Lieutenant Brian Fugate

Funeral services for Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lieutenant Brian Fugate, age 45, will be Friday, September 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Tushka High School Gymnasium with Pastor Joseph McKeen, Pastor Daniel Henson and Pastor Dwayne Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Fugate Family Cemetery in Stringtown, OK with Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka in charge of arrangements. Family night will be Thursday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Brian passed away on Sunday,September1,2024, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Lieutenant Fugate graduated from the 56th OHP Academy, on September 26, 2006, and served the citizens of Oklahoma for 18 years. Brian was a Lieutenant in OHP Troop E, in Southeastern Oklahoma, headquartered out of Durant.

Brian was born in Denison, Texas on February 23, 1979, to John Reuel and Lee Ann (Lowe) Fugate. He and his sisters played in the old saw mill at Fugate, Oklahoma, riding motorcycles and four wheelers. Brian attended Stringtown Elementary School and graduated from Atoka High School, in 1997. While working as a machinist, Brian completed his bachelor’s degree, in education, at Southeastern Oklahoma State University before joining the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On December 19, 1998, Brian married the love of his life, Sarah Lee Loftis, and they spent the next 25 wonderful years together before his untimely death.

Known as the number one “cheer dad” in Oklahoma, he followed Natalee to every competitive cheer event and football games as he could. He was totally into Natalee’s passion of cheering. Brian also enjoyed his time while working with and helping Trenton tinker on all his pickups, except the diesels, which Brian hated. He also worked with John on his two Chargers and other cars when he had time. A longtime member of the Church of Christ, Brian was a servant at heart and was serving as an elder for the South Atoka Church of Christ at the time of his death. Brian loved teaching the high school Bible class and participating in Vacation Bible School. A true “officer and gentleman”, Brian displayed the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Preceded in death by his mother, Lee Ann Fugate; his grandparents, Don and Alma Fugate and George and Edna Lowe; his in-laws, Stephen Loftis and Kathy Loftis, grandfathers in law, Don Loftis and JD Hardy; uncles, Joe Dee Fugate and Bob Allen Fugate and aunt, Mary Lunsford.

Brian is survived by his wife, Sarah of the home; his children, Trenton Fugate, Natalee Fugate and Caleb Phelps; his dad, John Fugate; two sisters, Misty Runkles and husband, Jason and Melissa Burrage and husband, Mark; mother-in-law, Dawn Loftis; two sisters-in-law, Meagen Loftis and spouse, Corey Crowson and Stefanie Loftis-Werner; one brother-in-law, Zach Loftis; grandparents, Velta (Mimi) Loftis, Roy and Lylus Goggans and Joyce Hardy along with many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of many friends.

Casketbeareras will be Oklahoma Highway Patrol Honor Team.

Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.