Alva Ray Shanks

Alva Ray Shanks was born on June 11, 1933, in Bixby, Oklahoma, to Orven and Ina Shanks. He began working at an early age, riding his motorcycle to Kansas to work in the wheat fields. At the age of 15, he managed to get a job at Oklahoma Natural Gas by telling them he was 17. They didn’t find out his real age until he actually turned 17 and left to join the United States (U.S.) Navy.

He served his country for 3.5 years, most of which were spent on an aircraft carrier off the shores of Korea. He was an aviation ordnanceman, responsible for loading large bombs into the war planes used to defend against international communism during the Korean War. He made many memories and friends during that time and took a great deal of pride in being a U.S. Navy veteran.

On January 19, 1952, he married his sweetheart, Christine McMahan, in Yuma, Arizona. Shortly before going overseas, he called Christine and asked her to take a bus out to California so they could get married before he shipped out. However, when she arrived, she didn’t have any sort of identification and they were told that they were not old enough get married without parental consent. Finally, after a call to Grandma Ina for permission, they were able to tie the knot. When he returned from his first mission, they began their family, first with the birth of a daughter, Darlene, then later came two sons, Alva Ray, Jr. (Alk) and Rob.

After completing his time in the service, he went to welding school then joined the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union where he worked until his retirement in 1994. He was well-known for his skilled craftsmanship and passed along his love for the trade to his kids and grandkids. He also had his own shop where he did specialized mechanic work and welding. It was not uncommon to see huge pieces of heavy equipment or drilling rigs lined up out in the field beside his shop waiting to be repaired. He had a reputation of being somewhat of a packrat when it came to things around the shop but nine times out ten he could find exactly what he needed to fix just about anything that was broken. And when he couldn’t find what he needed, he just made it.

He had many hobbies including stock car racing. During racing season in the mid-1960’s nearly every weekend he could be found on one of the various tracks across Oklahoma including Tulsa Speedway, Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee, and Enid Fairgrounds Speedway, driving a red, 1933 Ford coupe with the number 12 painted in white on the doors. On race day, Christine would spend all day baking pies then after the races ended, the pit crew would follow them home for dessert and to work on making repairs to the car so they could be ready for the next race.

He also loved to fish and boat. He built a custom airboat by welding two Volkswagen motors together so he could hunt for arrowheads on the Arkansas River. Those motors had plenty of power to move him around through the shallow water and to occasionally eject an unsuspecting passenger. He also liked to take his pontoon boat out on Lake Eufaula to fish for crappie. He was happy to take whoever would go with him whether it was Christine, his brothers, cousins, friends, or even the pastor from the church, and they would spend the entire day out on the water.

He enjoyed sweets and especially loved Christine’s coconut cream pie and white cake with chocolate candy icing. When the family had get-togethers, they always knew that if Chris brought a dessert, there was going to be the signature missing piece because he just couldn’t resist the temptation to sample it before they left the house. He also enjoyed playing at various casinos, especially if they had free ice cream.



His grandkids called him Grandpa-on-the-hill, or just plain old Gramps. He taught them all how to drive a dune buggy and spent countless hours working on their cars. He had the best service in town, quality work with free parts and labor, and it usually included lunch or dinner and a tank of gas, courtesy of Gran. He also enjoyed taking them to Braum’s in Sapulpa on Saturday nights and he always got the same thing, a double dip of black walnut on a cake cone. His words and actions taught them how to live a good and honorable life and his legacy will continue because of the example he provided.

Through the years, he built a total of four houses, including the one they lived in for over 40 years until they moved into assisted living in 2012, where he spent his final years. He and Christine celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary earlier this year.

He was preceded in death by his son and daughter-in-law, Alva Ray, Jr. and Carrie Shanks, his mother and father, sister, Wanda Shanks, and sister-in-law, Linda Shanks. He is survived by his wife, Christine, daughter and son-in-law, Darlene and Randy Hunter, son, Robert Shanks, four grandchildren, five great grandchildren, one great-great grandson, two brothers, Bill (and wife, Myrna) Shanks, Sam Shanks, one sister, Doris Shanks, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Glenpool Funeral Service and Cremation Care Center. Family and friends may share memories or condolences to the family, online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com.