Ryan Keith Tipton

Ryan Keith Tipton left this earth November 6, 2010 and went straight into the loving arms of God. He was born May 7, 1989 to Jerry Tipton and Tammy (Sala) Tipton. Ryan graduated from Family of Faith Christian School in May of 2007 and entered into the Marine Corps on November 16, 2009, where he served his country with the Marine Security Forces as a Marine Security Guard in Kings Bay, Georgia. Ryan always enjoyed a challenge and pushed himself to be the best, whether it was in basketball, sparring in preparation for UFC wrestling, or achieving the rank of Private First Class. Ryan set the standard for Christian living. His faith in God was unwavering. His faith has touched so many in his twenty one years on this earth. We will never forget the gleam in his eye and infectious smile. He is survived by his parents and his younger brother, Dylan Tipton, all of the family home in Seminole. The loving family encompasses many generations including his grandparents, Stanley and Sandy Branson of Shawnee; great-grandmother, Marie Switzer of Shawnee; grandfather, Bobby Sala of Oklahoma City; uncle, Mika Sala of Shawnee; aunt, Connie Tipton of Modesto, California; aunt and uncle, Bruce and Debby Banning of Tecumseh; and uncle, Steve Tipton of Shawnee. He had many close cousins: Stephanie and Brandon Sala; Cheryl, Kevin and Gage Kessee; Rick, Jeanette, Randall, Amy Kennedy of Cromwell; Amy and Roger Lowe of Prague; and Samantha Tipton. Extended family includes uncle, Sam and Lois Williamson; uncle, Burt Williamson; and Mike and Susan Branson. No family gathering would have been complete without a heated game of basketball regardless of the temperature or season as all of his friends and relatives too numerous to mention can attest. They all know they always held a special place in his heart. Ryan was preceded in death by his grandmother, Helen Tate, uncle, Sammy Sala, and cousin, Christopher Sala. Pallbearers will be Mike Sala, Brandon Sala, Kevin Kessee, Gage Kessee, Rick Kennedy, and Randall Kennedy. Ryan's family would like to erect a memorial in his honor. Memorials may be made to the Ryan Tipton Memorial Fund. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 10:00 AM, at Family of Faith Christian Church in Shawnee. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery in Okemah. Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.