Johnny Ray Pope

         Johnny Ray Pope, 83, of  LeFlore, OK passed from this life and was welcomed into Heaven on Saturday, December 29, 2018, at Tidwell Living Center in Wilburton.

          Johnny Ray was born on August 6, 1935 in LeFlore, OK to John Vernon & Ruth Irene (McAlester) Pope.  He attended LeFlore High School and played basketball and baseball for the LeFlore Savages.  After graduation Johnny Ray attended Eastern Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Wilburton.  Johnny Ray played baseball for Eastern in 1954 and 1955.  In 1955 his team won the National Regional Junior College Baseball Tournament.  The Mountaineers were champions of a three-state area covering Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.  Johnny Ray also had tryouts with the New York Yankee’s Baseball Team.  He was invited back for a second tryout but did not want to go because his teammates were not included.  He graduated from Eastern in May of 1955 and earned his Associate of Science Degree.  In 1958 he served in the US Army.

          Johnny Ray married Doris Jean Sasnett on December 20, 1958 in  LeFlore.  They celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversary on December 20, 2008.   Johnny Ray worked for OK Foods in Ft. Smith, AR and ran Chicken Catching Crews in Oklahoma and Arkansas.  Johnny & Doris opened Pope’s Farm and Ranch Supply in Talihina for several years.   Later they opened DJ’s Handy Stop and Pope’s Farm and Ranch Supply in LeFlore.  Johnny & Doris worked hard on their ranch west of LeFlore.  Johnny was awarded the Award of Merit for Outstanding Accomplishments in Resource Conservation and was presented the award by the Talihina Soil Conservation District.  Johnny was of the Baptist Faith. 

          Johnny enjoyed driving his Gater around, checking the loop, running race horses, playing dominoes, watching horse racing, working on his ranch, spending time with his family, going to LeFlore Senior Citizens, bailing hay in the summer, watching OU football, basketball and most especially OU Women’s softball and attending LeFlore Savage sporting events and watching his grandkids play for the Savages.  He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Doris.

          He is survived by his daughter Renee Johnson & husband Les; son, Wayne Pope  & wife Regina all of LeFlore; grandchildren, Josh Pope of LeFlore, Cody Johnson & wife Ashlee of Wilburton, Kayla Pope Rees and husband RC of Bokoshe, Misty Renee Johnson, Johnny Paul Johnson, Makenzie Pope all of LeFlore; great grandchildren, Lexie Johnson of Whiteboro, Gunner , Joshlynn and Shawnna Pope of LeFlore, Gracie & Rich Rees of Bokoshe, Cody Jett Johnson of Wilburton; special dear friend, Linnie Merryman of Red Oak;  special friend and brother in law, Marvin Sasnett & wife Joyce, brother in law, Eddy Sasnett & Harley  Sasnett of OKC; sisters in law, Loyce McFerran of Tulsa, Geneva Bell of OKC, Jane Carter of Concord, CA; uncle and aunt, Clyde and Betty McAlester of Summerfield; numerous other relatives & friends.

          Funeral Services will be held at 10 am, Thursday, January 3, 2019 at LeFlore Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Caughern officiating.  Burial will follow at LeFlore Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Josh Pope, Cody Johnson, Kayla Pope Rees, Misty Johnson, Johnny  Paul Johnson and Makenzie Pope.  Honorary pallbearers will be Marvin & Jimmy Sasnett, Ronnie Henderson, Michael Kerwin, Larry McAlester, Jim Waits, Brian Ryles, Teresa Carpenter Dupree, Donna “Cricket” Groat, Christa McAlester Marrs, Judy Goad, Dennis Owens, Harvey Walden, Bennie Wylie, Charlie Lawrence, Preston Green, Dr. Gerald Rana, James Deere, Daniel Ingle, Leon Hannebrink, Robert Prock and Johnny Mack Ward.

          In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the LeFlore Senior Citizens Center, PO Box 57, LeFlore, OK 74942.