Ralph Edward Jett, 61, owner and board chairman of the Canteen Co. of Oklahoma, a Tulsa, OK vending machine firm, died Thursday, January 5, 1976, in a Montevideo, Uruguay hospital, after an apparent heart attack. He was in Uruguay with an escorted, vacation group on a winter tour which left Tulsa January 1st. Company officials stated the tour had visited Mexico and much of Central America, before his fatal seizure. Jett suffered a previous heart attack, about 16 years ago. A son, Ronnie D. Jett of Tulsa, flew to Montevideo to be at his father's bedside, and his son-in-law, Larry Young of Tulsa, followed shortly thereafter, to assist in arrangements to return Mr. Jett's body here for funeral services and burial.

Jett, who recently moved from Tulsa to a lakeside home on Grand Lake at Afton, OK, was born in Bald Knob, White County, AR, on Wednesday, October 16, 1914, to Charles Jett and Lillian Mae (Moody) Jett. He graduated from high school in Bald Knob, and during the depression years, worked in Civilian Conservation camps. In 1935, he took a job in Cleveland, OH, as parts manager in an auto agency, and a year later, joined Canteen Co., there. In 1937, he transferred to Springfield, MO, as Canteen Co. manager. He came to Tulsa in 1948 to manage the Canteen firm, and parlayed that business into a multimillion-dollar-chain of interests.

He was the owner and board chairman of Canteen Co. of Oklahoma, and Canteen Co. of Wichita, KS. He also owned Ramada Inn in Wichita, Jett Distributing Co. of El Reno, and Clinton beer distributing firm. In addition, he was President of Jay Leasing Co., an equipment leasing firm in Tulsa.

Jett was proud to have served in the United States Army in World War II as a Staff Sergeant in Company A, 136th Infantry Training Battalion. He was a leader in civic and community affairs, a member of Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Tulsa Club, Petroleum Club, Cherokee Yacht Club, Tulsa and U. S. Chambers of Commerce, and Tulsa University Hurricane and Quarterback Clubs. He also was active in the Oklahoma and National Automatic Merchandising Associations, a 32nd-Degree Mason, and a member of Akdar Shrine and Royal Order of Jesters.

Jett, for whom Jett Chapel at the YMCA's Camp Takatoka on Fort Gibson Lake is named, was a board member of the Tulsa YMCA which honored him in 1974 for his contributions to the camp. He also headed a YMCA city-wide capital development campaign in 1975.

He is survived by 2 sons, Ronnie D. Jett, Tulsa, OK, and Ralph G. Jett, El Reno, OK; daughter, Mrs. Larry "Judy" Young of Tulsa, OK; 4 grandchildren; 2 brothers, William Bingham Jett, Bartlesville, OK, and Earl Jett, Denver, CO; and fianc�e, Renee Shortridge. He was preceded in death by his parents; and ex-wife, Thelma Neoma (Toms) Jett.

Friends are contributing to The American Heart Association or Tulsa Downtown YMCA.

Service 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 26, 1976
Boston Avenue United Methodist Church Sanctuary, Tulsa, OK, with Dr. Chess Lovern, Officiating.

Interment at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, OK.


Moore's Eastlawn Chapel
1908 S. Memorial Drive
Tulsa, Oklahoma
918-622-1155