Cecil T. "Dusty" Gregg

Cecil T. "Dusty" Gregg never faced a problem he didn't think he could fix. Mr. Fix-It-himself was cowboy to the core from the time he took his first breath on October 30, 1947, until he joined his savior in heaven on September 13, 2025. He passed from this life the very same way he lived it: with a witty joke at the ready and optimistic plans for the future.

Born to Delbert and Billie Sue (Freeland) Gregg in Ennis, Texas, Cecil came by his love for the Western way of life simply because it surrounded him. In fifth grade he moved to San Antonio where he lived with his grandparents, Ruby O'Dell and Berenice Earnest. Better known as Mecee and Pa, the couple raised Cecil to be a man's man. They taught him by example about hard work, honesty and integrity. Those life lessons were passed along to each of Cecil's seven grandkids. As was his love for cowboys, horses and all outdoor activities. His love for the outdoors were a direct result of his time spent at Stewart farm, where his Mecee grew up, learning about animals and riding his first horse, Blackie.

Both Pa and Delbert were known to be quite ornery, and Cecil made it clear that trait was embedded in his genes. He was as goofy as the day is long which forged many special relationships, including his marriage to Emily. The first time the couple laid eyes on each other, Cecil was pretending to teach class at East Central High School. Only a freshman at the time, Emily was not impressed by the junior's antics. Evidently, Cecil won her over because the couple got married just two years later in 1967.

Cecil graduated from East Central in 1966 and immediately enlisted in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic. Right after their November wedding, Emily and Cecil moved to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas, to begin his military career. Welcoming their first daughter, Julie, in 1969, the family of three would move back to San Antonio to fulfill Cecil's active-duty orders. That's where Tracy joined the trio in 1971. Moving back to Abilene just a few years later, Lorie was born in 1973.

Vowing to take Emily on an adventure of a lifetime, Cecil's Air Force career took his young family to Okinawa, Japan, in 1975. It was a new experience for Emily who had not left Texas until that first trans-Atlantic flight. During those 15 hours in the air, Cecil and Emily met Joe and Betty Rodgers who would become life-long friends. After three years in Japan, the family moved to Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California. Up until his final move – which brought the family to Choctaw, Oklahoma, in 1982 – Cecil worked on the KC-135. He changed air frames to the E3, better known as the AWACS, when he began at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City. When he retired in 1986, Cecil was a master sergeant.

Never afraid to try new things, Cecil tried his hand at quite a few different jobs as a civilian. He was a born salesman thanks to his sharp wit and ornery nature. His first job after the Air Force was selling life insurance, followed by managing a Circle K gas station, before working at Sears in the tire department alongside his best friend, Joe. The stories he could tell about Joe and vice versa were stuff of legends. Cecil's career path came full circle when he worked on various aspects of the KC-135 engine and systems at Tinker until he fully retired in 2009.

Cecil firmly believed that if he worked hard, he could play harder. He lived that out and took his family along for the ride. The family of five piled into a Ford Thunderbird for a cross-country trip from California to Florida which took 30 days round trip. Many weekends were spent camping, fishing and hunting, where Cecil taught all three girls everything he knew about basically everything. It wasn't uncommon for Cecil and Emily to make off in the pontoon boat where they'd spend days on end fishing on lakes and rivers, catching everything that wiggled on the end of their line and sleeping under the stars.

It was in 2002 that Cecil finally got back to his roots: horses. He called his first horse Dusty, which was a name his Mecee gave him when he was a child. It was a dream come true for Cecil as he shared his love of horses with each of his grandchildren. Where Cecil was a dedicated father, he was a devoted grandfather. He loved nothing more than spending time with each of his grandkids, teaching them how to make their way in the world. He was always looking for ways to teach them something important, like how to work hard and do a job right, to be honest and to look everyone in the eye.

Traveling near and far became a favorite past time for Cecil and his family, especially once the grandkids began arriving. They went all over the country and abroad, from Disney World in Florida to Branson, Missouri, Las Vegas, and everywhere in between. Cecil and Emily celebrated each grandkid's high school graduation with a cruise. This is just one example of how Cecil loved making a fuss about everyone's accomplishments. It didn't matter how big or small, Cecil was there with a bear hug and a heartfelt "I'm proud of you."

Even though Cecil bled Texas orange, he became a fan of the OSU Cowboys when his oldest daughter started school up there. The only time Cecil didn't cheer for OSU was when they played the University of Texas. It was rare that Cecil missed an OSU football game when his grandkids became students, that was also true as they grew up. Every recital, school program and game, Cecil was somewhere in the audience cheering louder than the rest. His five-foot five stature didn't hold him back from anything; Cecil was truly larger than life itself.

Cecil had the first of several back surgeries in his 40s. He also fought through prostate cancer in 2013 and came out the other side free and clear. Ever the optimist, Cecil didn't let something as small as his health keep him from dreaming. Even in his final hours he was planning trips with his family and friends; fishing trips on boats, trail rides in the mountains and a visit to the mouse house. To Cecil, roadblocks didn't exist, he viewed everything simply as an obstacle to overcome or find a way around.

Cecil always had a kind word and a lot of love to give. Nobody had to wonder if he loved them because he let them know every chance he got. His unconditional love transcends generations as kids and grandkids endeavor to live a wide-open life, unafraid of trying new things, looking for ways to fix the world around them and carry on the way their Papaw taught them to.

Cecil is preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; and younger brother, Jim Gregg.

He is survived by his wife, Emily; three daughters, Julie (Kenneth) Humphrey; Tracy Gregg (Robbie King); Lorie (Dave) Yacko; seven grandkids, Emmie (Patrick) Brown, Abbie (Brandon) Davis, TJ Yacko, Kennedy (Lindsay) Humphrey, Alex Sivard, Michael Yacko, and Aaron White; ten great grandchildren, Zoey Brown, Emma Brown, Juliana Davis, Brodi Young, Augustus Humphrey, Cohen Davis, Nate Brown, Cedar Heatley, Roam Heatley, and Lorelai Humphrey; and numerous other family members, and friends who became like family.

Visitation will be held on Monday, September 15 from 2pm to 8pm and Tuesday, September 16 from 8am to 8pm at Barnes-Friederich & Pope Funeral Home in Midwest City. A Funeral Service will be held at Barnes-Freiderich & Pope Funeral Home at 2pm on Wednesday, September 17 with burial to follow at Arlington Memory Gardens.