Lonnie G. Chambers

Lonnie Gilbert Chambers was born on October 1st, 1945, in Denver, Colorado, to Robert W. (Bob) Chambers and Rayebelle Jacobs Chambers. After attending many schools as a child, his family moved to Claremore, where he grew up on Cat Creek. He would joke about his wife, Pat, growing up on Dog Creek.

Lonnie and Pat were childhood sweethearts, but due to his father’s job, the family moved a lot, but Claremore was his favored town. When Lonnie was in the ninth grade and they were living in Corpus Christi, Texas, his father asked him what he wanted to do. Lonnie’s reply, “I wanna go home.”

After graduating from Claremore High School in 1964, Lonnie attended OMA on a football scholarship. He and Pat were married on July 1, 1966 at the First Methodist Church on fifth street in Claremore. They moved to Durant, Oklahoma, and finished their degrees at Southeastern State University. Lonnie played football and golf at the college, and after graduation, they moved back home to Claremore to start a family and teach school.

There was a slight change in plans, though, when Lonnie joined the Army National Guard and left for basic training. Shortly after, their first son, Robert Raymond, was born. When Lonnie returned from basic, he began teaching eighth grade civics at Claremore Jr. High and coaching football, basketball and baseball.
Two more baby boys came along, first Brent and then Corey. After teaching and coaching for four years, Lonnie was offered a job with Peabody Coal Company, with his good friend, John Bagby. This career lasted more than twenty years, but he didn’t give up coaching and refereeing. He coached his sons’ Little League Baseball games from1975-1988. This wasn’t the only sport Lonnie enjoyed playing and teaching his sons. Being an avid golfer, he served as chair for the Rogers County Trust authority, which governed Heritage Hills Golf Course. He and many friends, as well as his sons, played in dozens of memorial and charity golf tournaments. You could always count on Lonnie to participate competitively. Lonnie also served on the city council during the years that Claremore Expo and Rec Center were under construction.

In 1989, when Peabody Coal wanted to transfer the Chambers to St. Louis, Lonnie and Pat talked it over and decided they loved Claremore too much to move. They still had two boys in school and were building a new home, so they said “no”.

Lonnie then developed his own general contracting business and earned his real estate license through Smith Real Estate. He served several years as president of the Rogers County Homebuilders Association, and took great pride in the homes and businesses he built.

Another occupation came calling in 2006, when he began work as a landman, securing leases for three different coal and oil and gas companies.

Finally retiring in 2013, Lonnie enjoyed playing golf with the senior men’s group on Tuesdays at Heritage Hills. He also loved to hunt and fish, especially with his cousin, Ronnie. These activities also carried over to his sons. They remember going on many quail and pheasant trips with their dad. They also enjoyed helping with the annual trap shoots that Lonnie put on at his home in the country. Then there were the yearly deer camps that all the guys attended at good friend, Bob Hartley’s ranch. The family has several mounts that Lonnie was so proud of.

Lonnie was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Claremore, and was always willing to help when needed. In fact, he loved helping people and looked for ways he could better their lives. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge, the Will Rogers Masonic Lodge #53 and the Cherokee Nation.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Ray Dempsey Chambers. Survivors include his wife, Pat of Claremore, sons Rob of Claremore, Corey of Broken Arrow, and Brent and his daughters Lilly and Sadie of Claremore. These two granddaughters were so special to “Papa Lonnie”. He couldn’t get enough of going to their sports events. Lonnie is also survived by his sister Marie and husband Brent Hinds of Catoosa and sisters-in-law Jerry Brasier, Rose Brasier and Shirley and husband Don Nickles, all of Claremore, as well as sister-in-law Sharon Brasier of Tulsa. He is also being remembered by many special nieces and nephews and cousins.

Lonnie went to be with our Lord on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Claremore. Burial is at Oakhaven Memorial Gardens in Claremore.