Donald Wayne Ricketts

Donald Wayne Ricketts, lifelong Cleveland/Terlton area resident, passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2003 near Pawhuska, Oklahoma at the age of fifty-one years, six months and twenty-seven days.

Wayne was born April 28, 1952 in Hominy, Oklahoma. He was the son of Donald Lee and Opal Earleen Ricketts. Wayne was raised in the Terlton/Cleveland area and attended elementary school in Terlton and then transferred to Cleveland where he graduated from Cleveland High School in 1970.

Shortly after graduation, Wayne enlisted into the service of his country in the United States Marine Corps. SGT Ricketts served as an Aviation Machinist Mate for most of his service time at HML-167, New River, Jacksonville, North Carolina. He was honorably discharged from active duty on July 26, 1974.

While on active duty in the Marine Corp, Wayne was married to Deborah June Gilliland on April 10, 1971. The couple had three children, Jeffrey, Christy and Nathan. They have made their home near Cleveland for the past thirty-three years. Upon his discharge, Wayne accepted employment was a maintenance person for the Cleveland Public School for a short time before beginning a career as a welder. He worked for Osage Oil and Transportation and then Dean Eyler Oil Company before starting his own welding business in 1985. For the past eighteen years, Wayne has operated his welding business from his home near Cleveland, working all over northeastern Oklahoma.

Wayne was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Terlton, where he served as both a deacon and Sunday School teacher. He taught the Crusader Sunday School class, a young married adult class and never missed the opportunity to witness for his personal savior, Jesus Christ. He was baptized at the age of seventeen in the Terlton Baptist Church and has been a member for the past thirty-four years.

Wayne loved to visit and spend time with his family and friends. He enjoyed hunting and fishing but was especially fond of bunting bobcat. He is survived by his wife, Debby of the home; three children and their spouses, Jeffrey Wayne and Susan Ricketts of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Christy Lynn and WanderTavares of Sao Jose, Brazil, Nathan Joe and Misty Ricketts of Cleveland, Oklahoma; one grandson, Stephen Dwayne Nealy of Cleveland, Oklahoma; parents, Donald and Earleen Ricketts of Cleveland, Oklahoma; two brothers and their wives, Rodney and Amy Ricketts of Foraker, Oklahoma and Thomas and Peggy Ricketts of Tulsa, Oklahoma; mother-in-law and her husband, Charlene and Bob Maxfield of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, December 1, 2003 at the First Baptist Church in Terlton with Rev. Louis Speck officiating. Interment will be at the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Wayne Ricketts at www.chapman-black.com.