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Joe Stanley "Doc" Bryant passed away on December 13, 2018, at home in Austin, TX, with his wife, Patricia, by his side. He was the second son of Stanley and Willie Mae (Billie) Bryant, born on January 1, 1927, in Hobart, Oklahoma. He married Jimmie Sears of Dallas, TX, in 1950, and together they raised three sons: Jody, James and Jayson. The Bryants celebrated 60 years of marriage before Jimmie passed away in 2010.
Joe spent his formative years in Pawnee (OK), laying the foundation of his life. It was in the woods surrounding Pawnee where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, instilling his sense of pride and duty toward his country and his God, and on the streets of Pawnee where he convinced his father to pay $6.00 for his first trumpet that would give rise to Doc's passion for blowing the horn.
Doc Bryant attended high school in Pawnee (OK), Austin (TX), and Lawton (OK); graduated from Cameron College in Lawton and attended the University of Oklahoma; and ultimately graduated from Baylor University College of Dentistry in 1949. Joe served as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army Corps from 1944-45 and as a dentist in the U.S. Air Force from 1949-52, completing two tours of duty in the Pacific and Japan.
Joe and Jimmie moved to Enid (OK) in 1953, where they raised their family and he practiced dentistry for 38 years. He was a founding member of the "Doctor's Band," a jazz ensemble consisting of medical professionals in Enid, with such noteworthy members as Dr. Bill Buvinger on the bass fiddle and Dr. E.A. "Abbo" Abernethy on the traps. Joe served as the President of the Enid Briggs Lions Club, as an Enid Public Schools Board Member, a Board Member of the Tri-State Music Festival, a Professor of Music at Northern Oklahoma College, and a director of the Enid Community Band.
"Doc" was a passionate dentist, but above all he was a trumpet player, never going anywhere without a trumpet in case of an emergency performance. Whether he knew the music in advance of performance or not, he always played it like he wrote it. He was a seasoned professional jazz musician, playing professionally since he was very young, winning a seat in the "New Glen Miller Band" at age 17. Through Tri-State he became friends with Doc Severinsen of the "Johnny Carson Show," together developing and selling a lip salve for trumpet players. Joe's favorite horn, given to him by Severinsen, was featured in his last big concert, played in Enid February 2018 alongside violinist Kyle Dillingham. He was honored to play his final concert in the town that he loved so much. Years after his beloved wife Jimmie passed away, he moved to Austin where he quickly made a name for himself in the Austin jazz scene. The music community made the documentary, "Impassioned," about his life.
He married Patricia Summers Bryant in 2013.
Joe is survived by his wife, Patricia; three sons; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and his brother John. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Jimmie Francis Sears Bryant; his parents; and his brother Jack. Doc's music lives on in his family. He will always be the "music man and the leader of the band." Those lucky enough to have heard it will miss hearing Joe blow his horn on the porch every Christmas Eve.
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