John Mabrey passed away at his home in Tulsa on March 15, 2024. John was born on February 9, 1955, in Okmulgee to Carlisle and Lurline Mabrey. He was the youngest of their four children. He graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1973 and from the University of Oklahoma in 1977.
Upon graduation from OU, John joined the bank examination force at the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency in Oklahoma City and served there until 1981, at which time he joined Citizens National Bank (now Mabrey Bank) in Okmulgee. He served the bank in a variety of roles until his death, at which time he was a Senior Executive Vice President, both of Mabrey Bank and Mabrey Bancorporation. He also was on the Board of Directors of both institutions.
John was a member of Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa and was active in numerous civic organizations. He graduated from the first class of Leadership Oklahoma in 1988 and later chaired its Board of Directors. John dedicated much of his volunteerism to historical preservation. He founded the Okmulgee Historic Preservation Commission in 1988, which was ultimately successful in listing 32 blocks on the National Registry.
John was honored as outstanding board member of Oklahoma Main Street in 1990, and in 1996 was a driving force in having Okmulgee honored as one of the first “Main Street” towns in Oklahoma. He served as a member of the board of advisers for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and also on the Board of the Oklahoma Historical Society for decades. After John and his family moved to Tulsa in 2004, he was also a board member of Cascia Hall and the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture.
John loved people, and treasured his lifelong friendships with classmates from Okmulgee and the University of Oklahoma, in particular his fraternity brothers. John enjoyed many close friendships in Tulsa as well. He had a wonderful sense of storytelling and humor, and an infectious laugh. He was at ease with anyone, always wanted others to enjoy themselves, and was a February 9, 1955 – March 15, 2024
positive and kind person. John loved entertaining and cooking for family and friends while playing classic rock music. He won many awards in Bixby BBQ contests. John was an accomplished deepsea fishermen, an activity he enjoyed with his parents, wife, children, and friends at places all around the world. John loved spending time in Mexico, and also valued the annual summer trip to Minnesota with his immediate and extended family. He was an avid OU fan and proudly displayed the OU license plate he bought to commemorate OU’s national championship.
John’s family will miss him immensely and is thankful for the time we had with him here on earth.
John was predeceased by his Father, Carlisle Mabrey Jr.; his mother, Lurline Rains Mabrey; and fathers-in-law J.C. Tipton Jr. and John Garis. He was a devoted and loving husband and father, and is survived by his wife of 45 years, Terry; and their three children, Katie Mabrey, Christy Mabrey and McLean Mabrey. He is also survived by his siblings Carlisle Mabrey III (Ellen), Bruce Mabrey (Karen), Marilyn Mabrey Sulivant (Dan); his mother-in-law Timmie Garis; brother- in-law J.C. Tipton III; and numerous nieces and nephews. John loved his family unconditionally, and was extremely proud of his two grandchildren, Harper and Michael.
John’s funeral will be held on April 5, 2024, at 3 p.m. at the Boston Avenue Methodist Church in downtown Tulsa. For those unable to attend, the funeral will be livestreamed at https://www.bostonavenue. org/life-events/ Honorary pallbearers are the Tau Delta Pledge Class of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, contributions in John’s honor may be made to the OKPOP Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.
