A graveside service for Billy Ray “Tubb” Tomlinson, 80, of Enid, is 2:00 pm, Friday, January 18, 2019 at Rose Hill Cemetery, Chickasha, Oklahoma with Rev. Jim Edmison officiating. Viewing for Tubb will be Wednesday and Thursday during regular business hours of 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and until 9:00 am on Friday morning at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
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Billy Ray “Tubb” Tomlinson, age 80, peacefully passed away Sunday, January 13, 2019, at home in Enid, OK. He was born on a sharecropping farm in Garvin County Ok, October 12, 1938, the second of four children of William Trig and Anna (Nesmith) Tomlinson. At age 13, his family moved to Elmore City, OK. His first job was running the film projector for the Ritz Theater in town along with two other buddies. He was a popular guy in high school and enjoyed visiting his lifelong friends at the Class of 1956 reunions later in his life. Later, he served two years in the U.S. Army as a military policeman stationed in Germany.
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Tubb was an Oklahoma oilman his entire adult working years, and lived through the boom and bust cycles of the industry. He started out as a roughneck working outdoors; sometimes in extreme weather conditions because the rigs didn’t shut down for bad weather (or holidays). He worked all over Oklahoma in various capacities and made many “oily” friends, even learning a little Spanish from his Mexican amigos. He was driven to hard work probably because he lost his father at the young age of 20 and needed to help his mother support the family. He earned a good reputation in the oil industry and was personally requested for many jobs. Later, he owned and operated a tool rental company in Hennessey, OK. for 10 years, finally retiring from Longhorn Services in 2004.
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On January 1966 Tubb married Patricia Foertsch, the daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. J.H. Foertsch of Chickasha, OK. Together they settled in Enid and raised their only son, William Brant. Tubb and Pat were happily married for 35 years until she suddenly passed away in 2001. Tubb was a devoted husband and dad who loved and provided for his family.
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The family spent many weekends with friends at an Oklahoma lake where he camped, boated, and fished. Dad’s biggest catch was 45 lb. flathead caught on a rod and reel from the bank at Sooner Lake. “Surely Jesus loves a fisherman for He chose them for His own.” His favorite shoes were Minnetonka moccasins whenever he wasn’t wearing cowboy boots. He was a Ford truck man. He cooked on a cast iron skillet. He drank hot black coffee brewed in a Bunn coffee maker. He gargled with mezcal tequila to soothe a sore throat, and I could go on and on; he was the salt of the earth.
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He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Patricia Tomlinson; his younger sister Judy Johnson of Elmore City, and many friends and extended family. He is survived by his son, Brant Tomlinson, of Dallas, TX; older sister Phyllis and husband Curtis Hayes of Lindsay, OK., younger brother Geary and wife Cathy of Eufaula, OK; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. He is also survived by his loyal lady friend Gwen Scantlen, of Enid.
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Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
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Obituaries are posted due to the generosity of The Commons.
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