Buddy Joe Brockett October 11, 1930 - February 2, 2023

My name is Buddy Joe Brockett, a/k/a B. J. Brockett. I was born on October 11, 1930, in Norphlet, Arkansas. I was the second oldest of Joseph Benjamin and Fannie Lavurn Brockett’s 13 children. I passed from this life at age 92 on the 2nd day of February, 2023, at my home I shared with my wife, Jeannie, of 27 years, who survives me.

I am also survived by my sons, Bernhardt (Tamara) Brockett, Kenneth Brockett, daughters, Holly (Kris) Kossow and Rion Elizabeth; my stepdaughter Jennifer Jones and stepson Jim (Susie) Fortune; grandsons Brock Baker and Loch Brockett; brothers Cecil (Nona) Brockett, Bobby Brockett; sisters Margaret Reynolds and Teresa (Mark) Williams; a host of extended family grandchildren, great-grand children, nieces, nephews and many friends.

I grew up in Oklahoma, the majority of my early years were spent on the Strothers “F” Pure Oil lease, south of Seminole, OK, where I lived a poor and humble life in a small 4 room wooden shack. The house was crowded, but somehow we all got around a dining table, where my mother always came up with a meal, maybe just her homemade biscuits and gravy, but always finger licking good.

I graduated from Bowlegs High School in 1948, where I earned the moniker “Einstein”, after winning 1st place in Chemistry at a scholastic competition. After graduation, I hitchhiked to Oklahoma City and found a job in the shipping and delivery department of Kerr’s Department Store. I had to sign my name dozens of times a day in order to pick up merchandise, so I abandoned Buddy Joe and used only my initials, becoming known as “B. J.” for the remainder of my life.

I joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard, 137th Fighter Bomber Wing, in 1949, but received a hardship discharge. In 1953 while working in the West Texas oilfields, I was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After completing basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, I was sent to Germany where I was assigned to the 265th Field Artillery Battalion at Baumholder, Germany.

I started learning the German language on the ship to Europe and soon became fluent. After arriving in Germany I bought a rebuilt German military command car and travelled throughout Europe with my Army buddies. My service in the Army and being stationed in Germany opened a whole new adventure to me. I continued to travel the world through out my life. My final trip was to take my family on an Alaskan cruise in the summer of 2019.

After my military service I enrolled in the University of Oklahoma. I entered OU Law School in 1960, and after my first year, I got a job as a law clerk with an Oklahoma City lawyer. After graduating law school in 1962, I became a junior partner with the lawyer I had clerked for, and formed the law firm Cox, Eagleton and Brockett. In 1965, I left the Cox, Eagleton and Brockett law firm and became a sole practitioner, specializing in Real Estate, Contract and Bankruptcy Law until retiring in 1996, which was short lived. I opened a home office and continued to practice law until 2022 giving legal services on a pro bono basis. I never forgot my humble beginnings which made me very conscious of those in need. I hope I made a difference in their lives.

In the summer of 2022 I was honored (along with other lawyers) with a dinner from the Oklahoma County Bar Association, that recognized my 60 years of service as a lawyer.

There will be a memorial March 28th, 2023 at 11:00 o’clock at the Buchanan Funeral Home, 8712 N. Council Road, Oklahoma City, OK