Donald Ray Nett
February 8, 1931 - May 2, 2018

Services to honor and remember the life of Donald "Don" Nett will be 11 AM Monday, May 7, 2018 in the Chapel at South Tulsa Baptist Church. Family will receive friends for visitation on Sunday evening from 6-8 PM at Bixby Funeral Service. Don passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 in Stillwater. He was 87.
Born February 8, 1931 in Caney, Kansas, Don was the last of four children gifted to Albert and Edrie (Graves) Nett - altogether there were two boys and two girls. Don's father passed away when Don was 10 years old and it was then the responsibility of his mother to provide for and raise her four children. To make ends meet, she found employment in the Phillip's Petroleum cafeteria. With a little bit of money and a lot of love, the Nett children received exactly what was needed to get by.
A graduate of Bartlesville's College High, in 1949, Don furthered his education attending then Oklahoma A&M where he studied and attained a degree in industrial engineering. Moving from Stillwater to Yakima, Washington to serve in the U.S. Army, and it was there Don met a beautiful, young woman named Beverly Jean Lawhon.
Beverly was working, on base, at the commissary when the two met. As New Year's Eve of 1955 was approaching, Don asked Beverly to accompany him to the Officer's Club New Year's Eve party. On their first date, they rang in 1956 and started not only a new year, but also a life-long partnership. It would be a few short weeks later, on Don's birthday, that the two were engaged. They tied the knot on March 31, 1956 and would soon make Tulsa, Oklahoma their home. It has been said of Don that it took him longer to buy a car than to meet and decide to marry Beverly. This was certainly a decision that he never looked back on or regretted!
Once back in Oklahoma, Don began a career with Sun Pipeline in Tulsa. He worked for the same company for more than 30 years retiring, in 1989, as Manager of Joint Ventures. All these years were spent in Tulsa with the exception of six spent in Philadelphia.
When not at work, Don could be found square dancing, traveling or out at the lake. Square dancing was a favorite pastime for Don and Beverly and Don continued meeting with the group even after Beverly's passing. It seems that over the years the dancing was somewhat replaced with eating, but even up to the last few months Don enjoyed getting together with his dancing partners at their monthly luncheon for a good meal and fellowship.
Traveling was another enjoyment for Don as he organized and embarked on many trips with family and friends. He was especially fond of a couple of Alaskan trips. There were also those special summer family vacations with many hours spent in the station wagon traveling from Philadelphia to Yakima, Washington to see Beverly's mom and then on to Tulsa to see Don's family and back to Philadelphia.
Staying a bit closer to home, the family's house on Grand Lake was another place where numerous memories were made - fishing, boating and skiing. It seemed this spot was the perfect destination for family reunions and the place where nearly the entire Nett family learned to ski.
A man who could fix or repair just about anything, Don was known to keep and store odds and ends for just the right time and for just the right project. An avid OSU fan, he also made time to watch and cheer on his Cowboys. In the past few years, Don has been a resident of the Primrose Retirement Community in Stillwater where he enjoyed participating in activities and making new friends. A man of faith, Don was a member of South Tulsa Baptist Church.
Don has been described as a sweet and kind man. He was a great provider, a true gentleman and a person who was well-liked by all who knew him. He will certainly be missed!
Don is survived by: his son, Jeff Nett and wife, Debbie of Stillwater; daughter, Donna Whitehead of Bixby; daughter-in-law, Beth Nett of Arlington, TX; five grandchildren: Brittney Whitehead of Tulsa; Jeffrey Nett and Sarah Nett both of Arlington; Bailey Nett of Tulsa; Chandler Miles and husband, Bailey of Tulsa.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; his siblings; his wife, Beverly Jean and a son, Jim.

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