Raymond Bymaster

Raymond Lee Bymaster was born May 17, 1922 to Elmer and Rosa Bymaster near Meno, Oklahoma. He attended school at a one-room school house, Forrest Home District 129 through the 8th grade. He attended and graduated from Ames High School with the class of 1940. He further attended Enid Business College and received his Diploma in Business Administration in 1942. He entered military service in 1943, and was a member of the Medical Detachment of the 324th Infantry Regiment of the 44th Infantry Division. He saw action in France, Germany, and Austria, where he received the Bronze Star Medal and others along with the European Theater ribbon with three stars, representing 3 major battles. He returned to the U.S. and received an Honorable Discharge on November 6, 1945. After his discharge, he farmed one year, and then worked on a large cattle ranch near Goodland, Kansas for one year. He then returned to the Ringwood, Oklahoma area and started working in the oilfield as a Roughneck. He spent one summer roughnecking out of Hobbs, New Mexico. Raymond loved working as a roughneck because of the danger and excitement of it. He and Rozella Minnick were married May 31, 1952. After another 4 years of oilfield work, he was accepted as a Driver's License Examiner with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and his first assignment was in Vinita, Oklahoma. After 13 years, he was promoted to the rank of Hearing Officer with the Driver Improvement Bureau and was assigned to Lawton, Oklahoma, where he set up Driver Improvement for that area, serving the entire southwest quarter of Oklahoma. He retired in March of 1980 after 24 years of service with D.P.S. He and his wife Rozella bought a small farm southeast of Vinita and continued small-time ranching until the present time. They raised a large garden and enjoyed sharing it with friends and neighbors. He and Rozella loved the little ranch and made many improvements on it. They both loved wildlife and feeding the birds. Raymond especially loved hummingbirds and would put out 4 and 5 one-quart feeders, which would only last 2 days. Raymond would laugh and say they were thicker than flies, but that he liked them much better. Raymond was a lifetime member of the following organizations: American Legion Post #340 of Ames, Oklahoma, Hoyle Lodge #535 AM & FM of Ames, Oklahoma, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8380 of Grove, Oklahoma. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite, Guthrie, Oklahoma. He loved hunting and fishing, was a member and supporter of the National Rifle Association, and was also a supporter of the Salvation Army. He served as Cubmaster, Pack 71 during part of the 1960's. He also coached Pee Wee Baseball for 7 years. He was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church and served as Chairman of Finance for several years. Although he couldn't carry a tune in a wash tub, he loved music and really enjoyed listening to the choir. He was a strong believer of tithing on his gross amount of income. He served as Treasurer of Carselowey Community Fire Department for several years and also was a volunteer Fire Fighter. He was serving as a board member for the Carselowey Cemetery. He leaves to happiness his wife Rozella of more than 58 years, two daughters and their husbands, Willa Jean (Jeannie) and Michael Saindon of Florissant, Missouri near St. Louis, and Loretta Kay (Remy) and Randy Goode of Lawton, Oklahoma, two sons and their wives, Dr. Dimmick Bymaster and Charlene of Batesville, Arkansas, Bradley Mark Bymaster and Telesa of Cache, Oklahoma. He also leaves 7 granddaughters, 3 grandsons, and 5 great-grandchildren, two brothers, Chester of Ames, Oklahoma, and Dimmick of Macomb, Illinois, two sisters, Willa Mae Mills of Edmond, Oklahoma and Walletha Broomfield of Benton, Louisiana and brother in-laws, Gerald Broomfield and Freddie Wayne Minnick. He was preceded in death by both parents and one brother, Lloyd, as well as twin, baby great granddaughters. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and loved to brag about them and their accomplishments. He loved to laugh and make others laugh. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior during August of 1979. He was known for his friendliness and honesty. He was one good looking, intelligent, sharp-as-a-tack, sonny-gun! The family requests donations to Gideons International in lieu of flowers. The family will receive friends from 7-8 Thursday evening at the Luginbuel South Grand Lake Funeral Home in Langley. The funeral service will be held Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Otterbein Methodist Church near Langley, with Wayne Blackmon and Jim Bradford officiating. Graveside services will be held Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Lawton, with Pastor Harley Davidson officiating. Arrangements are by the Luginbuel South Grand Lake Funeral Home.

Visitation Details

Thursday, November 4th, 2010 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Service Details

Friday, November 5th, 2010 10:00am, Otterbein Methodist Church

Interment Details