Harry Gipson Petree

Harry Gipson Petree of Shawnee, Oklahoma was born February 29, 1928 in Carlsbad, New Mexico to Harry C. and Vesta Norma (Cornett) Petree. He passed from this life Sunday morning, August 12, 2012 to be with his Lord and Savior, at the age of 84, in Oklahoma City. He graduated High School in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and attended Oklahoma Baptist University from 1948 – 1951 where he obtained a BA in music. He met and fell in love with Barbara Loraine (Taylor) at OBU and were married January 21, 1951 at the First Baptist Church in Shawnee. He joined the US Air Force and moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1951. He was a member of the Air Force Band of the West. He played the tuba and the french horn while serving. He played the violin in the Air Force Orchestra every Sunday morning on WOAI radio in San Antonio. He left the Air Force in 1955 and moved to Wister, Oklahoma. He became a band director at Poteau High School from 1955-1957, Heavener High School band director from 1957-1959, Shawnee High School chorus and orchestra teacher from 1960-1963, Shawnee High School band director from 1963-1971 and the Prague High School band director from 1971-1976. He also worked part-time at Sears in the automotive department. He was very versatile; he was a great musician and mechanic and could fix anything. Harry was the music director at Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in Shawnee from 1960-1973. Harry was a Mason and recently received a 50 year certificate. Before his recent health decline, Harry and his wife Barbara (Gampy and Gammy) had been sharing their hearts and home with children in a licensed child care home. They had been caring for children the last 18 years and making lots of happy memories. Harry and Barbara have been members of Immanuel Baptist church since 1974. Harry had been playing the violin with their church orchestra. Survivors include his wife Barbara, of the home; his daughter, Deborah and husband Gerold Goad of McLoud, son Gregory Steven Petree and his wife Paula of Shawnee, daughter Norma (Petree) Crosley and her husband Everett of Oklahoma City, son-in-law Kim Trammel of Newcastle, and daughter Harriet Holland and Trux of Hastings, Minnesota. As well as 8 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his daughter Martha (Petree) Trammel. Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 17th at Immanuel Baptist Church. Visitation will be held 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 16th at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 8701 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City. Graveside services will be held 3:00 p.m., Friday, August 17th at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.