Durland, 92, died on March 13, 2015 surrounded by family at his home in Paola, KS. Oscar was born on March 29, 1922 to Oscar M. and Anna (Gerke) Durland in Paola. He married Betty Jeanne Matherly of Osawatomie on July 20, 1945 and they lived the remainder of their 69 years together in Paola where they raised three children. Oscar has been a member of the First Christian Church of Paola his entire life starting on the cradle roll. He was baptized in 1961 and served several years as Deacon and a member of the Board of Trustees. He received the honor of Elder Emeritus in 2009, which was one of his most cherished awards received. He was a member of the first kindergarten class of Paola and graduated in 1940 from Paola High School. His love of Panther football began in 1927 when he began to watch games at the age of five, then went on to play for the high school Panthers and was an all-state Kansas selection. He played one year for Iola Junior College where he was named to the All-Conference team before leaving to fight in WWII. After returning from the war he worked on the chain gang for the Panther football team for 24 years. In the years following, he would travel to all away games to watch his son and grandsons play for the Panthers until it became too difficult physically, but even then he rarely missed attending home games. When his knees would not allow him to navigate stadium seating, he solved the problem by utilizing a special parking place that provided a view of the entire field where he continued to watch his grandson coach and great-grandson play. Oscar was inducted into the Paola Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. Although football was his focus, if his children and grandchildren were playing he would be there. He attended numerous volleyball and basketball games, wrestling matches, track and cross country meets and even cheered for other teams as long as he had a grandchild on the team. Whatever the event (band, choir, dance, etc.) you could count on Oscar to be there to support his family. Oscar started his service career at the very young age of 16 when he joined the Kansas National Guard in 1938 as part of the 114th Cavalry and Battery. He received a medical discharge after suffering a broken back in 1940. Not to be discouraged from serving his country, he was one of the first 13 volunteers in Miami County to enlist in the Army in February 1941 only to be medically discharged by the same doctor in March of 1941. Still determined to serve, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Oscar worked as a civil servant for the Navy in Hawaii for 6 months, eventually enlisting in the Navy in 1943. He served aboard the USS McCall destroyer engaging in 36 major and minor battles in the South Pacific until October 1945. He is a lifetime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign of War. He began his career for the US Postal Service in 1948 and served 22 years as a foot carrier in the city of Paola. He continued working for the postal service as a rural carrier until he retired in 1983. He was a member of the Civil Defense in Miami County serving for the Paola Police Department and Miami County Sheriff"s Department. Oscar is survived by his wife Betty; his three children Shirley Durland, Clifford Durland (Roberta), and Melody Smith (Ronnie) all of Paola, Kansas; 9 grandchildren Rod Crane (Rose Ann), Brad Crane (Tammy), Misty Watrous (Matt), Michelle Mercer (Jay), Tabitha Dysart (David), Michael Smith (Angie), Brandon Durland (Samantha), Bryan Durland, and Matthew Smith; 20 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren and several extended family members. He was preceded in death by his father, Oscar Merritt Durland, mother, Anna (Gerke) Durland and 4 brothers and sisters; Marie (Durland) Barricklow, Henry Durland, Wanda (Durland) Scheinert, and Thomas Durland; and a grandson, Kelly Crane. Oscar was a beloved member of the community. He loved God, family, country and Panther Football in that order. There is nothing he would not do to help his family, friends, and those in need. His love of horses led him to join the cavalry resulting in a long service carrier. He was a patriot and epitomized every quality known as the Greatest Generation. You could always count on him to find a solution. He will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Paola Christian Church or the Paola High School Athletic Department. To share a memory of Oscar or to leave condolences for the family of Oscar please go to the share memory tab. Paola Christian Church Service: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 10:00 AM Visitation: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM