Major County, Oklahoma

Ernest Nightingale
© Pierce Funeral Home
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Ernest Nightingale
April 24, 1935 - November 26, 2022

Ernest Nightingale was born April 24, 1935 in Major County, Oklahoma to Fred B. and Lydia (Eck) Nightingale. He passed away on November 26, 2022 at the Fairview Regional Medical Center in Fairview, Oklahoma.

His childhood and early youth years were spent on the family farm one mile south of Fairview, Oklahoma. He received his education from the Fairland Rural School and the Fairview Public Schools.

At the age of fifteen he was baptized in the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by Minister Dan Smith. On December 30, 1956 he married Authrene Wedel by Minister George Nichols of Fairview, Oklahoma. They shared sixty-five wonderful years together. In Dad's early youth years he worked for a construction company building bridges and elevators.

On October 16, 1958, Dad enlisted into the U.S. Army serving as a dental assistant. During this time three sons were born. Returning home from service in 1960 he was employed at Roger Woodward's Grocery Store and then later at Wedel's Grocery Store. In 1962 he went to work at U.S. Gypsum in Southard, Oklahoma until 1972. In the spring of 1973 Dad began his life-long love of custom harvesting, following the wheat harvest from Chattanooga, Oklahoma to Miles City, Montana. He started this journey with Jr. Smith and Galen Koehn. In 1990 he struck out on his own. He harvested for forty years cutting for the same customers and hiring many local young men who maintained a close relationship with him. In later years his grandsons worked for him creating a strong bond between them. Dad had a love for the land and was able to purchase the family quarter which he farmed for many years. Dad enjoyed spending time at his shop on the farm restoring old tractors and repairing and maintaining his equipment. Dad was a man of character modeling integrity, strong work ethics, and family love. His children and grandchildren received his love unconditionally. He was a thankful person always concerned about others rather than himself. His favorite quote was "don't worry about me".

Those left with many memories are his wife Authrene of Fairview, Oklahoma; two sons, Steve and Judy Nightingale and Doug and Kim Nightingale, both of Isabella, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Mitchell and Laurie Nightingale of Fairview, Oklahoma, Lydia and Weston Becker of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, Vaughn and Kendra Nightingale, Luke and Sheila Nightingale, Eric and Shelley Nightingale, all of Fairview, Oklahoma and Brandt Nightingale of Isabella, Oklahoma; along with eleven great-grandchildren; He was preceded in death by his infant son James; his parents; three brothers and three sisters.

Visitation with the family present will be from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday, November 28, 2022 at Pierce Funeral Home, 721 S. Main, Fairview. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite with burial following at Cedar Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Cedar Christian School with the funeral home serving as custodian at P.O. Box 15, Fairview, OK 73737. Condolences may be made at www.piercefuneralhomes.com.

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