Roy L. Tinney 87, of Mangum

Surrounded by family, Roy L. Tinney Jr. passed through the gates of heaven at 12:20 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020. Roy, also known as Buddy, Daddy, PaPa, and Shine was born to Roy and Mildred Moore Tinney in Altus on May 22, 1932. He had an older sister, Kathryn, and two younger sisters, Maxine and Patricia.

Roy grew up in Brinkman, and graduated from Brinkman High School in 1950 where he was valedictorian of his class of four! He was an outstanding athlete and attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University on an athletic scholarship.

Roy pitched a shutout the first game of his college career on Friday, April 13, 1951, against Oklahoma Baptist University. From that day forward, he considered Friday the 13 to be his lucky day. While at SWOSU, Roy was considered an exceptional left handed pitcher and was drafted after two years of college by the Boston Red Sox. Before he had a chance to play pro baseball, he was drafted to the United States Army. While stationed at Fort Sill, he married Pansy Castle Tinney, whom he met as a high school senior at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly.

After two years in the Army, Roy went to spring training with the Red Sox. He played in the minor leagues and was called up to the major league team in 1957. Shortly after, he was forced to retire due to a shoulder injury.

Following his baseball career, Roy taught school and coached in Anadarko. The family then moved to Velma, where he taught and coached for four years. While at Velma, he led the Comets basketball team to the State finals in 1962.

Roy and Pansy moved to Mangum in the summer of 1963, where he joined Pansy’s father, J. Elmer Castle in the insurance and real estate business. Roy was an insurance agent and real estate broker for 56 years.. An avid sports fan, Roy loved making every football, basketball, baseball, and softball game of his grandchildren with his co-pilot, Pansy. In addition to sports, he loved being at his farms and taking care of his cattle. He loved to plow, but never listened to the radio. He entertained himself by talking to the Lord and singing hymns. Most of all, though, Roy loved teaching Sunday School and serving His Lord and Savior. He was a deacon in the First Baptist Church and served passionately as chairman of the Coat of Many Colors Ministry. He gave his life to the Lord as a young man but rededicated his life fully to the Lord during a revival in 2003. He lived the rest of his life on fire for the Lord.

Although Roy was a cancer survivor, his health issues caused him to retire completely from working, farming, and teaching Sunday School in 2012. As his health continued to decline, he was admitted to the Clinton’s Veterans He was precede Center South Annex on October 24, 2018. While there, he received excellent love and care from the nursing staff, PAs, and other personal care professionals. During the last 17 months of his life, dementia took a horrible toll. However, he never forgot how to pray or the words to his favorite hymns.

Roy is survived by his family, a host of friends, former teammates, former athletes and students. Surviving family are his wife of 66 years and nine months, Pansy; his son Mike and wife Ginger of Norman; his daughter Teresa and husband Dave of Cordell; his daughter Pam and husband Reid of Mangum; four grandchildren, Dr. Tyson Bryant and wife Dr. Kristine Bryant of Tulsa, Trinity Simmons of Edmond, Rachel Ackerman and husband Jared of Oklahoma City, and Daniel Tinney of Oklahoma City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters; Mom and Papa Castle; and a grandson, Jonathan Tinney.

Memorials suggestions include the First Baptist Church Coat of Many Colors Ministry, Clinton Veteran’s Center South Annex, and the Brinkman Cemetery Fund.