Paul Eugene Degraffenreid

Paul Eugene, 84, of Oklahoma City and Mears, MI died December 3, 2015. Born August 10, 1931 in Oklahoma City to Arthur Florence and Helen Grace (Steves) DeGraffenreid. He graduated from Northeast High School in 1949. He attended OU and joined the Air Force in 1951. In 1959, he completed Oklahoma City University Law School and passed the Bar, but instead of practicing law, he partnered with his mother (Mrs. DeGraffenreid’s Pie Shop) and entered the bakery business. He closed his bakery business in 1966 and went to work for Allstate Insurance Co. where he worked for 6 years. In 1973, he went to work as a trial attorney for the Commissioners of the Land Office and in 1991, he became General Counsel. He was a member of the Oklahoma State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. On July 22, 1988, he was duly admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Patricia (Saylor) DeGraffenreid and his brother, Norman B. DeGraffenreid. He spent the last 48 years of his life with his wife, Judy.   He is survived by his loving wife, Judy, two daughters, Paula DeGraffenreid Riggs, and Julie (Harris) LaMar; sons, David, Stephen, Mark and Charles and two step-sons, Jay and Jeff; two daughters-in-law, Julie and Cristen; one son-in-law, Reece; 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, two nieces and three nephews.

Paul was an AVID golfer, loved cooking, music, reading and and playing his ukulele. He was genuine, sincere and honest. He was greatly admired by all who knew him and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Cremation has taken place. His life was so big it will require two celebrations. One will take place in Oklahoma City at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, December 10 at All Souls Episcopal Church, Oklahoma City. The other will be at Silver Lake, Mears, MI., Summer, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his name to ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer, 515 King Street, Suite 420, Alexandria, VA 22314