William Joseph Finley

William (Bill) Joseph Finley, 93, of Blanchard Oklahoma went to be with his Lord and Savior January 4th, 2026. He was born July 12,1932 in Haworth Oklahoma to Willie T. Finley and Isabel Finley. When Bill was 8, his family moved to South OKC where his father could find work. Bill was a graduate of Central High School in OKC and attended Northern Oklahoma College on a football scholarship. On August 9, 1951, he married his only love, Iretha Jo Martin, and for 62 years they built a life together until her passing in 2013. Bill and Iretha had 2 children, son Gary Finley and daughter Toni Finley Jester.
Most of his adult life, Bill worked in the food service industry. He began his career at Cattlemen's Steakhouse where owner Gene Wade took him under his wing. He then became manager of the largest catering company in Oklahoma. Bill eventually opened his own catering company and restaurant – Catering by Finley on SW 25th and Western. Bill also managed the concessions at ASA Hall of Fame Softball Complex for over 20 years.
Although Bill loved the food business, he loved sports even more. He was well known in the state as a multi – sport official. He worked 11 state Football playoff games and officiated in 4 Oil Bowl games. He called games for the Collegiate Conference as well as OU and OSU scrimmages. He instructed weekly football clinic sessions for young officials across the state. He was inducted into the OSSAA Official's Hall of Fame in 1992. He was very active in the Amateur Softball Association and served on the national umpire staff from 1974-1981. For 30 years, Bill was the OKC Umpire in Chief. He was inducted to the Metro Hall of Fame as well as the National Officials' Hall of Fame. As an accomplished clinician, he was selected to give officiating clinics in 15 states as well as overseas in Germany, Guam, and the Philippines.
Bill was known as quite the storyteller and had the best one- liners. He enjoyed making people laugh. You always knew when Big Bill entered the room. He was a big man with an even bigger heart. He would tell you his biggest blessing in his life was his family. He worked diligently to provide for them and was a mentor, an encourager, and loved them unconditionally. He was known as Wild Bill to some and Sweet William to others, but to us he was Dad and Grandpa.
He is preceded in death by his wife Iretha, his son Gary, his parents, his sister Lucille Clvenger and brother Robert Finley.
He is survived by his daughter Toni Jester and Husband Kenneth of Blanchard, his granddaughter Brandi Brickman and husband Jeff of Blachard, and his granddaughter Tisha Shannon and her husband Dr. Tim Shannon of Norman as well 5 great – grandchildren Berkley, Paisley, Landry, Emery, and Kael.