Johnnie Lee Bittle's Obituary
Johnnie Bittle Obituary
Johnnie Lee Bittle (J.B.) was born on December 16, 1938 in Mounds, Oklahoma to John Carlos Bittle and Ommie Lee (Baker) Bittle. He departed this life on April 10, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 85 years, 3 months and 25 days. Johnnie was a true "Jack of All Trades." He began working at a young age in the Texas Panhandle Oil Field with his Father. He moved back to Oklahoma and attended Liberty Mounds School where he met, and later married, his high school sweetheart Dorothy (Dot) Jean Morris. They were married on July 31, 1959 and shared over 60 years together before her death in June 2020. In 1960 they became parents to Brenda Kay and in 1963 to twins Regina Lynne and Ricky Glen. Johnnie was mechanically inclined. When Johnnie was a young boy he received a little wagon for Christmas. He wanted to know how it worked so he took it apart piece by piece and then put back together perfectly. He was a good car mechanic; he could listen to the motor running and could determine what was wrong by how the motor sounded. He worked for Jarbo Sales Liquor Distribution, delivering products to Local Liquor Stores in the Tulsa area; Carnation Milk Company, making all of their products; and was a code welder for Word Industries. Due to his growing family of three children, he moved to Abbot Heat Exchanger where he mastered a very unique automatic welding machine. This machine was transferred to the country of Panama, and not long after the transfer they were having problems with the machine and Mr. Abbot sent Johnnie to fix the issue and train new operators. When he returned from Panama, Mr. Abbot promoted Johnnie to the Material Estimation Office. In the early 1970s he was hired as the welding Forman at H.B. Zachry Company, building boiler #5 and #6 of the O.G.&E. Power Plant in Muskogee, OK. During this time, Johnnie started his own Oilfield Service Business in 1978 working on the weekends. When enough demand for his services occurred, he operated J.B.'s Portable Steam and Test Company full time, and in 1983 incorporated as J.B.'s Hot Oil and Steam Company. He heated tanks of oil to separate the salt water and paraffin out of the crude oil so that the oil companies could purchase the oil products. It was a profitable and successful business. The company remained in operation for over 45 years.In 2005, Johnnie retired, and he and Dot traveled across America in their motor home or motorcycle. Johnnie purchased his first red Honda Goldwing Motorcycle in the early 1990s and enjoyed being members of the Goldwing Motorcycle Club where each was given a CB Radio Handle. They enjoyed bike rides traveling to iconic restaurant's all over Oklahoma and some out of state with many of its members becoming lifelong friends. He eventually bought a second "candy apple red" Goldwing which was his favorite color and was absolutely beautiful. After being a Motorcycle enthusiast for many years, he had a scare when one day the bike tipped over with him and Mom. It scared him enough that he gave up riding. He moved on to the 4-wheeler craze that was a new and exciting sport which was of course a Red Honda one. He enjoyed traveling with his church friends and family members to Mena, Arkansas to ride the Trails in Queen Wilhelmina Park in the spring and fall. After a few years he purchased a larger Polaris 4-wheeler which he still owns. He learned how to snow ski in Colorado for the first time in 1984. He could ski the Black slopes like no one else. He had NO fear coming down the steep winding slopes. He led a very active life. He loved being outside whether it was fishing in south Texas or taking a walk on Harvard Avenue near his home. Johnnie served as a Deacon for over 50 years at the Bixby Free Will Baptist Church. He was a very loving, devoted and cherished son, brother, husband, father and business man. He will be truly missed and dearly remembered. Johnnie was preceded in death by his Grandparents Jacob Bittle Jr. and Arminda (Oswalt) Bittle; Forrest Baker and Tressie (Stone) Baker; both of his parents, John Carlos Bittle and Ommie Lee (Baker) Bittle; one baby brother, sisters Patty Sue Bittle and Wylene Patrick; Nephews Clyde Patrick, Jr., Lowry Morris, Davie Morris and Dusty Morris. His in-laws Lowry Morris and Ila. E. (Martin) Morris as well as his beloved wife of over 60 years Dorothy J. (Morris) Bittle. He is survived by his sister, Florence James and husband Dale of Porum, OK; brother James Bittle and wife Becki of Ochelata, OK; daughters, Brenda Evans and husband Dale of Mounds, OK, and Regina Osburn and husband Larry of Mounds, OK; son, Ricky Bittle and wife Brenda Lee of Bixby, OK; brother-in-laws, Ed Morris and wife Donna of Bixby, OK and David Morris and wife Sharon of Bixby, OK; grandchildren, TJ Evans and wife Trina (children Chayce and Kayden Evans), Chris Evans and wife Jennifer (children Ally and Peaches Evans), Amanda Bittle, Amy (Bittle) White and husband James (children Jay and Amiyah White), Austin Osburn, Kristen (Osburn) Cox and husband Eric (children Kahrson, Barrett and Gunner Cox). Bonus grandchildren - Pashey (Harris) Willhite and husband Jaime (Payton and Brooklyn Willhite), Jamie (Ellefson) Keller and husband Matt (children Malachi, Julianna, Felecity and Levi Keller). Johnnie also had a very special cousin Sandi and husband Frank DuVall of Palmdale, California Several cousins as well as nieces and nephews and their families. He had special lifelong friends who he considered family, Trudy and Richard Moore, Bob and Barbara Ann Kirk, Joe and MaryJane Kirk, John Kirk and Marilyn Kirk as well as their parents Robert and Madeline Kirk who he loved his entire life until their passing. He made some great friends throughout his life and enjoyed spending time with each of them including Larry Wilson of Bixby who he met at McDonalds on 121st Memorial Drive in Bixby, and they became fast friends who would meet for breakfast seven days a week. John Reeder of Bixby a longtime friend he met at church many years ago. Ray and Twilia Tate of Bixby, who he met at church over fifty years ago and considered them to be family. Dick Moore of Missouri was a member of the Honda Goldwing Club. Gary and Paula Henrickson of Destin, Florida, formerly Bixby residents, were very dear friends and met through the Honda Goldwing club. Johnnie Lee Bittle will be greatly missed. "Fly High Dad" and go give Mom a hug and kiss. Until we meet again. Love you always and forever.
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