William “Bill” Henry Self, 91,of Tulsa was born on August 5, 1930. He joined His Heavenly Father on September 2, 2021. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, Bill was born at home at Bald Knob in Okmulgee County to Leafae Groff Self and James Floyd Self. Born the son of a horseman, Bill learned young to be entrepreneurial. And he started in and around racetracks. They had thoroughbreds. His favorite quarter horse was Blondie. “We would take 18 horses with us and rent an entire barn…” he would recall. They would take the cattle by truck, and the horses by railroad. Darby Dallas, Journey On, Baytree Bomber and Betty Bang took him on the road. There were more than 20 racetracks that he could recount they would enjoy across the country, Chicago, Omaha, St. Louis, Hollywood, Del Mar, Santa Anita, San Francisco, and Tampa. With sparkling eyes, he still wore his Del Mar hat in 2021 and loved to share stories about his pursuits and travels. Bill animatedly told stories about when they took the horses internationally, with one of his favorite trips was racing Betty Bang in Tijuana, Mexico.
Bill met his wife, Aline, in high school and they married on October 1, 1947, in Sebastian, Arkansas. They were married 49 years. Bill and Aline had five children. A son, William Bruce Self and four daughters, a baby girl, Ruth Darlene Self, Elena Conduff and Elisabeth “Lisa” Haskins.
Bill loved traveling and one memorable adventure was when he and Aline took a couples trip to Greece in the 1980’s. As they retired, they had a garden surrounded by sunflowers that were at times twelve feet tall. They would grow, pick and can pears to save for the winter months. The first year Aline and Bill were married they picked and canned 90 quarts of poke sallet. The two loved dancing on Friday nights, playing cards with friends and spending weekends boating on Lake Meredith in the Texas Panhandle.
Bill enjoyed hunting, collecting guns, gardening and bartering. A man of business, Bill worked diligently to provide for his family. He also took great joy in providing warm jackets to youth in Claremore during the winter. He loved giving to Mother Tucker Ministries and would buy 50 pounds of potatoes or fruit to share with families in the community during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Bill experienced hardships and turned to Jesus for miracles. He received many miracles and survived despite great challenges.
Bill loved Jesus and sharing the word of God with others. A verse he treasured and would share with others is: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-4
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…
Bill leaves to cherish his memory, daughter Ruth Darlene Self, daughter Elena Conduff and her husband Jerry, daughter Elisabeth “Lisa” Haskins and her husband Raymond; brothers and sisters; seven grandchildren; great grandchildren and a cadre of beloved cousins, nieces and nephews as well as dear friends.
Bill was proceeded in death by his beloved wife, Aline Oleta Self; their son William Bruce Self and daughter baby girl; and parents Leafae Groff Self and James Floyd Self.
The family of William Henry “Bill” Self invites you to join in celebrating his life on September 8th at 10 a.m. at a graveside service at Akins Cemetery in Akins, Oklahoma, with Pastor Heath Wood officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Forever Memories Funeral Services, 463505 Hwy 101, Sallisaw. fmfsinc.com