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Reford Neal "Pete" Tippit went to be with his Heavenly Father on August 12, 2022. He was born on September 28, 1934, in Purcell, Oklahoma, to James and Effie Jo Tippit.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Pat Tippit. He is survived by his son Tim Tippit and his wife Patty of Edmond and by his daughter Toni Shamley and her husband Terry of Pauls Valley. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Sarah Tippit of Edmond, Colby Shamley and his wife Joni of Ada, Andrew Tippit and his wife Edie of Norman and Richard Shamley and his wife Karena of Pauls Valley; 8 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Pete grew up in Purcell, the youngest of five children. He attended elementary, middle and high school in Purcell, where he played football, basketball and ran track and was proud to be a Dragon. After graduating from high school, he attended East Central State College where he met the love of his life, Pat.
Pete and Pat started a family in Ada but soon moved to Oklahoma City, where they lived for 4 years. In 1961, they moved to Enid and have spent their entire adult life there —raising a family, working, making friends and enjoying life.
Over time, Pete developed many loves, but at the top of the list was his love of God. He was saved for the Lord Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham Revival in the mid-1950's. God and church became a central part of his life. He was one of the founders of Garland Road Baptist Church where he served in many capacities, including usher and deacon. He worked on the food pantry that was associated with the church. Everyone knew Pete and Pete knew everyone at the church. The success of Garland Road Baptist Church was one of his proudest accomplishments.
Pete loved OU Football. Most any conversation he had would inevitably end up with a reference to OU football. He loved to talk about current games, old games, new players, current players, coaches — you name it about OU football and Pete could talk about it. He first attended an OU game when he was a teenager and saw several other games in person as well as never missing a game on TV. His wardrobe resembled an OU retail store, and he wore his OU gear until the day he died.
Pete's career led him to Enid, where he worked for Freeman Equipment Company for many years before starting his own business, J-T Truck Parts, in 1976. He sold his part of the business in 1990 concurrent with an unexpected quadruple bypass. After his recovery, he worked a few years at a local truck parts company before retiring in 1996.
Pete coached numerous Little League teams in football and baseball and won several championships, including 3 state championships in baseball. In all of the seasons he coached, he never had a losing season. He helped shape and develop many young boys and men — and we're better for his coaching.
Pete never met a stranger — he could and did talk to anyone. He enjoyed visiting with people, learning about them, sharing about himself and developing camaraderie with many, many people. He had an innate ability to breakdown walls and barriers that people built with his folksy, down-home way. For his 87 years, he enjoyed conversing and talking with the person on the street to the fellow nursing home companion. People liked Pete, and Pete liked people.
Last but not least, Pete loved his family. He was married to the same lady for 63 years and raised a strong, loving family. He loved anytime his family could get together and always looked forward to the holidays, especially after he and Pat had grandkids. He loved to decorate the house for Christmas and won a couple of local awards for his house decorations he loved to put up.
Services will be held on Thursday, August 18, at 10:30 a.m. at the Garland Road Baptist Church. Visitation with the family will be held at 9:00 a.m preceding the services and will also be held at Garland Road Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to Loaves and Fishes of Enid. Condolences online at www.andersonburris.com.
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