PRYOR — Graveside funeral services for Tommy C. Nixon, 91, Pryor, are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery. Dr. Michael Cox will officiate and the Ft. Sill Funeral Honors Team providing military honors. Visitation is 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Key Funeral Home in Pryor. Services are under the direction of Key Funeral Home in Pryor.

In lieu of flowers Shirley requests donations be made to the Pryor First Baptist Church Children’s and Youth Camp Scholarship Fund or the Cal Farley Boy's Ranch.

Nixon was born on July 20, 1920 in Mercedes, Texas to Elam Wesley and Lillie Belle (Magee) Nixon. He died July 4.

He grew up and attended school in Pampa, Texas. His mother died when he was 3 months old, leaving behind his dad and Tommy’s three brothers. He went to live with his grandmother who raised him. He met the love of his life, Shirley Mae Lanham in 1939 at a birthday party. They were married on Sept. 18, 1941 in Joplin, Mo. Nixon joined the U.S. Army in 1938, serving in the European Theater during WWII. He was discharged on Sept. 16, 1941 the day before he was married. Tommy was drafted back into the Army at the end of WWII and served during the Korean conflict; this time he decided to make the military his career. He spent a large part of his military career in Lawton where he and his wife made their home for 16 years. He retired as Master Sergeant of the Army on June 30, 1961 with over 20 years of service to our country.

After retiring, they moved to Mayes County in 1961 where they bought land at the lake in Adair and Nixon, who was a woodworker and had an engineering mind, set out to build their dream home. He built the house from the foundation up, when getting to the masonry stage of the home he hired someone to help him finish it. Four years after he started, they moved into their lake home where they enjoyed living for the next 14 years; eventually they moved to Pryor where they have lived ever since. Nixon enjoyed working  in their garden and yard and they enjoyed traveling together. They were constant companions; anywhere you saw one, you would see the other.

Nixon also enjoyed being a member of First Baptist Church in Pryor for years; he was a deacon, and member of the Keenagers and Keentone Choir.

They also volunteered together; he volunteered for Meals on Wheels and was a familiar face at Mayes County Medical Center for 25 years. He also volunteered for the American Red Cross many years.

He is survived by his wife of 70  years, Shirley of the home and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.