Dr. Ralph Leon McLaury, Jr.

In Loving Memory of Dr. Ralph Leon McLaury, Jr. Dr. Ralph Leon McLaury, Jr. passed into eternal rest on January 18th, 2021. He entered this world on July 19th, 1942 the son of Ralph Leon McLaury of Cushing, Oklahoma and Nina Clark McLaury Smith of Ponca City, Oklahoma and grandson of Cushing Pioneer Reverend David Allen McLaury founder of the First Presbyterian Church of Cushing. He grew up during an idyllic period in Ponca City, Oklahoma in the 40’s and 50’s enjoying time with his sister Susie and his many McLaury cousins dragging Grand Avenue and drinking cherry cokes at Rexall Drug Store. At Oklahoma University, Ralph was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, where he was known as “Ace” for his consistent academic excellence. In 1967 he married Patricia, the love of this life, whom he met in college whilst she was pursuing her nursing degree. Ralph earned his Medical Degree in Internal Medicine, Class of 1967, specializing in infectious diseases, from the University of Oklahoma and thereafter served in the Medical Corps of the Army Special Forces Green Beret during the Vietnam era. He was honorably discharged as a Major in 1973, thereafter establishing a private medical practice located in the iconic Price Tower, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He later gravitated towards occupational medicine and was recruited as Phillips Petroleum’s Chief Medical Officer. Later he served in the same capacity for Exxon in Houston, Texas, and BASF in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Ralph lived a full and vibrant life filled with his passion for history, travel, music, family genealogy, captaining his sail boat, piloting his private airplane, enthusiastically serving with the auxiliary Coast Guard, worshipping with the Baton Rouge Quakers and in retirement earning a degree in Latin from Louisiana State University. He died peacefully in Bartlesville where he had enjoyed his greatest period of happiness. He is preceded in passing by his youngest daughter Molly Reagan McLaury, and survived by his beloved wife Zulma Patricia McLaury, nee Owen, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, his son Ralph L. McLaury, III, of Naalehu, Hawaii, his daughter Clara Courtney McLaury, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, his sister Edna Sue Manhoff of Estes Park, Colorado, his grandchildren Connor and Dolly, and a great many nieces, nephews, and cousins all of whom shall miss him greatly. He will be remembered as a man of strong Christian beliefs who chose a life of service to his fellow man, and as an honest, devoted, and moral son, doctor, soldier, captain, pilot, friend, cousin, brother, husband and father. Drop in viewing and visitation for family and friends will be available Monday, January 25th, 9am-5pm at Stumpff Funeral Home, 1600 SE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, OK. Memorial Service for Ralph will be graveside at Fairlawn Cemetery in Cushing, Oklahoma on Tuesday, January 26, 1:30 pm.

Dr. Ralph Leon McLaury, Jr.

July 19, 1942 - January 18, 2021