Thomas Emmett Ikard

BROKEN ARROW — Thomas Emmett Ikard, of Broken Arrow, passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at 5 p.m. He was 82. Thomas was born on Aug. 4, 1935, in Clayton, N.M., the son of Robert Burton Ikard and Agnes Erma O'Neal Ikard. He attended Felt High School, Panhandle State University and Oklahoma State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1957, a master's degree in 1963 and a doctorate's degree in 1969. He served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1960 in the anti-aircraft missile defense command. He received an honorable discharge in 1960. He married Phyllis Deane Rist on Aug. 12, 1963. He worked as a math professor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva from 1963 to 1979. From 1979 until he retired in 1993, he worked as a senior staff analyst for Conoco Inc., in Ponca City. After retirement, he and Phyllis moved to Stillwater, where he taught math at Oklahoma State University and tutored in the athletic department. He was a member of First Christian Church of Broken Arrow. He was also a member of the Mathematics Association of America and served as president of the Board of Directors for the Coalition for Advancement of Mathematics Education in Oklahoma from 1992 to 1996. He was an assistant scoutmaster with Boy Scouts of America and made four trips to the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M. His passions included spending time with his family, backpacking, fly fishing, carpentry and working with student athletes. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Broken Arrow; son, Kurt Richard Ikard and his wife Christina Sells Ikard, of Broken Arrow; brothers, Robert Ikard, of Littleton, Colo. and Charles Ikard, of Kingfisher; sister, Karen Ferguson, of Creede, Colo.; grandson, Jacob Graves and granddaughter, Tara Ikard. He was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at First Christian Church, 411 W. Matthews Ave., Stillwater, with Sondra Ladd officiating. A second memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at First Christian Church of Broken Arrow, 2602 S. Elm Place.