Johnny Lee "Buster" Gamble Sr. was born to Mary Lou Hanley of Tulsa,Oklahoma on January 7, 1951. Whenhe was a baby, he was adopted by
Elmer and Bessie Gamble of Muskogee.
He was a loving, energetic child: thoughtful, kind, smart, friendly, loud, and confident. He was the very definition of an extrovert, and he never met a stranger.
He gave his life to Christ at an early age and joined Mt. Calvary in Muskogee under the leadership of Pastor J.A. Reed. Buster was an active member of the church and sang in the youth choir. Elmer and Bessie realized Buster excelled at music and had him take piano lessons at five years old.
He attended elementary and middle school at Rentiesville, OK, where his father was a principal. He would go on to attend the historic Manual Training High School where he played football under Coach Albert Schoats. He also sang in the school choir and was part of the drama and debate club. He was an avid performer, who competed and won many competitions in music, acting, and oration.
After graduating from Manual Training High School, he matriculated to historic Langston University. During his sophom*ore year of college, he pledged and became a proud second-generation member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
While in high school he met the love of his life Addie Loberta Simmons, they would court one another for the entirety of her high school career. Soon after she graduated high school and prior to his sophom*ore year of college, they married and from this loving union five children were born: Patricia, Tina, John Jr. Gina, and Raynette.
At Langston, he obtained a Bachelor of Education degree in Social Science, History, and Psychology and began his teaching career at Moton Taft High School. While at Moton Taft, he also worked as an assistant basketball coach for the varsity team, head basketball coach of the girls' basketball team and the junior high boys. Upon realizing he could do more for a school as an administrator, he obtained a master's degree plus 30 hours above in Education Administration at Northeastern State University. He would go on to work as a principal and coach at Taft and later became superintendent of Carter G. Woodson of Tullahassee, OK. Teaching and coaching were two of his greatest passions and he taught every single day of his life, even if it wasn't always in a school.
In the early 90's, his loving parents became ill, and he dedicated several years caring for them full time before they went home to be with the Lord. To honor his parents, he dedicated his life to his community, his family, and to helping and educating others. He held the good men who reared him with great regard, and to continue their legacy he became a Prince Hall Freemason and joined Trinity Lodge #84, where he worked with a group of ordinary men, doing extraordinary things. He couldn't always do much, but he always did what he could for as long as he could.
After his parents passed away, he returned to teaching and spent the remainder of his career teaching or coaching at various schools. During the twilight of his teaching career, he got a chance to coach the Boley Bears, a great team of young basketball players in Boley, Oklahoma. Coaching that team filled him with great joy during a time when illness was creeping around the corner. He eventually returned to Boynton-Moton to finish his teaching career, where he eased into early retirement satisfied.
A week after his 73rd birthday, Johnny Lee returned to the loving arms of Christ on Monday January 15th, 2024.
He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Bessie Gamble, biological mother Mary Lou Hanley, his first child a daughter Patricia, his sister's Carol Tottress, and Alice Parker. He leaves to mourn his death: His wife of 53 years; his children Tina McBride Felton (Quinton Felton) of Muskogee, Johnny Lee Gamble Jr. of Muskogee, Gina Gaulden of Tulsa, OK and Raynette Gamble of Tahlequah, OK; one grandchild Matthieu McBride; his great grandchild Damian McBride; one sister Linda Love of Wichita, KS; and a sister- in-law Norma Jean Fort. He also leaves a host of fantastic nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
The Hour of Remembrance for Johnny will commence on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 3:00 PM in the most holy sanctuary of Rayfield Baptist Church in Muskogee, where Pastor Leroy Walker Sr., will preside.
You may visit Mr. Gamble, as he slumbers in peaceful repose at the funeral home in Muskogee on Friday, between the hours of 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
The Christian Committal will take place on Monday, January 29, 2024 at the Eleventh hour in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Muskogee.
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