CHOCTAW, Okla. -- Erven Lee Mattox, 88, of Choctaw died Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

He was born Feb. 7, 1921, in Sharpsburg, Iowa, to George and Bertha (Fickess) Mattox.

He retired from the U.S. Air Force.

He married Norma Jean Ratliff on Oct. 24, 1945, in Erie. She survives.

Other survivors include seven children, Martha Whitaker, Donna Mira, Mary Kelpine, Marilyn Wilson, Marlene Grayson, Marsha Brewster and Mark Mattox; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; five brothers, Carl Mattox of Miami, Fla., George Mattox of Parsons, Jim Mattox of Derby, Bob Mattox of Mound Valley and Don Mattox of Elsmore; and two sisters, Lela Hutchinson of Wichita and Wilma Wintjen of Erie.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Mattox' life and legacy will be celebrated Friday in Midwest City, Okla., by family and friends. Friends may call all day Friday at Barnes Friederich Funeral Home in Midwest City, where family will receive friends from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday.

The family suggests memorials to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society or Hospice Quality Care.