Robert Hayes Ross' Obituary
Robert Hayes Ross, 94 years old of Bernice, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Robert was born June 25, 1931 in Taloga, Oklahoma to Ed Ross and Velda Hall. He grew up on a dairy farm with no electricity, delivering milk while riding on the running boards of their milk truck. While in school, he played basketball and completed his education in the 8th grade. After his older brother returned from farming with a pocket full of money, Ross decided at 16 to hitchhike to work the wheat harvest at a farm in Minot, North Dakota, without telling his dad. A few years later he was drafted into the Korean War where he served in the Army as a bulldozer operator and quickly rose the ranks to Sergeant. While on a ship heading over, the chow lines were too long for his impatience and he quickly found alternate routes to the head of the line until an officer was on the other side of the door and put a stop to it. Another time, while bored overseas, his buddy shot a pheasant over a field. Ross immediately took off running to retrieve their dinner and about the time he got to it, realized he was in the middle of a mine field. While trying desperately to retrace those same steps backwards so as not to get blown up, he decided it’s easier running forward than retracing giant steps backwards. After the war, he and a buddy were travelling to Amarillo, but ran out of money in Tulsa and he said he never made enough money to finish the journey. When he first arrived, he slept in his car on Tulsa’s skid row and a diner owner found him and offered him free meals while he got on his feet looking for work. He worked in various positions in the oil and gas industry, which led him to starting the first of many private businesses ultimately ending with the Town Pump Lounge. He was more than the owner of the Pump, he was the soul of it. A proud veteran and respected member of the biker community, Ross believed in loyalty, grit, connection, belonging, and family. That heart showed up every single day in providing free food to the community, keeping pool, darts, and shuffleboard free so everyone always feels welcome. Ross made sure the Town Pump was a place where no one was turned away and everyone had a seat at the table. Many have tried to recreate what he built, but what Ross inspired can’t be duplicated. It wasn’t the drinks, the walls, or the signs. It was his heart, his generosity, and the people-first spirit behind it. He always loved taking his boats on the lake and for many years riding any and all motorcycles all over the country hitting up rallies, races, and anything motorcycles, with his many friends. He joined the Harley Owner Group and was a proud member of the Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association for many years. Ross was preceded in death by his two brothers, Loyd and Earl Ross, two of his daughters, Teresa and Katherine Ross, and his grandson, Cameron Aurelius. Ross is survived by his wife Cindy Ross, his daughter and son in law, Franchesca and Kevin Porter, his grandchildren, Heather, Katie, Chance, Shelby, Garrett, Crystal, Kassidy, and his great-grandchildren Jaxson Hayes, Amelia Grace, Amelia Maye, Houston, and Olivia, and many wonderful cousins nieces and nephews in Arkansas and thousands of amazing friends..
Visitation will be held 4:00 PM ~ 7:00 PM, Monday, January 19, 2026 at Floral Haven Funeral Home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
A Celebration of Life service will be held 10:00 AM, Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Robert will be laid to rest 1:00 PM, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Ballard Cemetery, Skyline Drive, Afton, Oklahoma.
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