Merle Wayne Nickelson Obituary (1937

Merle Wayne Nickelson, 87 years old, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 27, 2024 at Parc Place Medical Resort Oklahoma City, OK. He was born on April 7, 1937 on his family's ranch located 4 miles west of Freedom, OK. He was the youngest of 4 children born to Frank and Lillian Nickelson. He attended Freedom Public Schools all 12 years and graduated with the class of 1955. Merle was very active in the F.F.A. chapter showing cattle, hogs and sheep as well as participating in livestock judging. One of his major F.F.A. projects, in high school, was raising a flock of 500 turkeys. Merle served as president of the Freedom F.F.A. Chapter 1954-1955. He received the F.F.A. Junior Master Farmer Degree in 1955, now known as the State Farmer Degree. Merle was the high individual in livestock judging at the District Livestock Show in Woodward, OK in the spring of 1955. One of Merle's favorite memories he loved to share was the fact that he was the only high school freshman eligible to play in the 100 Pound and Under Basketball tournament. He clearly got his growth spurt later in life. Merle enrolled at Oklahoma A&M, Stillwater OK in the fall of 1955. He pledged Farmhouse Fraternity and became a member in the spring of 1956. One of his pledge duties was to stand before the members during the evening meal and tell jokes until they laughed. He said the members made it very clear they wouldn't laugh just to be polite and he must continue telling jokes until a punch line warranted it. This helped us understand how he developed such a large repertoire of entertaining stories. He majored in Animal Science and Agricultural Education. Merle was elected Vice President of the Collegiate F.F.A. which was then OSU, after the University name change in 1957. Merle was elected Secretary of the Aggie Society which was the student organization of the College of Agriculture. He also served as Secretary and Business Manager for Farmhouse Fraternity. Merle was a member of the OSU livestock judging team which won the National Championship at the 1958 American Royal in Kansas City, MO. Merle graduated from Oklahoma State University in the spring of 1959. Merle was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Rowena Joy Hughes, on July 26, 1959 in Mooreland, OK. and to this union they were blessed with 3 daughters. Merle started teaching Vocational Agriculture at Hardesty, OK in the fall of 1959. Merle taught at Hardesty for 25 years and coached many winning judging teams in Livestock, Land, Pasture and Range, Crops, Grass, Dairy and Farm Business Management. His F.F.A.students showed Grand Champion hogs at the Colorado State Fair, Oklahoma State Fair and many district shows. He, his students and family members entered the Golden Pork Chop contest at the State Fair of Oklahoma and had the Grand Champion Carcass 5 times. Highlights of Merle's community involvement include helping start the Hardesty Kiwanis Club and serving as its first president. He professed his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and became an active member of the Hardesty United Methodist Church which included serving a term as Sunday School Superintendent. He also kept the clock at Hardesty home basketball games for well over 20 years, was instrumental in starting the Panhandle of Oklahoma Carcass Evaluation Contest in 1963 and served as its director until 2009, served on the Board of Directors at Seward County Community College- Agriculture Division in Liberal, KS for 20 years and served on the Texas County Junior Livestock Board for 29 years. Merle was also an active member of the Victory Memorial United Methodist Church in Guymon where he assisted in preparing the Annual Ground Hog Supper with the Methodist Men beginning in 1984 when he, Rowena and their 3 daughters joined the church after moving there from Hardesty. Upon moving to Guymon in 1984 Merle became the Vocational Agriculture teacher in the Guymon Public Schools. Guymon F.F.A. chapter won the Panhandle Interscholastic contest for 7 years in a row. Merle was elected and served as State President of the Oklahoma Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association 1984-1985. Merle judged the State Fair of Oklahoma Barrow Show 3 times 1988, 1990 and 1995. This involved evaluation and placing of approximately 600 head of hogs at each show. He also judged numerous livestock shows in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. Over the course of his 35 years of teaching he coached many 4-H, F.F.A., and collegiate teams to win the National Swine Picture Judging Contest. He taught at Oklahoma Panhandle State University Goodwell, OK as an instructor in Farm and Ranch Management from 1988-1994. Merle once recounted a conversation with a former practice teacher who asked him how he was able to maintain such effective classroom discipline and Merle responded "You don't even smile at 'em til after Thanksgiving!" He was instrumental in shaping the lives of countless students.during the course of his 35 year teaching career. Merle was known for his quick wit and competitive spirit while enjoying horseshoes, pingpong, and pitching for the church league softball team. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting when his schedule allowed. He was an avid Oklahoma State Cowboys fan. Years ago before he was able to tune in the Oklahoma State Cowboy radio broadcast in the Panhandle, he would call long distance to his daughters, attending OSU, and have them lay the phone in front of the radio, so he could listen to the local broadcast 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Their friends found the routine rather comical but grew accustomed to it. Merle was a loving devoted husband, father, and grandfather. In describing him, many friends and former students have expressed what a positive impact he had on their lives as well as the many valuable life lessons learned from him. Merle was also a great problem solver with an incredibly outgoing personality and was gifted with the ability to make anyone laugh. Merle and Rowena celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on July 26, 2024. Merle is survived by his loving wife Rowena; children Debra Nickelson Penner (Sandy), son-in-law (Pat Gray), Brenda Nickelson Sparks (Terry) ; brother Willis Nickelson;sister-in-law Helen Nickelson; brother-in-law Boyd Hughes (Nelwyn); grandchildren Jessica Penner Middlebrooks (Grant), Jay Penner (Cheyenne), Jordan Penner (Lily), Lance Gray (Julie), Shawn Gray (Courtney), Sierra Gray Boyd (John), Lacey Sparks Sawvel (Sam), Dakota Sparks; great grandchildren Austyn Middlebrooks, Whitlee Middlebrooks, Maverick Penner, Chloe Penner, Nora Gray, J.B. Boyd, Emery Boyd, Daxton Sawvel; and numerous nieces and nephews. Merle was preceded in death by parents Frank and Lillian Nickelson and parents-in-law Oscar and Velma Hughes; brother Chester "Chet" Nickelson, sister Velma Nickelson Kenney (Don), sister-in-law Joanne Nickelson, infant son Lewis Nickelson, daughter Linda Nickelson Gray, infant daughter Baby Girl Nickelson. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. at Henson~Novak Funeral Home in Guymon. Memorial Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Victory Memorial Methodist Church Guymon Oklahoma with Pastor David Player officiating. Interment will follow at Elmhurst Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Victory Memorial Methodist Church P.O. Box 881 Guymon OK 73942 vmmc@victorymemorial.org (mail to:vmmc@victorymemorial.org) 6th and Roosevelt Guymon OK 580-338-6501 Friends and Family may sign the online guest book or leave an online condolence.