Patrick Thomas Sears

Born to Gerald (G.O.) and Neva (Fields) Sears in Vinita, OK on December 28, 1948. Passed on December 10, 2021, in Tulsa. Predeceased by his parents and his brother, Mike. Immediate survivors include his beloved wife of 45 years, Diane (Stambeck) Sears, and their Krewe of Sears International Students, including goddaughter Julia Mills (Nick Walker), Los Angeles, CA; Fred (Titi) Oliveira, North Hollywood, CA; Axel (Katja) Mack, Giengen an der Brenz, Germany; Cintia Silva (Luiz) Lobo, Bethesda, MD; Ana Markovic, Zagreb, Croatia; German grandchildren, Mathilda and Konrad Mack; sister, Janet (Miles) Godbey, Little Rock, AR, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Other survivors include an immense circle of people, young and old, drawn in by his warm magnetism. They came to know and love "Uncle Boody," and he loved them back.
Growing up in Bartlesville, Pat played sports year-round, primarily along with older brother Mike, who dubbed him Boody. He quickly exhibited exceptional athletic talent as well as an aura that drew people to him as a natural leader and team captain.

At College High School, he excelled in basketball and was a starter for the Wildcats' 1967 state championship team, whose team story of playing ball in the face of race and big business is documented in the 2021 book, Sid and the Boys, by Carl McCullough. Pat was named the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise Athlete of the Year for the class of 1967.
During his teen years, Boody also developed a love for music and played guitar with friends in two different bands - The Knights and Boody and the Batmen. He was also a talented DJ, arranging an eclectic array of music into Boody Tune tapes/CDs treasured by recipients, and his love of music endured.

Pat accepted a basketball scholarship from Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa, but earned his varsity letter playing third base for the Maverick baseball team. Migrating to OSU in Stillwater, he did not let school interfere with his college experience. Thus, his academic sojourn was interrupted with enlistment in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany.

Returning, Boody settled in at OU in Norman with his G.I. Bill, earning a Bachelor's of Business Administration. He also became smitten by his roommate's little sister Diane and after college, they married and moved to Tulsa. He pursued several career paths including Associate Executive Director of the Downtown Branch YMCA, Guardian Life Insurance, Co-owner/Manager Software City, Manager Bixby Telephone Sales and Service, Sales/Marketing Rep for MSI/Kodak and Computer/Electronics Technology Consultant.

Pat loved many things. Sports, particularly OU football and St. Louis Cardinals baseball. Food, fried chicken (with livers), chocolate chip cookies, corn in any form and Murphy's hometown hamburgers. He was known for his grilling techniques, expansive brunches and beans with cornbread. He loved to travel, his Cherokee genes earned him the nickname of Pathfinder for his inner compass; wherever he went in the world, strangers would frequently stop and ask him for directions. He loved animals, especially cats, and people alike.

Boody was the definition of "one of a kind - a person or thing that is not like any other person or thing." He was also a force of nature with a seemingly effortless gift of helping everyone he encountered have FUN in their day, leaving them feeling recognized and valued.

"Remember that life is an adventure!" he would often say. "THESE are the good old days!"

Boody left a mark, and his spirit will endure in us. Peace, brother.

A Celebration of Life service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 22, at Church of Saint Mary, 1347 E. 49th Street, Tulsa, with a remembrance reception immediately following in the adjacent Our Lady of Grace Center Parish Hall. Virtual attendance will be available through churchofsaintmary.com and schaudtfuneralservice.com.

Donations in his honor may be made to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Boys & Girls Club of Bartlesville or the charity of your choice.

In lieu of flowers, suggested donations are :

Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
1304 N. Kenosha Ave.
Tulsa, OK, 74106
okfoodbank.org/donate/

Boys & Girls Club of Bartlesvillle
401 S. Seminole.
Bartlesville, OK 74003
bgcbville.org/individual-giving/

Charity of your choice.