Lloyd Grant Tankersley

He was born in McClain County Oklahoma, near the town of Blanchard on January 20, 1926 to O.H. and Addie Tankersley.

In 1928 the price of cotton and broomcorn hit bottom and his father lost one of the best farms in the area due to the bank foreclosure. In 1929 his family moved as a part of the "Okie" migration to California, after about a year his father was able to acquire land back in Oklahoma. They moved back to Oklahoma in the middle of the depression only to find themselves in the center of the dust bowl. His early education began in a rural two room schoolhouse. He graduated from Blanchard High School in 1943 at age 17 and that summer he earned enough money to pay his tuition to Oklahoma University and he got a job at the Norman, Oklahoma Fire Department to pay for his room and board. While attending OU he wanted to join the Army Air Corps but at age 17 he needed his parents’ authorization. His mother refused to sign his enlistment papers. He took matters into his own hands and forged his parents’ names to enlistment papers and joined the Army Air Corps. He would later joke, that “crime doesn't pay”. At wars end he was a right blister gunner on a B-29 in the 485th Bomb Group and his crew was waiting for delivery of a new B-29 to fly to the war zone. After the war he went to Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State University) for pre-law and graduated from Oklahoma City University Law School in 1953. He and Betty Jane Harrison were married June 26, 1952. He was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company in the Land and Exploration Department for 34 years and retired in 1985 as District Landman in Jackson, MS. After retirement he continued to work and be involved in the Oil and Gas business until his death. He was a member of the Oklahoma State Bar Association, the Mississippi Association of Petroleum Landmen, the American Association of Professional Landman, the American Legion, and the Masonic Lodge. He was an avid golfer and was a member of Colonial Country Club. He shot his age each year beginning at age 79 and for the next six years.

He was pre-deceased by his parents and two sisters, Betty Ruth who died as an infant, and Bonnie June McFadden. He was survived by his beloved wife of 63 years Betty Jane Harrison; by daughter Gail Tankersley Lamb (Scott) of Jackson, MS and two grandsons, Grayson Harris Lamb and Grant Huston Lamb; nephews, Jack McFadden and Jimmie Lloyd Wiggley of Paris, TX and Nieces Joan Ferguson of Paris, TX and Wilma June Sober of Chandler, TX.

A memorial service for Lloyd will be held at Parkway Funeral Home, Ridgeland, MS on Tuesday May 24, 2016 at 11:00am with a visitation beginning at 10:00am.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Veterans Administration of Jackson, MS or the charity of your choice.