Wayne William Nail

Wayne William Nail

June 27, 1934 – February 22, 2020

Wayne William Nail, age 85, of Skiatook, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2020 at his residence in Skiatook.

Wayne was born June 27, 1934 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Guy Lee and Cecil Elizabeth (Rowley) Nail. He grew up in Tulsa and Skiatook. After losing his hearing to various child hood diseases, Wayne’s parents sent him to a deaf school in Tulsa where Wayne learned to read lips. When he was about to enter the third grade his family moved to Skiatook. Skiatook schools started to move him back to First grade due to his hearing loss until they realized after testing he was very intelligent and could have been moved up a grade. His parents chose to keep him with his own age group.

In 1952, Wayne graduated third in his class. He was not aware with a little effort he could have been Salutatorian or Valedictorian. Wayne had become friends with the Shelton siblings that lived across the fence from the Nail family farm. The Shelton family was made up of 7 boys and 5 girls. One of the siblings was named Viola Laree Shelton. After graduation, Wayne’s family had purchased a farm in Jay, Oklahoma. Wayne asked Vi to come with him to Jay and be his wife. The 18 year olds eloped to Jay, Oklahoma and were married on July 3, 1952 in front of the Justice of the Peace.

Wayne and Vi later went to work for Jim and Francis Swinney, the owners of Monkey Island Resort on Grand Lake in Afton, Oklahoma. Wayne took care of the maintenance and upkeep of the Marina while Vi ran the small café and took care of the 12 cabins.

In 1959, they moved back to Skiatook where they began their family and raised their 3 daughters, Venus Lavern, Vicki Lynn and Vonda Lea. Wayne was the owner/operator of his own Dump Truck business until he retired later in life. From 1982 to 1995, Wayne and Vi owned and operated the child care center, Blue Skies and Rainbows where Vi took care of the kitchen and all three daughters worked at various times during the time they cared for hundreds of children in Skiatook.

Wayne was a member of the Church of Christ where he raised his family at the Skiatook and Collinsville congregations. Wayne was a deacon and bible school teacher at both congregations. During his Golden years he oversaw the Golden Lamplighters at Collinsville Church of Christ where he and Vi took members of this group to Silver Dollar City in Branson plus various other outings.

He loved his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren and they will continue to cherish the many memories of his love for the Lord, motorcycles, trips to the Illinois River in Tahlequah and Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents: Guy Lee and Cecil Elizabeth Nail; his infant sister, Manzanita and his grandson, Dalton Wayne Buntin.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 67 years, Vi Nail; Three Daughters and Son-in-laws: Venus and Curtis Carter of Skiatook; Vicki and Ronnie Stewart of Houston, Texas; Vonda and Scotty Buntin of Broken Arrow. Six grandchildren: Aaron & wife Mashayla Taylor; Jesse and wife Tiffany Buntin; Amber Dawn and husband James McGowan; Amber Lea and husband Chris Gibson; Quaitsey Hamil and Ezequiel Lopes; and Jameson Buntin. Seven great grandchildren: Bradyn Gibson, Brentlee Buntin, Kaylin Hamil, Jayniaha Buntin, Bostyn Gibson, Isaiah Lopes and Elijah Buntin.