William Leon Brownfield's Obituary
William Leon Brownfield, better known as Bill, passed away on January 23rd, 2024 at the age of 78, in his home in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, following a brief battle with cancer. Bill was born in Auburn, Washington on June 25th, 1945, to his parents Oscar and Leveda Brownfield.
Bill was raised in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and as a young child spent his summers with his Uncle Tom and Aunt Rowena in Hoffman, OK, along with his brother Don, and many cousins. There, he embarked on every boyhood adventure imaginable, with his best friend and cousin, James Ray Brownfield. In his teenage years, he began riding quarter horses and traveled the country winning races in nearly every state. He and his favorite horse, Burnt Bars, set several track records and sent many overconfident gamblers home in shame. By the age of 19, he was recognized as being the number 6 leading quarter horse jockey in the nation. Bill was drafted into the United States Army, where he earned his GED, and achieved the rank of Private 2nd Class on February 10th, 1966, while stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He was then transferred to the US Army Reserves in 1967. He continued his horse racing career, and many of his winner’s circle pictures began to include his new little brother, Michael. In the mid-70s, Bill began work as an X-ray technician for the Bill Miller Company, inspecting welds on pipeline projects. His most memorable of these jobs was working on the TransAlaska pipeline. His brother Don was often alongside him. His pipeline career allowed him to experience many outdoor adventures and gave him a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature. For the next several years Bill worked many pipeline projects, but horse racing was always a big part of his life. In 1984, his racing career ended abruptly, and his life was changed forever when his horse stumbled leaving the starting gates. Bill was severely injured, with the worst of these injuries being brain trauma that put him in a coma for several weeks. After he emerged from his coma, he required extensive rehabilitation, throughout which he proved to beat his given prognosis. Continuing to beat the odds, he earned his associate degree in shoe, boot, and saddle repair at OSU Tech in Okmulgee. From there, he operated his own custom leather work and repair business named Boot Hill, in Beggs, OK, and was well known among others in the industry for his skill set. Bill embarked on several entrepreneurial opportunities throughout the years, with his most successful venture being a convenience store, operated with his former wife, Karen Stroud. In his retirement, he stayed as physically active as possible, shared the love of Jesus, and enjoyed watching OU Football and Western movies, especially those starring John Wayne. Bill’s life after his accident was riddled with physical struggles, but he refused to let those struggles get the best of him. He enjoyed fishing with his father and son and had countless successful fishing trips, where he always landed the biggest or the most. “Wild Bill'' did his best to make those around him laugh and had a catchphrase for nearly every situation. His faith in the Lord was evident through the way he treated the less fortunate he encountered. His love for Jesus was extended to many inmates he came to know through his prison ministry with Pastor Tom Tidwell. His biggest loves, however, were his children and grandchildren, and he cherished every moment spent with them. He will be terribly missed, but we rejoice in the fact that the struggles of this world are behind him, he is no longer in pain, and he is reunited with loved ones gone before him.
Bill is survived by his brother Don Brownfield, of Lake Dallas, TX, and brother Micheal Brownfield and wife Robyn of Sapulpa, OK. Daughter Kelli Swim and husband Bryan of Tahlequah, OK. Son Jeff Brownfield and wife Sara, of Tahlequah, OK. Son Wes Brownfield and wife Jody, of Sapulpa, OK. Daughter Amanda Albers and husband Ryan, of Sapulpa, OK. His grandchildren Mckenna Swim, Cayden Swim, Julien Brownfield, Lola Brownfield, and Vivian Brownfield, all of Tahlequah, OK. Grandchildren Carli Brownfield, Brelyn Brownfield, Maddison Albers, and Hannah Albers, all of Sapulpa, OK. As well as his former spouse, Karen Stroud, and many friends and loved ones. He is preceded in death by his father and mother Oscar and Leveda Brownfield, granddaughter Payton Swim, former spouse Jennetta Brownfield, and many other close friends and family members.
Celebration of Life Service will be 3:00 pm, Friday, February 16, 2024, at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel
To view the service via webcasting use the link below:
https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/98003/hash:5A0141637F29A90E
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