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Bryan County, Oklahoma

Bennington Cemetery
Bennington, Oklahoma

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Thank You For Your Service!

Leslie Clay Pinson

Deceased Name: Leslie Clay Pinson

© Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Funeral Home

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

September 3, 1922 - September 28, 2015

 

Funeral services for Leslie Clay Pinson will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015, at 10:00 AM in the First Baptist Church in Hugo, OK with Rev. Doug McClure officiating. The family invites you to join them for the Celebration of Life and visitation in the Church Fellowship Hall following the services. Graveside services with Military Honors for SGT LC Pinson, Army Air Corps, performed by the US Army Honor Guard from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, will follow in the Bennington Cemetery at 1:30 PM that afternoon, and all who wish are welcome to attend with the family. Leslie Clay Pinson of Hugo, OK passed away peacefully in his sleep, on the afternoon of Monday, September 28, 2015, in Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home in Bonham, TX at the age of 93.

Leslie was born on September 3, 1922, in Barboursville, WV to William L. Pinson and Maude Elizabeth Pinson (nee Clay); his brother William and sister Miriam are deceased. Following his mother Maude's death early in Leslie's childhood, William L. Pinson later remarried, and William & Thelma Pinson, continued to raise Leslie, Miriam and William in the area near Barboursville – Huntington, WV, and eventually moving to Marana, AZ.

One cannot speak about Leslie Clay Pinson, without speaking of his wife, Kathryn. Leslie's passing marks their reunion and the beginning of a 'Second Honeymoon', in Life Everlasting. On Monday, they began that reunion: forever young, healthy, bright and eager to live, love and treasure every day, together. They have and always will be remembered, as "Kay & Clay," and to Kay, as her "Les."

Their childhood years and life's experiences which began during the Great Depression, ran in parallel until the first moment they laid eyes on each other, then become one.

Kathryn Murray was born outside of Bennington, OK and grew up a country girl, a Depression Era child. At a very young age, her mother passed, and she became "The Woman of the House" for her father and two brothers. It was a life of chores and getting by enough to survive, literally, and to maintain possession of 40 or so acres, a milk cow or two, a team of horses for the small farm, the farmhouse and barn. They did this all off-the-grid, before the grid existed anywhere near that farm, between Bokchito & Bennington, OK.

Leslie Clay Pinson's birth in Barboursville, WV, also began as a Depression Era child. At a very young age, his mother also passed away, leaving his sister, brother and him to soon become immersed in the Depression, and to also pitch into just getting by, full time. Prior to the Great Depression, his father was a most successful Road Construction Contractor, with a fleet of heavy equipment and trucks for the crew, and the latest model Packard for the family. That business went "belly up," and in an old photograph, the entire family of 4 and everything they owned, are seen crammed into an Indian Motorcycle and Side Car, before moving to yet another town for work, or the mere rumor of it. The motorcycle and sidecar were in a dirt track racing configuration, and used for that purpose in earlier and better times, by William L. Pinson.

Leslie and Kathryn first crossed paths as World War II began to wind down. Leslie, an Army Air Corps Sergeant, while in the area of Tucson, AZ, had gone onto the Campus of University of Arizona during Victory over Japan "V-J" Day celebrations that had erupted on streets all over America and around the world. He spied Kathryn Murray for the first time, riding a bicycle with a friend. It was love at first sight. He often described it by saying, "I knew she was the one. I had to have her." Following his Honorable Discharge from the Army Air Corps at the end of World War II, his enrollment into the University of Arizona to resume his pre-WWII pursuit of a Bachelor's Degree, and his persistence in pitching woo to Kathryn Murray, they married in Nogales, AZ on March 22, 1947.

They began as farmers and ranchers in/around Marana, AZ. They raised Brahma Cattle and cotton. They team roped every Saturday night with the same group of kindred farmer/rancher friends. After ropin', they would then all mosey over to Lil Abner's to cut a rug.

They had 3 children in those early years of marriage, daughters Carey & Becky, and son, Clay. Life was good and getting better, when the textile industry came out with rayon or rayon-like products. Cotton farmers that were young and already operating on a shoestring in that area went broke. The ability and experience in "getting by" for their Generation endured.

After a move into Tucson, AZ and Leslie's new job as an Estimator at Hughes Aircraft evolved into constant layoff and recall, they moved to Brookston, TX where Dad worked as Supervisor for Campbell Soup Company, as the company started up a new plant in Paris, TX. He leased 40 or so acres to run a few head of cattle, next to the house. He purchased 680 acres, outside of Hugo. He worked nights at Campbell Soup, and on Saturday mornings, he would come home from Night Shift, and drive to the 680 acres to work the land, and began running cattle.

He parlayed the cattle and the 680 acres into the purchase of a motel in Hugo, OK, and moved the family in the living quarters behind the Front Office Lobby.

Over time, he and Kathryn purchased and owned/operated motels, a restaurant/catering business, and other successful small business ventures, until eventually living their dream, to build a home and live, subsist and thrive on their cattle ranch operation: 2400 acres and 600-800 head of cattle.

Although this is by no means an all-inclusive list, Clay was a Board member and past President of the OK Restaurant Association, served on the OK Governors Committee to review Workers Compensation, worked to establish the Farm Bureau, co-founded Cable Vision in Hugo, built the first Mini-Storage in Hugo, served on the Hospital Board and built the heli-pad on Kirk Street, served on the CO-OP Board, worked as manager for the Quadrant Housing Project, was involved in developing Hugo Rail Car and Hugo Industrial Authority, founded the Choctaw County Forum Newspaper, ran for Mayor, assisted with the establishment and participated in the local 'Keep Hugo Beautiful' Committee, and was a big supporter for Hugo Horse & Rodeo, local 4-H, youth stock show and sales.

For Kathryn and Leslie Clay Pinson, it was over 65 years of marriage, and to those who had a chance to see "Kay and Clay" together, most folks found them something very special to see, indeed. Together, they were a real team, accomplishing many things as well as being caregivers for both sets of their parents. They not only served the communities in which they lived, they served those they loved every day.

Kathryn and Leslie Clay Pinson's children blessed them with 6 Grandchildren and 5 Great Grandchildren. Carey & Bill Warren of Fort Towson, OK, have two daughters, Kelly and Lendy; Kelly & Brett Brame of Miller Jumbo, OK, have two sons, Zach and Garrett; Lendy & Kooney Duncan reside near Noble, OK and have one daughter, Beckett; Becky and Hank Dennis of Hugo, OK have a daughter, Lynn, and a son, Cody; Cody and Andrea Dennis have a son, Cody (Jr) and a daughter, Ally Kay all reside in Wanette, OK. (Preston) Clay & Eva Pinson and son, Sam, reside in Heath, TX; daughter Tillie Pinson resides in Rockwall, TX.

Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book or send private condolences to the family at www.praterlampton.com.

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