EDMOND – “Celebrating the Life of Bobby Murcer,” a memorial service for the late New York Yankees slugger from Oklahoma City, was a celebration of one man’s goodness, graciousness and kindness. And a little bit about what a ballplayer he was as well.

The service at the Memorial Road Church of Christ, subtitled “Yankee for Life, Oklahoman at Heart,” flew by in what seemed like a lot less than the actual one hour and 45 minutes.

The Yankees chartered a flight to Oklahoma City from the Dallas area, where they are playing a series with the Texas Rangers. Among the some 2,000 attending Wednesday’s memorial were Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

“I can see my father right now, up in heaven, in his rocking chair, shaking his head in amazement that we are all here today just for him,” Todd Murcer said.

With his voice beginning to break, Todd Murcer later added: “My father understood what was important. He often told me, ‘Treat people with respect, encourage those around you, make the most of every day.’ Watching him live by those words proved to be the greatest lesson of all.”

Kent Allen, former minister at Memorial Road, pointed out that Wednesday’s memorial was 29 years ago, to the day, since Murcer gave a eulogy at Thurman Munson’s funeral. And that night Murcer had a three-run home run and, in the bottom of the ninth, a two-run single, driving in all of the Yankees’ runs in a 5-4 win against Baltimore.

“What a game, what a life, what a man,” Allen said, adding that Munson’s widow, Diana, was at Wednesday’s service.

Former Yankees publicist Marty Appel apologized for unfairly plugging Murcer as the next Mickey Mantle when he replaced The Mick in center field.

“He connected with the fans from day one,” Appel said. “He had an easy, Oklahoma politeness and a modesty that isn’t normally associated with elite athletes. He was a fans’ player and he was a players’ player.

“He was just terrific kid who was handed an oversized assignment and he handled it with grace and honesty and dignity, as he did everything until the very end… He made you a better person just to know him. No man ever wore the New York Yankee uniform better, and in this measure he is, in fact, right there with Babe and Lou and Joe and Mickey. He had Yankee DNA. A Yankee for life. The most beloved Yankee of his time.”

Murcer’s former pastor at Quail Springs Church of Christ, Ronnie White, noted that today is the 25th anniversary of Bobby Murcer Day at Yankee Stadium. The minister also noted how important family was to the Yankees star.

“If you didn’t know Bobby very well you would think that baseball was it for Bobby,” White said. “Not even close. Family was it for Bobby. He was a family man from start to finish…. Baseball was what Bobby did, but it wasn’t who he was.”

A NASA astronaut, Army Col. Doug Wheelock, traveled all the way from Russia to speak at the Murcer memorial. He had traveled much further with one of Murcer’s Yankee jerseys – about 6.24 million miles – while aboard the Discovery space shuttle in October and November of last year, and on a Mount Everest trek last May. Murcer was Wheelock’s boyhood idol, and they became friends last year.

“The way he lived his life was just magical,” said Wheelock, who presented Kay Murcer with the jersey that went into space, and baseball cards he had also taken along to the Murcer’s children, Todd and Tori.

Michael Kay, who was Murcer’s broadcast partner, said he grew up as a Yankees fan, and especially a Murcer fan.

“If I could draw up a prototype of what I wanted my idol to be,” Kay said, “Bobby Murcer lived up to being that person… Bobby Murcer was the most genuine famous person that I have ever met.”

Aaron Gaberman, a 13-year-old Yankees fan who met Murcer as both were being treated for brain cancer, said he continues to play and love baseball.

“But now I have a greater purpose in playing baseball,” Gaberman said. “I’m playing for Bobby now… Bobby is now my guardian angel.”

Murcer’s agent, Steve Lefkowitz, mentioned one time when the slugger stopped to sign some autographs — after police had kept some kids from getting signatures.

“About a block from the stadium a car stopped and out stepped Bobby Murcer,” Lefkowitz said. “He said, ‘Hey, guys, want an autograph?’

“Bobby knew his place on earth was special, because that’s the way he carried himself. Not a trace of arrogance, just enjoying what he did and trying to make people feel as good as he did all the time.”