Kenneth Harvey Burrow

Kenneth Harvey Burrow, 73, of Catoosa, Oklahoma, passed away on January 29, 2026, peacefully and surrounded by family. He was a man who truly knew no stranger, possessed an infectious smile that put everyone at ease, and lived a life that was anything but quiet.

Born on July 25, 1952, in a small farmhouse in Gravette, Arkansas, Ken was the youngest of eight children. Being the baby of the family, he often joked he was "raised by dogs"—a claim those who knew his lifelong bond with his four-legged friends might find some truth in.

Ken’s adventurous spirit led him to the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Machinist Mate 2nd Class aboard the USS Wabash during the Vietnam War. He returned home a proud veteran, often seen in his later years wearing his veteran hat with pride.

In a twist of fate that Ken loved to tell, he met the love of his life, Marcia, after her date to a party got too drunk to drive her home. Ken stepped in as her "knight in shining armor" and spent the next several months pursuing her by ordering fries daily at the restaurant where she waitressed. They were married for 52 years, a rare and beautiful testament to their commitment.

Professionally, Ken was a dedicated Power Plant Operator. He spent the bulk of his career at Grand River Dam Authority from 1981 until his retirement in 2007. His coworkers knew him as "KoBo," a nickname born from his habit of drawing small circles for periods on his hard hat. He was a passionate rabble rouser as an Oklahoma Public Employees Association representative, always ready to mix things up for the benefit of his fellow workers.

Outside of work, Ken was a man of many (and often loud) passions. He was a coach for his children’s and grandchildren’s soccer teams, an avid reader who marked every finished book with a “KoBo” mark on the inside cover, and a talented woodworker who once built a playhouse on an eight-foot-high platform because the family didn't have a sturdy enough tree. You could often find him enjoying a quiet game of chess or playing pool with a friend. On family trips, he was known by his CB handle, "Timebomb," a nod to a temper that was as fiery as his care for others was deep.

Ken is survived by his wife, Marcia Burrow; his son Jammie Burrow (Tracy); grandchildren Jaimee Leigh, Alyssa, Brayden (Samara), Aydan, Karissa (EJ), Alec, Jillian, Addie, Kayden, and Maycee; and great-grandchildren Willow, August, Oliver, and Sonny; along with his favorite sister, Carolyn Piercefield. He was preceded in death by his children Wendy Aubrey and Brant Burrow, his parents Oscar and Opal, and six siblings.

Ken was a man who loved Jesus and boldly shared him with others and is surely enjoying a reunion with his children and his beloved dog, Asa, who passed just one day before him to "scout out the way." He asked to be remembered simply: as a man who loved his family and was a good father. He succeeded.

Funeral services for Kenneth will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Your Place Church with Pastor Darian Rains officiating. Interment will follow in the Chouteau West Cemetery with Brayden Burrow, Aydan Strong, Alec Aubrey, Davis Harris, Pearson Marshall, and EJ Buford serving as casket bearers. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Shipman's Funeral Home in Pryor. To leave a personal message, please visit his guest book at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service of Pryor.