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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Ray Lee Nickel
Ray Lee
Nickel
Sep 6, 1934 — Feb 27, 2013
Ray Lee Nickel's Obituary
Funeral services for Ray Lee Nickel, 78, of Fairview, Oklahoma, will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 4, 2013, at the Fairview 1st United Methodist Church with the Reverend Rich Redinger officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home Inc.
Ray Lee Nickel was born on September 6, 1934 in Fairview, Oklahoma to Abe and Opal Nickel. He grew up on the family farm north of Fairview and graduated from Fairview High School. Following high school Ray joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged two years later. Following his stint in the Army he went to New York where he played semi-pro baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was an outstanding pitcher with a mean knuckle ball! Ray got to pitch to some of the great players of the time including Mickey Mantle. After his career in baseball he returned to Fairview and was the parts manager at the Ford dealership. He met Ann Hoffman and they were married. They were blessed with two boys, David and Dennis. Ray worked for Gary Just for several years. In the mid 1970's Ray was elected as District II County Commissioner and served two terms. After his second term he worked for awhile in the oilfield and then went to work for Boehs' Farms and worked there until he retired. His next venture would be cattle ranching for himself and he continued to ranch until failing health required him to quit. He spent the last two years in the Clinton V.A. Center until his passing.
Ray is survived by his mother Opal Nickel of Fairview, Oklahoma, two sons, David Nickel of Moore, Oklahoma and Dennis and Christine Nickel of Surprise, Arizona; two brothers, Leroy and Twila Nickel of Fairview, Oklahoma and Jerry and Nina Nickel of Woodward, Oklahoma and two grandsons, Dustin and Camden Nickel.
Preceding him in death were his father and his loving wife Ann.
Memorials may be made to the Clinton V.A. Center with Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. acting as custodians of the fund.
Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com.
Ray Lee Nickel was born on September 6, 1934 in Fairview, Oklahoma to Abe and Opal Nickel. He grew up on the family farm north of Fairview and graduated from Fairview High School. Following high school Ray joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged two years later. Following his stint in the Army he went to New York where he played semi-pro baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was an outstanding pitcher with a mean knuckle ball! Ray got to pitch to some of the great players of the time including Mickey Mantle. After his career in baseball he returned to Fairview and was the parts manager at the Ford dealership. He met Ann Hoffman and they were married. They were blessed with two boys, David and Dennis. Ray worked for Gary Just for several years. In the mid 1970's Ray was elected as District II County Commissioner and served two terms. After his second term he worked for awhile in the oilfield and then went to work for Boehs' Farms and worked there until he retired. His next venture would be cattle ranching for himself and he continued to ranch until failing health required him to quit. He spent the last two years in the Clinton V.A. Center until his passing.
Ray is survived by his mother Opal Nickel of Fairview, Oklahoma, two sons, David Nickel of Moore, Oklahoma and Dennis and Christine Nickel of Surprise, Arizona; two brothers, Leroy and Twila Nickel of Fairview, Oklahoma and Jerry and Nina Nickel of Woodward, Oklahoma and two grandsons, Dustin and Camden Nickel.
Preceding him in death were his father and his loving wife Ann.
Memorials may be made to the Clinton V.A. Center with Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. acting as custodians of the fund.
Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
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