Douglas Deel passed away peacefully on April 24, 2024 at his home in Bokchito, Oklahoma, at the age of 92. He was born on July 1, 1931, in Pirtle, Oklahoma to Dallas Leon (Shorty) and Gladys Maurine (Rhinehart) Deel. He married Georgia Juanita Browning on November 17, 1950 in Bokchito. They were married over 70 years before her passing. Douglas’s life was a testament to the values of hard work and devotion to family. The only son in a family with three girls, his father felt it important to teach him how to farm and make a living. First learning how to plow with a team of mules until recently baling hay with today’s round balers, Douglas had seen a lot of change.
A lifelong resident of Bokchito, Douglas was a respected member of the community and a dedicated farmer and rancher. His love for farm life was evident to all who knew him, as he found joy in working cattle, driving tractors, and riding horses, riding every year in the homecoming parade until it became too dangerous.
His commitment to the land and the animals was matched only by his devotion to his family and his faith. Douglas was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Bokchito, where he found strength and fellowship. He attended school at Bokchito where he played basketball and baseball and met the love of his life Juanita Browning.
Douglas farmed peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans, and maize. He raised pigs and cattle and was successful in all of his endeavors. To say that a man was a hard worker was to Douglas the greatest compliment. Douglas was the happiest when he was baling hay with his two sons in the hay field.
Douglas’s legacy is carried on by his loving family. He is survived by his sons, Dr. Dickie Deel and his wife Kathleen of Durant, and Gary Deel and Lisa Jordan of Bokchito; his sister, Gladys Ruth White of Bokchito; sisters-in-law, Melba Mitchell of Hurst, Texas, and Linda Browning of Bokchito; his cherished grandchildren, Daryl Deel of Caddo, Kendra Gonzalez and her husband Saul of Katy, Texas, and Jason Deel and his wife Sarah of Durant; and his adored great-grandchildren, Carter, Ava, Grant, and Isaac Gonzalez of Katy, Texas. Douglas also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members who will miss him dearly.
Preceding him in death were his beloved parents, Dallas and Gladys Deel; his wife, Juanita Deel; his sons, Darrell Lynn Deel and James Timothy Deel; and his sisters, Alma Jean Ricks and Mary Etheline Harris.
Family Hour was Sunday, April 28, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Bokchito with Brother Preston Burns officiating. Douglas was laid to rest in Bokchito Cemetery following his funeral service.
Pallbearers were Walter Prentice, Chad Morris, Jimmy Dill, Johnny Bundrant, Scott Allen and Russell Thompson. Honorary pallbearers are Terry Reece, Mickey Ingram, Neville Wilson, Shawn Jarvis and William Hughes.
Services were under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral, 121 North 5th Street, Durant, Oklahoma 74701. www.holmescoffeymurray.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bokchito Cemetery Association.