Rodney Eugene Bemis, husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and grandfather, passed away on June 17, 2014 in Tulsa, OK at the age of 69. The son of the late Byron Bemis and Ruby (Bowers) Frederick, Rodney was born in Tacoma, WA on July 21, 1944 and as a child lived in Wichita, Saxman, and Hutchinson, KS . He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1962 where he competed in football, basketball, and track, particularly excelling at javelin. Rodney entered the U.S. Navy at 17, serving in Hawaii. Using skills he learned in the Navy, he returned to civilian life as an electronic technician for fifteen years, working for RCA, King Radio, and Telex. A graduate of Spartan School of Aeronautics, Rodney was licensed to pilot single-engine planes. He later became a journeyman carpenter, working numerous developments in downtown Tulsa. Rodney also spent several years taking courses at Tulsa Junior College and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. A committed family man, Rodney married Jane Vale on July 18, 1970 in Tulsa and raised their children together in Tulsa and Mannford. Rodney took great pride in maintaining a beautiful property through careful tending of his turf, orchard, berries, and vegetable garden. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed a lifetime of hunting and fishing. He had a special hand with the various animals he raised, particularly his cattle. An independent thinker, his belief in living frugally and practicing good nutrition were important to him, qualities he most surely passed on to his family. Rodney approached all tasks to the best of his ability; the homes and other structures he built himself were a testament to his belief in quality workmanship. As a lifelong learner, Rodney was curious about many subjects, with a particular interest in politics and finance. Watching OSU football and basketball games were a much-loved pastime . Survivors include wife, Jane Bemis, of Mannford; two daughters, Bonnie Loy (husband, Michael) of Tulsa and Emily Bemis (partner, Tathaya Pierce) of Mannford, and one son, Byron Bemis (wife, Crystal) of Owasso, OK; brother, Steve Bemis, of Hutchinson and sister, Janeen Jordan, of Henderson, NV; sister-in-law, Penni Aurilio (husband, Tom) of Owasso; brother-in-law, David Vale (wife, Magdelyn) of Greensburg, PA; nieces Angie Bethel, Sara Faith, Amy Rains, Antonia Aurilio, and DAnna Kromer; nephews Kevin Jordan and Jeff Jordan; and grandchildren Nicholas, Margaret, Christopher, and Stephen Loy, Emmet Bemis, and Alyse, Isaiah, and Jonathan Bemis. Rodney will be greatly missed by his family and friends. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, at 10am, at First Baptist Church, Mannford. Service: 06/28/2014 00:00 10:00 AM First Baptist Church Mannford, Oklahoma