Harry Brandon Emerson

Harry Brandon Emerson, age 69, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, was born to Brandon and Elizabeth Emerson at Tinker AFB Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on December 4, 1952, and peacefully transitioned to his eternal home on June 24, 2022.

Awaiting his arrival in heaven were his parents, Brandon and Elizabeth Emerson, and his siblings, Angela Emerson and Ron Emerson.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his daughter and son-in-law, Lyndzi & JD Cooksey; his siblings and their spouses, Becky Gilbert, Frank & Kendra Emerson, Mary & Ed Thompson, Tim & Nicole Emerson, Denise Emerson, Margaret & JD Connell, Sam & Vonne Emerson, John Emerson and Phillip Emerson; and a slew of nieces and nephews who knew him affectionately as “The Tickle Monster.”

During 1970-1974, Harry served in the U.S. Army, serving two years in Turkey where he spent time with the locals and soaked up everything he could learn about their customs and way of life. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he studied architectural engineering at OSU while working for Edmond City Planning.

Harry moved to Louisiana in about 1980 where he began a distinguished career in the oilfield industry, and in about 1985 returned to Oklahoma where he began working for the company that is now known as National Oilwell Varco. He was a maintenance engineer for horizontal centrifuges, mud shakers, dewatering units and other oilfield equipment. Harry mastered the skill of refurbishing equipment and was known to be able to repair equipment that no one else could. After he warned the company of a critical safety issue, Harry was catapulted into the position of safety training manager for the company. In addition to writing the company’s safety manuals, he traveled throughout the United States, teaching field hands and shop hands how to monitor, maintain and repair centrifuges, with one-day and two-day curriculums that he developed, combining lectures with hands-on demonstrations. Harry continued working for NOV until 2013 and was very dedicated to his job, often working after he returned home in the evenings.

As dedicated as Harry was to his work, he was even more devoted to his only child, Lyndzi, who says he was the puzzle piece that tied her to family. He was caring and empathetic, and always tried to help her see the good in a situation. He had a playfulness and calmness about him that could put anyone at ease.

While the family was hiking in Colorado, 2-year-old Lyndzi ran straight for the water in a mountain lake and went under. Harry was a lightning-fast super-Dad, jumping right into the water and saving her before anyone else even registered that something was wrong. He was soaked through, even to his shoes; but everyone had a good laugh and kept hiking.

Harry was a talented photographer. Lyndzi refers to him as a “keeper of memories” because of his love for photography. He always had a camera in his hands, capturing forever candid moments of his family and friends. For those who knew Harry, it was heartbreaking to know that in recent years those memories receded and eventually were no longer accessible in his mind. His family will cherish every moment in time that he captured forever with his camera.

Harry was just as passionate about play as he was about work. He loved to go fishing and swimming, shoot pool, and play air hockey and ping pong with anyone who would join him. He enjoyed spending time with the people he loved, and they enjoyed spending time with him. He had a way of making people feel seen and loved without even saying a word. His kind eyes, smile, playfulness and mischievous laugh pulled people in and spread joy. He always made everyone feel welcome to come and play, and stay for lunch or dinner. He was a grill master and made the best “beer chicken.” In his later years, he enjoyed Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles.

Harry had a wonderful sense of humor, with a quick wit that could make anyone laugh. He coined silly phrases like “monkey puke” (to describe the slimy, green algae film on pond water), just to see the children’s reactions. He especially enjoyed teasing his younger siblings and, later, his nieces and nephews; and he maintained that older brother duty of teasing his younger siblings throughout adulthood.

Harry was a mischievous, creative prankster. He loved pulling the wool over someone’s eyes and knew just how far to go without causing bodily harm or hurt feelings. Everyone always got a good laugh, including the one who got pranked!

Harry was intelligent and articulate. During his teenage years and beyond, science experiments were irresistible to him. He loved learning how things worked and sharing that knowledge with anyone who would listen. He never explained things in a condescending way. He had a way of making the listener feel valued and smart – even if they didn’t grasp the concepts he was sharing – just because he cared enough about that person to spend time with them and carefully explain all the details.

Harry’s family and friends are sad to say goodbye; but they will cherish his memory, and the memories he captured for them, until they see him again in heaven, where they will all make new memories together – memories that will never be lost.

A visitation will be held for Harry on Saturday, July 2nd from 10:00 am – 2:45 pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 3:00pm, Saturday July 2nd at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers are John Cooksey, Frank Emerson, Tim Emerson, Sam Emerson, John Emerson and Chris Gilbert.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemorialParkOKC.com for the Emerson family.