Clarence Leon Tully

A celebration of life for Clarence Leon Tully of Oklahoma City will be held on Monday, May 6th. Internment will take place at Fairview Cemetery, Shawnee at 10 am, under the direction of Walker Funeral Service, followed by a memorial service at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City at 1:00 pm. Mr. Tully passed from this life on May 1, 2019 at the age of 92. A native of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Mr. Tully was born to Bernice Leon (B.L.) Tully and Waneeta (Russell) Tully on January 17, 1927. Clarence played high school football at Shawnee and then went on to play at Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State) as part of the undefeated national championship team of 1945. Mr. Tully was one of only a handful of living players honored at Oklahoma State in 2016 when the National Championship trophy was presented. He was inducted into the Shawnee High Football Hall of Fame in September 2017.When injury shortened his college playing career, Mr. Tully went to work in the oil field, starting as a roughneck and later selling oilfield tools and supplies. He transferred his selling skills to advertising specialties, and eventually formed his own company, TAC-II, Inc. He enjoyed the many friends and relationships he developed with his customers, and remained employed with the company until he was 89 years of age. Clarence married Colleen McFarland in 1950, and together they raised 5 children on the raw land south of Shawnee that they turned into a working farm. Weekdays were spent working at his advertising business, while evenings and weekends were spent doing farm work.Mr. Tully loved playing golf and rooting for Oklahoma State athletics. He recognized his good fortune and always appreciated the opportunities and friendships created by his playing days at OSU. In October 1995, Clarence married Pat R. Hill of Shawnee, which ushered in a new and exciting chapter of his life. He and Pat enjoyed many trips, adventures, and lots of OSU athletics together. She became beloved by Clarence’s remaining children, a faithful helper, and in his later years provided loving care to him. Mr. Tully was preceded in death by his parents, B.L. and Waneeta Tully, his infant sister Marjorie, sister Dorothy “Dot” Stolpe, brother Jerry B. Tully, daughters Deirdre Coit and Jamie Baker, and granddaughter Ellie Kate McLaughlin. He Is survived by his wife, Pat R. Tully of the home, sons Rev. Stuart Tully and wife Debi of Oklahoma City and Rev. Dr. Kevin Tully and wife Georgia of Waxahachie, Texas; daughter Lizabeth Thomas and husband Trey of Edmond, stepson Dr. Shannon Hill of San Francisco, California, grandchildren Courtney Ann Thomas and Carrie Beth Thomas, both of Edmond; Ryan McLaughlin and husband Michael of Oklahoma City, Chris Thomas and wife Shauna of Arcadia, Tyler Tully of Chicago, Paige Chenault and husband Colin of Dallas, Aaron Tully of Shawnee, Rachael Edwards and husband Tony of Oklahoma City, Kyle Tully of Edmond and Drew Tully of Bellingham, Washington, as well as 14 great-grandchildren.