In the middle of a dust storm on May 12th, 1937 Guy Arden Cogburn was welcomed into the world. He was the first child of his parents, Chesla Victor "Cheslea" and Beryl Elizabeth Zook Cogburn. Arden often recalled the stories that his mom would tell about the dust bowl days and how she would drape damp cheesecloths over his cradle to protect him from the dust. His granddad Zook even nicknamed him "Dusty" being that it was such a dusty day when he was born.

Arden grew up learning and loving the farm and ranch life alongside his family. He was especially fond of his aunts and uncles who taught him how to be a farmer and a mechanic and who put up with a fair share of his mischief. A story he loved to tell was when Uncle Ogle and Uncle Harley were welding under a combine and were being very cautious to not hit the gas tank. Ardie and his brother, Vic snuck up on them and tossed a few firecrackers under the combine. Harley and Ogle flew out from under the combine in shock and terror, hitting their heads on the way out. When they realized they were the victims of a prank by two ornery boys, Ogle grabbed Ardie and Harley grabbed Vic and gave them each a swift spanking before sending them to the house to stay. Every time Ardie told this story he laughed and laughed like it'd just happened yesterday.

His elementary school years were spent at East Liberty Country School. He was so proud when he was able to track down his old schoolyard bell and mount it on his back deck (with baling wire of course).

Fond memories were also made at Walsh High School with the class of 1955. They've remained lifelong friends, keeping in touch and attending their class reunions and alumni banquets throughout the last 70 years.

Ardie accepted Christ as his Savior at a young age and was baptized at age 16 alongside his best friend, Verle Ellis at the First Baptist church.

It was 1960 when Barbara June Hardy caught his eye while twirling her baton and leading the band during the halftime show of the home football game. Ardie thought she was so cute! He went to her house the next day and asked her to the movies. She was quick to say yes, (after asking her mom) and they soon began "going steady." Ardie loved showing off both his girl and his car. He would take Bobbi a.k.a. Barbara cruising around town in his fancy pink and white 1958 Super 88 Oldsmobile. The two soon fell in love but had to continue their relationship long distance while Ardie served his country by way of the Army National Guard. He was stationed in Ft. Leonardwood, MO and Ft. Sill, OK. Knowing Barbara was the one for him, he arranged for her to ride down to Ft. Sill with his parents for a visit. Little did Barbara know, her engagement ring was secretly stashed in the glove box of Cheslea's car. There was no question an absolute 'Yes!' was the answer. The two were married shortly after on April 2nd, 1961 at the First Baptist Church where they still attend today.

He quickly trained Barbara to be a farm wife. Some of his favorite stories to tell the grandkids were of the early years on the farm teaching Barbara the tricks of the trade.

Two years later Ardie and Barbara welcomed their first child on March 1st, 1963 a daughter named Darla Dianne and just 19 months later on October 8th, 1964 a son Kurt Mitchell (Mitch).

Ardie now had two more farm hands to train up.

One of Mitch's early memories of his Dad was when Ardie decided it was time to break him into tractor driving. He put Mitch on a cabless Case tractor pulling a one way. After he had explained all the do's and don'ts of tractor driving he tied one end of a rope around the belt loop of Mitch's pants and tied the other end securely to the floor of the tractor so Mitch wouldn't fall off backwards. Ardie returned back to Mitch after a 12 hour day, cut the rope off with a knife and ask if he was ready to go in. This is where they developed the head nod for each other and knew nothing else needed to be said.

In an essay Darla once wrote for the "Model American Girl" contest she said, "I am proud to be able to say I'm a Farmer's Daughter. I have spent every summer of my life helping my dad on the farm….I am thankful that my dad encouraged me to be part of the work that is necessary for feeding the people of the world."

In 1990 Ardie added a new lifetime occupation- Granddad. And his grandpa name "Popsie" was bestowed on him by Destinee who refused to say "granddad."
Now, when Barbara packed his lunch to take to the farm he insisted she pack extra cans of Vienna sausages and gushers to share with his three "monkey doo's."

For the first time, Popsie was the one on the receiving end of the pranks and mischief. His three grandkids did everything from putting chili pepper in his chew to doing his hair up in bows while he was napping, then sending him off to the grocery store. He might have even spanked one of them once…. But we'll leave it to you to figure out which one.

Destinee, Landry and Heidi all loved loading up in Popsie's gold pickup to go on adventures with him and Meemo. Popsie would put in his Milton Crabapple CD and laugh as we all sang along to "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" and "The Streak". Meemo would scold him when the grandkids started yelling "Don't Look Ethel!" but he'd laugh even more.

He spent the next several years traveling to their sporting events near and far watching gymnastics, football, basketball, volleyball and track. He liked to tell everyone he met all about his grandkids (and now great grandkids) and would show off all the pictures he had in his wallet.Even in the past year he managed to tell Meemo how to drive him across the country to visit all three grandkids in Iowa, New Mexico and Texas.

Ardie had a spirit of adventure and got the travel bug every year around February when winter had set in, forcing him in from the farm and cooped up inside. In their 63 years together, Ardie and Barbara road tripped across 33 states and into Canada. The grandkids especially loved the story of Popsie squeezing his F350 pickup truck down the narrow streets of New Orleans French Quarter. A valet had to stop traffic so he could back the pickup down the road. Popsie wanted the full experience so he talked Meemo into staying near Bourbon Street in a quaint little hotel with bars on the windows. (He said it was safe though).

On one of their later excursions, Popsie learned that his driver's license had been expired for three years. He also learned that Meemo's had been expired for six months.

In the last few years, when their traveling became less, one of Ardie's great joys was having company. Nothing made his eyes light up more than when a visitor would stop by and he'd get to tell them all his stories. "The Gourley Bunch" as he called them were always stopping by to give him a hug and Pam Nicodemus kept him supplied with green tomatoes. Pastor Daniel's weekly visits were a highlight for Ardie. Pastor Daniel came faithfully each week - listening to stories and becoming a valued friend. From the bottom of our hearts we'd like to say "thank you" to all of you who took time to visit.

Despite his struggle with staying well, Arden managed to get his final wheat crop planted and his trucks in the barn, just in time for Jesus to call him home.

Though we have an empty space in our hearts, we are rejoicing that he's with his Lord and Savior and the many loved ones who have gone before him.

He is leaving an empty space in the hearts of his wife, Barbara, son Mitch and wife Dee, grandkids- Destinee and Kyle Rupp of Des Moines, IA, Landry and Olivia Cogburn of Aztec, NM and Heidi and Parker David and great- grandkids Gunner and Ryan of Wichita Falls, TX. Vic Cogburn, Chesna and Bob Hume, Linda Bishop, Ron Hardy, and Brenda and Richard Hargrove.

Waiting to welcome him at Heaven's gate were; his precious daughter, Darla Dianne, parents - Beryl and Cheslea Cogburn and step-mother Beatrice Cogburn, parents in law, Olen and Mary June Hardy, brother- Randy Cogburn, brother in law-Dean Bishop, sister in law- Janice McKinley, brother in law-Max Hardy, sister in law- Tara Hardy, sister in law- Carolyn Hardy, and great nephew- Kale Nicodemus.

In closing, a quote that we found fitting comes from his all time favorite actor and hero, John Wayne a.k.a. Rooster Cogburn.

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. It comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."

We have learned so much from Popsie; The legacy he built, the stories he shared and the love he gave. We will hold it in our hearts and take it with us into tomorrow.

If you knew my grandad, you probably own a good flashlight, because he gave you one. He loved giving people flashlights, knowing how often they came in handy. He often said, "you never can have too many flashlights". I used to chuckle at that because of all the flashlights he'd given me. Now I chuckle thinking about it, because of how often I need one! You were so right, Popsie.

He also carried atomic fireball candies in his front pocket and never hesitated to share with you if he thought you could use one.

Today as you leave, we want to honor Popsie's legacy of generosity. So on your way out, please take as a gift a flashlight and an atomic fireball.