Benjamin Jefferson Pope (Ben Jeff Pope) was born September 20th, 1934 to Ancel and Neval Pope in Arkansas. He passed away at his home in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Saturday, January 18th, 2025 at the age of 90 years, 3 months and 29 days.

At the age of 3 months, Ben moved with his family to Delhi, Oklahoma.  Ben was 4 when he met Jewel McBane. At the age of 12 he became a Christian and became a member of the Delhi Baptist Church. As he grew and completed school Jewel and Ben fell in love and was married at Wellington, Texas on June 20, 1952. They made their home on a farm in Delhi, Oklahoma. On November 25, 1953 a son was born (Rodney) into the family. In 1955 Ben moved his family to Sayre and started working for Wayne Hartpence Conoco Service Station. On June 27, 1957 a second son was born (Gary) into the family. Sometime between 1954 and 1963 the station changed to D-X and Ben purchased the business in 1963 renaming it Ben's D-X. In 1971 he purchased two more service stations in Sayre. In 1972 he was given guardianship of Donnie Smith when he was 6 years old. In 1977 Ben went to work for the Sayre Police Department and the family continued running the business until it was sold in December of 1978. At that time, Ben went to work for Beckham County District 1 until his retirement in 1996. During his lifetime, he served in the community as a voluntary fireman, ambulance driver, Lions Club member, chamber of commerce, honorary Beckham County Deputy Sheriff, and Sayre Civil Defense Director. Ben enjoyed many hobbies to include, fishing, hunting, playing softball with the men's league, watching OU play ball, and major league baseball. For 30 years he never missed taking his family camping in the RV or staying in cabins in the mountains of Colorado. He loved the evening card games around the campfire after a long day of trout fishing on some days when the ice would freeze on the end of the rods as he reeled the line in.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jewel; 1 brother, Kenneth Eugene; 3 sisters, Nelda Darlene, Wanda Wiens, and Cleta Sides; and 3 brothers-in-law.

Ben is survived by hs 2 sons, Rodney Pope and wife, Ginger, Shawnee, OK, and Gary Pope, Edmond, OK; 2 grandchildren, Andy Pope and wife, Julia, Shawnee, OK, and Brandi Thompson and husband, Matt, Sayre, OK; 3 great grandchildren, Makenzie and Maddox Thompson, Sayre, OK and Aubrey and Avery Pope, Shawnee, OK; 1 son by guardianship, Donnie Smith and his daughters, Millie, and Marlee of Sayre, OK.