Miles Vincent Sala

May 18, 1953 ~ December 21, 2020

Submitted by: Terry Dudley

It has been said that, �You do not raise heroes, you raise sons. Yet, if you treat them like sons, they will turn out to be heroes, even if it is in your eyes.�

To Miles Sala, nothing could have been greater than being called Dad. It truly was his greatest accomplishment, that is until his grandchildren were born. In that moment, his sons became his heroes. He saw that love and devotion carried on to the next generation as it had been for him. His family was his world.

Prague resident and Paden native, Miles Vincent Sala beloved father and cherished grandfather was carried from Durant, Oklahoma to Heaven on the back of a white steed as a warrior at the age of 67 to be reunited with his family in Heaven on December 21, 2020.

Miles was born on May 18, 1953 in Claremore, Oklahoma to Mildred Sala. He was lovingly raised in Paden by his grandparents Marie (Chisholm) and Buster �Bud� Sala. It was in this home he learned the lessons that made him the man he we knew and loved. It was working side by side with Bud during his childhood and young adult years that would allow Babe to flourish and be known as hardworking, dedicated, and helpful by many in the community. Along with his Uncle Michael �Poke� Saturday mornings were spent taking care of the town of Paden. It was also known far and wide that if you had a water problem to contact the Sala Boys. Something that to this day has been true with people still stopping to ask him questions or get advice.

Raised on family land, Miles was a proud member of the Muscogee Creek Nation. He was also a proud Paden Pirate graduating with the class of 1971 and still actively cheering on the sports teams at playoff games. He was extremely proud of his heritage and took joy in telling others about it. Especially the fact that the town of Paden had been established upon his great-grandmothers allotment and he was a direct descendant of the famed trailblazer, Jesse Chisholm and his wife Sah-kah-kee. With great love of his family heritage, he also took on the role of being the caretaker for the Chisholm family cemetery and worked to make it recognized as a historical part of the Creek tribal lands.

Besides his community service, Miles was employed by the state of Oklahoma where he was a painter and a member of the asbestos crew. He also was a successful business owner having owned the Paden Dairy Freeze with the boys� mother, Rhonda before moving to Prague in 1995. You could quite often catch him flipping burgers for customers or for his three growing boys and their friends. It was here that his love for people shined a bit more. It was also here that his boys were watching and learning the importance of friends, family, and a strong work ethic. This was their Dad at his best. He was that Dad throwing a baseball or football in the yard or even a free-throw shootout. He was that Dad volunteering to coach a little league team or pick up a friend for a game. He was not just a Dad seen in the bleachers. He was active on the sidelines talking to coaches and getting advice on how to help his boys. He encouraged his sons, but he also disciplined them. He fought for them, and he let them find their own way. Most of all he loved them. He did not just tell them how to live. Instead, he lived and let them watch. He gave them guidance and words of encouragement to chase those goals and dreams. He showed them the secrets to enjoy life to its fullest. He taught them to cherish the small moments while celebrating the large. He taught them to take the time to breath whether it be taking a drive in his sportscar or traveling to a destination on his motorcycle. His motto of enjoying all that life has to offer while sharing it with those you love is what we should do from this day forward in Miles� honor.

The goals, dreams, and aspirations he set for not only himself, but for his family speaks highly of the father that he was to Matt, Miles and Chad. It also speaks highly of the fathers that they have become. Each being there to encourage and guide their own children whether it be the dream of hitting the road to be a drummer or be a young girl wanting to step foot upon a football field in a jersey instead of holding pompoms. These young men have become the heroes that Miles raised and those grandchildren became the crown of glory upon Miles head. Once again he was back in the bleachers at wrestling matches, baseball, football and basketball games cheering on grandsons and granddaughters, taking them out for pizza to celebrate a win or to discuss a plan for the next game. Most importantly, he was always there. Whenever a child�s eye would glance towards the crowd this gentle giant that they called Grandpa could be seen. He was all that a Grandpa was meant to be. Spoiling them with words of love, encouragement, hugs, lots of laughs and fun in all that they did together. It was during this time that his young men fully stepped back, measured his greatness, and will forever cherish it as will his grandchildren. In this moment God determined his work on earth was complete and to be carried on by his sons.

Miles was preceded in death by grandparents that raised him Marie(Chisholm) and Bud Sala, his mother and step-father Mildred and Junior Bullard, his uncles Sammy, Bobby and Michael, nephew Kyle Bullard, the mother of his children Rhonda (Rogers) Stephens and his beloved grandson Bryce.

Left to cherish his memory are his three sons, Matt Sala and Jennifer Downs of Prague, Miles and Brandie Sala of Prague, and Chad Sala of Oklahoma City. His precious grandchildren Shayna Young, Drake Yeager, Brayden, Kadence, Breann, Jase, Casen and Maizy Sala . He is also survived by brothers Buster �Buck� Bullard of Paden, and Chris Bullard of Okmulgee, along with nephews Shane and Gaylon Sala and Caleb Bullard. He is also survived by a host of cousins, friends and family that will continue to keep his love of family and friends alive through stories and laughter the way Miles would want to be remembered. The family will receive friends on Sunday December 27th from 5 p.m. to 9 PM at Parks Brothers of Prague Funeral Home

Funeral services will be held at 10 am, Monday December 28th at Prague First Baptist Church with Bro. Tim Emmons officiating. Interment will follow at Prague Cemetery.

Lincoln County, Oklahoma