Dr. Donald Ray Woolery

Dr. Donald Ray Woolery was born June 28, 1933 in Arondale, Oklahoma, it was also known as Rainbow Hollow, and was located west of Hominy, Oklahoma.  He was the first born of Paul Harrison and Constance Pansy “Connie” (Hodge) Woolery.

Donald grew up in Hominy, and graduated from High School there in 1951.  During high school he played French horn, sang in the choir and won several individual vocal competitions.  He received a vocal scholarship to the University of Oklahoma.  He performed in opera productions as well as other musical productions while attending OU.  Every other weekend he would hitchhike from Norman back to Hominy to see his high school sweetheart and eventual wife, June Dale Methvin.  After two years at OU, he decided theatrical life wasn’t what he wanted for the family he knew he would have.

He enlisted in the Air Force where he became a navigator; he was stationed at Elington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas.

On September 4, 1951 he married the love of his life, June Dale.  They returned to Houston until Donald completed his term of service after which they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.  While there, he attended the University of Tulsa where he studied geology for four years.  However, he decided that wasn’t his career choice either.  He became a draftsman and worked on many of the projects for future roads in Tulsa, but that didn’t feel right either.

At that point, Donald, June and their two oldest children moved to Texas where he attended the University of Houston.  In 1964, after four years, he graduated with his doctorate in optometry.

The family returned to Tulsa where Donald trained with Dr. Gene Reynolds, who pioneered many techniques for fitting contact lenses.  He also sang at Tulsa Little Theater.

In June 1966 Donald and family moved back to Hominy where he opened his own private practice.  His goal was to be examining patients on his 80th birthday, but he exceeded that goal; he saw his last patients shortly after his 83rd birthday.  During those years he saw not only the children but grandchildren of many of his patients.

Donald never really stopped attending school.  In the mid 80’s he was among the first optometrists in the nation who completed courses to be licensed to prescribe medications.

He attended the School of Biblical Studies in Owasso, Oklahoma; he graduated after three years.  However, he continued  to study there, mainly Biblical Greek.  He also studied Hebrew at Tulsa Community College.  He had a goal of visiting Israel to read the original texts of the Bible, unfortunately that was one of very few goals he did not attain.  He often said, it didn’t feel like December or April if he wasn’t cramming for finals.

His degrees included:  Doctor of Optometry, Optometric Medical Doctor, and Fellow in the American College of Optometric Physicians.

He was a licensed part-time minister, and he led singing at the Hominy Church of Christ for over 55 years.  He was a published author and a professional wood carver.  You might have noticed a selection of his Welsh Love Spoons as you entered the auditorium.  Many of those spoons are his own design.  A pair of his spoons were featured as examples on the Today Show while covering the wedding of Prince William and Katherine Middleton in England.

Donald entered eternal life on March 21, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 88 years old.

Donald and June’s descendants are their three children:  Donald Douglas “Doug” Woolery and wife Nancy of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dawn Raylene (Woolery) Prater and husband Randy of Stroud, Oklahoma, and Paul Dana “P.D.” Woolery and wife Marla of Bristow, Oklahoma.

Six grandchildren:  Randall George Prater, Jr. of Chandler, Oklahoma, Harrison Dirk Prater and wife Lyndsey of Stroud, Oklahoma, Devin Douglas Woolery and wife Denise of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Shelby Dawn (Woolery) Logue and husband Greg of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Jordan Paige (Woolery) Martin and husband Logan of Depew, Oklahoma and Jacob Paul Woolery of Bristow, Oklahoma.

Twelve great-children:  Haley Dawn Prater, Katherine Jane Woolery, Colby Parker Logue, Piper Marie Logue, Sarah Elizabeth Woolery, Daniel James Woolery, Clayle Harrison Prater, Kylie Faye Prater, Emma Ray Martin, Amelia Ann Constance Prater, Nathaniel Douglas Woolery and Tate Walker Martin.

To all his grandchildren he was known as Pockie.

He is also survived by his brothers, Ned Eugene Woolery and wife Myrna of Hawaii and Robert Paul “Bob” Woolery and wife Darlene of Hominy, Oklahoma.  Also his brother-in-law Charles Rex Dotson and wife Linda of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, as well as many nephews, nieces, other family and friends.

Pall bearers are his grandsons:  Randall George Prater, Jr., Harrison Dirk Prater, Devin Douglas Woolery, Jacob Paul Woolery, the husbands of his granddaughters, Greg Logue and Logan Martin and family friend Michael Witzman.

Donald and June celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in September 2021.  However, according to the anniversary of their first date (yes, they celebrated that, too), they were a part of each other’s lives for over 70 years.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Carbondale Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Lucian Ferrier officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at A.J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in Hominy, Oklahoma.

Services may be viewed by Facebook Live on the Facebook page for Carbondale Church of Christ.