Elmer Stipes

Elmer Lee Stipes, 84, of Claremore, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, in Tulsa, OK. Lee was born to Hezzie & Essie (Peace) Stipes on September 4, 1935 in a log cabin his father built, near Locust Grove, OK. Lee and his brothers and sister grew up in the “hollers & hills” near Salina OK. He graduated from Salina High School with the Class of 1955. On August 30, 1957 he was joined in marriage to Edna Mae Huckaby at Miami, OK. This marriage was blessed with 2 children, Brenda Gail & Monty Lee. Lee & Edna Mae intended to be a “Gypsy” family and move wherever work took Lee, until Edna Mae’s illness made it necessary to move back to Pryor to be closer to family. Lee was a hard working man who taught his children and grandchildren his good work ethic. “You don’t HAVE to work, you GET to work.” His career started with Lock-Joint pipe company, and when he moved back to Pryor, he worked for US Testing where he helped construct & inspect Lock & Dam 13 and Tulsa’s Golden Driller. He later worked for Chandler Materials in Tulsa as the plant manager for over 40 years. When he wasn’t working, he loved to fish & hunt. He was a student of nature and knew (or would look up) the names of all the trees and flowers. He loved flower & vegetable gardening.

He was married to Linda Gourd in August 1985. He and Linda had some good times traveling & seeing the United States. Lee (or Poppy, as all the kids called him) loved sharing his love of the outdoors, teaching grandkids to fish & hunt. Blade became quite the turkey hunter on trips to NW Oklahoma. He loved watching his grandkids play sports, traveling to NW Oklahoma to watch Lauren & Emelie play softball & basketball. He was very proud of Waylon & Dakota’s successes in track & soccer. He most recently enjoyed watching Max, Nik, and Canyon play basketball, sitting court side.

Lee is survived by his wife of 34 years, Linda of the home; son Monty Lee Stipes of Pryor, OK, and daughter Brenda Schneider and husband Martin, of Fargo, OK; stepson, Philip Christman and wife Donna; stepdaughters Amanda Stogsdill and Belinda Gourd, all of Pryor, OK; brothers Robert Stipes of Owasso; Melvin Stipes and wife June of Salina, OK; sister Dorothy Clark and husband Bill of Van Buren, MO; grandchildren Lauren Stahlman and husband Tyrel, of Woodward, OK; Emelie Hunter and husband Shelby of Oklahoma City, OK; Waylon Lee Stipes and wife Megan of Berlin, Germany and Dakota Stipes, of Pryor. Step grandchildren Heather Christmann and husband Scott, Nathan Christmann & partner Prisciu, Blade Jordan and Brittany Beel, Max Jordan, Nik Jordan and partner Kami Kuehne, Canyon Sawney, Colton Riley, Deama Hardy, Ashley McGrew, Billy Hardy and wife Samantha and Foster Hardy, all of the Claremore/Pryor area; great grandchildren, Marleigh and Tucker Stahlman, and Atticus Jordan; and many beloved extended family and friends.