Cleophus "Boots" Bray

Cleophus “Boots” Bray, age 85, lifelong resident of Shawnee, Oklahoma, passed away on Monday, December 23, 2019 in Oklahoma City.

He was born July 15, 1934 in Newalla, Oklahoma to Connis Alexander and Kathryn (Bray) Sypert.

Boots grew up in Newalla, and lived most of his life in Shawnee, Oklahoma

He attended grade school at Stella and high school at Dunbar High in Shawnee.

He married Bonnie Jean Blakely on September 25, 1959 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. 

He worked for Taylor Lumber Yard, Leonard Rogers Service Station, Sylvania, and then worked as a lineman and pipeliner at Arco. He retired from Arco in 1992 after working 20 years.

Boots enjoyed working on cars, doing yardwork, hunting, and was known as “a jack of all trades”. He also enjoyed jokes, visiting with friends, and watching sports.  He was an OU and Dallas Cowboys fan.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Kathryn (Bray) Sypert; father, Connis Alexander; brother, Jerry Sypert; sister, Grace Sypert, and infant sister, Joy Sypert.

Cleophus is survived by his wife of 60 years; Bonnie Bray of the home; son and daughter-in-law, Allen and Teresa Bray of Shawnee; daughter, Jeanette (Bray) Ifemelumna of Midwest City; son, Cleophus Bray Jr. of Shawnee; daughter Kathy Bray of Shawnee; 9 grandchildren, Lakisha, Darla, Allen Jr., Craig, Brittany, Chelsey, Angelica, Aaliyah, and Latia. 11 great grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Ashford of San Jose, California; one brother, Harry James Sypert of Kansas City Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, December 28, 2019 and 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 29, 2019 at Cooper Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 30, 2019 at Cooper Funeral Home with Pastor Anthony Rhone of Galilee Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.