John Nuckolls

John Winston Nuckolls, 90 year-old longtime Maud resident, passed from this life Friday, March 22, 2013, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  He was born September 10, 1922 in Mazie, Oklahoma to parents Junia Blanche (Mason) Nuckolls and John Henry Nuckolls. Following graduation from Pryor High School, John joined the United States Marine Corps in 1940.  Then on October 3, 1947 he married Madelaine Rose Gattolliat in San Rafael, California.  John then in 1958, enlisted in the United States Air Force where the family was stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy where he held the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. In 1966, John and his family returned to Oklahoma where he was still serving in the United States Air Force and had earned the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, they were stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. After 30 years 7 months and 18 days of active federal service, John, a World War II Veteran, retired in 1971. Just prior to his retirement John moved his family to a farm in Maud, Oklahoma in 1967 from Midwest City, Oklahoma.  There they raised three sons.  Sadly they had one son, Johnny Ross Nuckolls, who was killed in Italy while riding his bicycle at the age of 12 years old. Retirement didn’t seem to be a part of John’s vocabulary as he continued to work for Maud Public Schools as a bus driver and custodian.  He also drove a bus for Gordon Cooper Vo-Tec.  While all of the time raising cattle, working his farm, and trying to keep the beavers from damming up the river. John loved his God, family, church and community.  He was a longtime member of the Trinity Baptist Church in Maud.  He was also a member of the Seminole American Legion and helped deliver “Meals on Wheels” for the Nutrition Center in Maud.  If you had the opportunity to know John for very long, you knew that you would be greeted every time by “Howdy, Neighbor.” On May 22, 2002 John’s wife Madelaine Nuckolls passed from this life. Then on October 16, 2003 John married Bobby Jean (Glenn) Lilley in Maud, Oklahoma.  Together John and Bobby continued to raise cattle and work the farm. John leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Bobby Nuckolls of the home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Martin and Gay Nuckolls of Irving, Texas, George and Leslie Nuckolls of Seminole, Oklahoma, Henry and Vicki Nuckolls of Irving, Texas; three step-daughters and their spouses, Linda and Jesse Campos of Pearsall, Texas, Terri Logan and Paul Campoz of Cleburne, Texas, Barbara and Dennis Carter of Roanoke, Virginia; twenty three grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren and a host of other dear family and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Madelaine Nuckolls, one son, Johnny Ross Nuckolls, one step-son, Butch Nuckolls, and by one sister, Mildred June Jones. Funeral services with full military honors will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 29, 2013 at Trinity Baptist Church in Maud, Oklahoma with Rev. Rusty McMullen & Rev. Marvin Kehl officiating the service. Casket Bearers will be John’s grandsons and great-grandsons. Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Charlie Pearce, The Men of Trinity Baptist Church, Togy Lewis, Herb Buchanan and Steve Wall. Interment will follow at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 1, 2013. Services are under the direction of Knight-Swearingen Funeral Home in Maud, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: March 29, 2013, 10:30 AM Trinity Baptist Church - Maud located at Wanda Jackson Blvd., Maud, OK 74854