Vernon A. "Nook" Wingo, Jr passed away Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at Holdenville General Hospital at the age of 74.

Vern was born May 1, 1937, in Holdenville, Oklahoma. He was the fifth of twelve children born to Vernon A. Wingo, Sr. and Clora Coppedge Wingo.

He attended Jackson Grade School and Spaulding High School. Some of his happiest memories of his younger years were of playing basketball with his classmates.
Vern moved to California in 1958 and went to work in a filling station. In his spare time he learned to bowl and developed a love of the sport that would last for the rest of his life.
One day while he was working at the service station a pretty redheaded young woman named Patsy Jean Callahan came in to fill up her car and Vern's fate was sealed - he had met the woman of his dreams, They were married August 7, 1960.

Two weeks later he was inducted into the U. S. Army. After basic training he was shipped to France for a year. He was discharged August 3, 1962. After his discharge from the service he became a Volkswagen mechanic.
Pat and Vern welcomed their first child, Alan Scott, on August 21, 1962. A second son, Robert Dean, was born September 19, 1963.
After over twenty years in southern California Vern and Pat moved to Cave Junction, Oregon. Animals had always been an important part of their lives. At one time they owned and operated an animal grooming business. Pictures of their early years together always show an assortment of dogs in the background. They owned several horses and enjoyed riding, camping and fishing.

Then Pat's health began to fail and she passed away February 7, 2004.

Vern's brothers and sisters pleaded with him for a long time to move back to Holdenville. He finally returned in September 2008.

Through Experience Works, he obtained a part time job at the city park. He became good friends with his coworkers and enjoyed his work. In fact, he liked it so much that he sometimes went in on weekends to be sure that the ducks were fed.

Vern suffered a stroke on January 6, 2011 that left him partially disabled and he became a resident at Heritage Village. The family will always be grateful to the staff there for the kindness they showed him. Theirs is a difficult job and they handle it well.

Vern suffered another stroke on Wednesday afternoon August 10 and he passed away that evening at 6:00. His sisters-in-law, Johnnie Wingo and Patty Wingo, were at his side to wish him Godspeed as he crossed over.

He was preceded in death by his wife Pat, his son Alan Scott, his parents Vernon and Clora Wingo and an infant sister Joy Sue.
He is survived by his son Robert Dean Wingo of Cave Junction, Ore; three sisters, Betty Jo McCamey and Nadine Roberts of Waurika, Ok, and Phyllis Byerley of Yukon, Ok; seven brothers, J.B. Wingo and wife Johnnie of Holdenville, Doyle Wingo and wife Patty of Holdenville, Johnnie Neal Wingo and wife Donna of Wewoka, Dennis Wingo and wife Jewel of Lone Grove Ok; Hardy Wingo and wife Linda of Holdenville, Vollie Wingo and wife Mary of Healdton, OK; and Sonny Wingo and wife Barbara of Bing, OK; his very special uncle Clester Wingo and wife Pansy of Holdenville; numerous nieces and nephews, other family members and many friends.

Vern's last wish was to be cremated and his remains shipped to Oregon where they will be buried next to his beloved wife Pat.

The immediate family met at the Fisher Funeral Home on August 11 for a private viewing. No further services will be held.

OUR BROTHER

We've shared the kind of kinship


That's grown deeper through the years.

We've seen the ups, we've known the downs.

We've shared the smiles and tears.

You were our brother not by choice,

But by the nature of our birth.

We could not have picked a better one,

You were the best on earth.