Donald E. Nicholson

Donald E. Nicholson, 81, a longtime resident of Muskogee, entered Heaven’s gates Friday, September 30, 2016, with his wife and children by his side. He was born April 5, 1935 in Henryetta, OK to Roy E. and Helen M. (Willets) Nicholson. He grew up and attended the public schools in Henryetta and graduated with the class of 1953. He attended the college division of Oklahoma A&M Tech in Okmulgee. Don then enlisted in the United States Air Force Cadet training program. He served one tour of duty during the Suez Canal Crisis, receiving an honorable discharge in 1957. He furthered his education at N.E.O. A&M and Tulsa University. On December 23, 1956, Don married the love of his life, Gloria Ann Weber, in Henryetta, OK. Together they celebrated almost 60 years of life and happy marriage together and raised four children. They are active members at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Over the years Don served as Chairman of the Missions Committee, along with several other committees at St. Paul. His professional career was spent working with Roadway Express, Incorporated, beginning as a Rate Clerk and ending his career as a Terminal Manager. He managed terminals in Austin and Paris, Texas, as well as Muskogee. Don worked with Roadway for over 35 years and retired in 1992. Don will always be remembered for being very civic minded. He was active with the Evening Lions Club, Kiwanis, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Board Member of Neosho District BSA, Vintage Triumph Register Association, and Muskogee Cooperative Ministries (MCM) Community Food Pantry Coordinator (of which he served 2000-2010). Don was named MCM Volunteer of the Year in June 2010. He enjoyed working with these organizations, never meeting a stranger. Family and kindness to his fellow man were especially important to Don. He loved spending time with his family and will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be dearly missed. He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Helen Nicholson; his brother, Bill Nicholson; his sisters, Dorothy Brandon, Alice Capps, Inez Johnson and Peggy Jackson. Don is survived by his wife Gloria of the home; his daughters, Angie McElroy and her husband Tom, Alyssa Heidrich and her husband Greg, and Amy Wilcox and her husband Jim; his son, Don Nicholson and his wife Sylvia; grandchildren, Stephanie and Phillip Bentley, Daniel and Angie McElroy, Joshua McElroy, Elizabeth and Jon Shafer, Thomas and Katie Heidrich, Joseph Heidrich, Sarah Wilcox, Jack Wilcox and Sam Wilcox, Megan Nicholson and Ryan Nicholson; great grandchildren, Gabe and Maddy Bentley, James and Ben McElroy; other family members and friends. The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 2, 2016, at Cornerstone Funeral Home from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. A celebration of Don’s life will be 2:30 p.m. Monday, October 3, 2016 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Reverend David Burris officiating. The interment will be a private family service at Greenhill Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Blessings Sunday School class friends Steve Crank, Jim Davis, Bob Gallagher, Ted Hine, Weldon Key, Clarence Mayberry, and Omar Reed. The family suggests memorials be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church Mission Fund.

Donald E. Nicholson

April 15, 1935 - September 30, 2016