Jasper Sipes

As a young man in a new country he experienced many of its pleasures and hardships, aggressively active in such period, such as ranching, riding the range, and engaging in placer gold mining.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Western National Bank, when it was absorbed by the American-First National Bank, of Oklahoma City and becoming a director, served until retirement on account of failing health.

He was a Rotarian and attended many of the district meetings as well as an international meeting.

He served several years as president of the library board of the Carnegie library of Oklahoma City, and for more than thirty years was active in upbuilding Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory, and the state. He was a member of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce from its original beginning.

He was the last surviving charter member of the Oklahoma Territory State Teachers' Association and had been a member of the Oklahoma Historical Society since 1894, when it had been organized only about a year. In 1900 he became a member of its board of directors, its vice president in 1904, serving in that capacity until he became president in June, 1906, and continuing as such until January, 1926, when he became president emeritus and so remained until the date of his death on July 12, 1941.

He became a Master Mason in Oklahoma Lodge No. 3 of Oklahoma City on July 15, 1895, now Oklahoma City Lodge No. 36, A. F. & A. M., and was not only a member but also treasurer thereof from December 21, 1903 until called to service in the lodge on High. He was a Royal Arch Mason, becoming a member of Cyrus Chapter No. 7, R. A. M. on November 26, 1920 and received the Council degrees in Alpha Council No. 18, R. & S. M. on October 27, 1922, created a Knight Templar in Oklahoma Commandery No. 3, K. T. on October 26, 1921, and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Oklahoma Consistory Scottish Rite Masons at Guthrie, Oklahoma for many years, until the time of his death, and was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine on October 13, 1898 in India Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Oklahoma City, and active until his death at Oklahoma City July 12, 1941 at the age of 81 years and 12 days, the funeral being at the First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Dr. John R. Abernathy officiating, and a Masonic funeral service was conducted over his remains at the Mausoleum in Fairlawn Cemetery on July 15, 1941, conducted by Oklahoma City Lodge No. 36, A. F. & A. M., July 15, A. D. 1941, A. L. 5941.

from: http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v020/v020p319.html