Donald Nail was born on November 17, 1936 in a cabin on the bank of Elm Creek near Foraker Oklahoma, the 4th of 5 children to Roy Everett and Hazel Oleta Coble Nail. The day before he was born his mother did her laundry on her wringer washer machine. She found out that she needed bluing for her white clothes and rode a mule 7 miles to her aunt and uncle Seaver and Ada Cobleβs house to get some. When Don was born he was a blue baby and his mother thought she had marked him. She stayed up all night to ensure that he laid on the correct side as the doctor told her that he would not survive if he did not. He passed away on November 7th, 2023 in Kingfisher Oklahoma, 10 days shy of his 87th birthday. His family moved to Skiatook Oklahoma in January of 1937 and moved back to Foraker in September of 1944. When he was 12 years old he developed a case of diphtheria and was hospitalized for several weeks. He had a teacher that came to his house to help him keep up with his studies. The doctor told his mother that she would never have to worry about him going into the service due to a heart murmur and flat feet. Even with his health problems he was able to skip a grade and graduated from Foraker High School in 1954. During his youth, he and his brother helped support the family through extensive hunting and fishing, along with working on the family farm. His mother would can some of the wild game and fish they would bring home. This began a lifelong love of all things hunting and fishing. He was too young to join the service, so he worked in a grocery store until he turned 18. Even though he didnβt have to, he had a great desire to join the military and joined the US Army as soon as he could. He was a member of the 11th Airborne division, 503rd Airborne infantry regiment. He went to basic training in Ft Leonard Wood MO. When he found out that the pay was $90.00 more per month for a paratrooper, he decided he would jump out of planes. He was stationed in Munich Germany for 3 years and was honorably discharged in October of 1958. While in Germany, a son was born to he and Maria Engelbrecht, and was named after his father. He married Hazel Anita Thomison on June 9th, 1959 in Foraker Oklahoma. They made a home in Pawhuska from 1959 until 1963, when they returned to Foraker. While living in Pawhuska, 2 children were born, Rusty James and Lesa Dawn. After moving to Foraker, Dennis William and Karl Douglas joined the family. After working for a couple of small oil companies, he went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company in 1969. In 1971 he transferred to Oklahoma City, and in February of 1973 he transferred to Kingfisher. He retired in 1999 after a 30 year career with Phillips. While living in Pawhuska he was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge. After moving to Kingfisher he joined the Odd Fellows Lodge. He is a member of the Kingfisher Elks Lodge, the Oklahoma Cattlemanβs Association and the NRA-ILA. He loved horses and had horses on the farm in Kingfisher for 50 years, breeding primarily Paint horses. For several years he announced Kingfisher Jr. High and High school football games, ran the clock for wrestling matches and announced roping events. He and Nita were able to make several trips to Europe over the years to visit Donald and his family, which he very much enjoyed. He was an avid auction attendee and never found an auction he didnβt like, nor could he pass up a bargain, even if he already had 3 or 4 of that item. He worked for several years assisting Lippard Auctions to keep busy. Later in life he also became a precinct worker for local elections. He was a consummate family man, who always made the effort to keep in touch with even his distant relatives. One of his greatest joys in life was following all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren as they competed in livestock shows, sporting and other events. Although he always had a very close connection to his early life on the tall grass prairie of Osage County and always longed to spend time there, he loved his life at his home and long time friends in the Kingfisher area. Some of his fondest memories were at his sister and brother in lawβs ranch at Hulah in Northeast Osage County where he spent summers working on the ranch and where the family still gathers yearly.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nita, children Donald Engelbrect and Wife Helga of Munich Germany; Rusty and Wife Diana of Cashion; Lesa and partner Pieter Janse-Vreeling of Spring Grove Il; Dennis and Wife Erica of Sharon and Karl and Wife Kayla of Newcastle. He is survived by grandchildren Janina Engelbrect of Munich Germany; Jay Nail of Stillwater; Marisa Mordini of Chicago Il; Vince Mordini and partner Kaley of Greely CO; Jason and Wife Julia Nail of Woodard; Dusty and Wife Tallie Nail of Sapulpa; Jennifer and Husband Joe Giacomini of Bishop CA; Emalee Nail of Weatherford; Darci and Husband Bradley Sisemore of Newcastle; Kayli and Husband Nathan Janda of Bridge Creek and Karli Nail and fiancΓ© Austin Engelke of Newcastle. He is also survived by Great Grandchildren Haylee, Maysa and Zayne Nail of Woodward; Lainey and Jake Giacomini of Bishop CA, and Grey Sisemore of Newcastle as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Mary Frances Griffith of Dothan, AL.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother James Nail, Sister Nancy Strom, and sister Shirley Ann Nail. He was also preceded in death by a niece Glenda Nail, his Mother and Father in law Alfred and Hazel Wahaneta Thomison, Brothers in law Bill Strom, Ray Mehl, Melvin Bethel, Boyd Thomison, Gerald Gappa and Hugh Griffith, and Sisters in law Eileen Nail, Linda Bethel and Ellen Thomison.
A public celebration of life will be held at the Sanders Funeral home chapel at 2:00 on Tuesday, November 21st. A private family graveside service will be held later at the Foraker Cemetery.