William Eugene Deering, 69, of Yale, passed away peacefully with his family by his side, Sept. 25, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, due to complications from prostate cancer.
Deering was born April 5, 1942, at home, on an Indian Lease located north of Cushing to Dale and Sylvia (Cobb) Deering. He was the first grandchild of Jud and Alta Deering and was the light of their lives. As a child Deering accompanied his grandfather Jud Deering, Payne County Commissioner, District #1 as he made his rounds checking the roads and bridges of Payne County. Having been groomed for the position by his grandfather, Deering would later follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, winning election to the same seat in 1995. Deering served as Payne County District #1 Commissioner until he passed away.
Raised in Cushing, Deering graduated from Cushing High School in 1960. He attended the Oklahoma School of Banking, but discovered early on that he preferred to work outdoors. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964-66, where he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal (Berlin). His career included working as an offshore driller for a commercial drilling company. This position allowed him to see different parts of the world including Singapore, Scotland, the Canary Islands and the Philippines. He also worked for Industrial Services, Seaway Pipeline, and the City of Stillwater until he was elected Payne County Commissioner in 1995.
Deering married Donna Lynn Cameron in 1977. Together, with their two sons, they worked their 155 acre farm in Yale raising cattle, farming hay and owning/operating their four oil wells.
He was a fan of the Texas Rangers baseball team, studying Indian culture and independent oil production. He was a member of the American Breed Association, American Legion and the NRA.
Deering is survived by his wife of the home; sons Morgan Buckley Deering and wife Brandii of Longview, Texas and Clayton Jud Deering and wife Stacey of Yukon; grandchildren Jack Spencer Deering and Gage Winston Deering of Yukon and Emma Elizabeth Deering of Longview; sisters Janie Deering Sylvester, and Peggy Campbell, and brother, Tony Deering, and his step-mother Ada Deering of Cushing, as well as many other friends and relatives including his long time friend and road foreman, Rocky Blasier and his crew.
Memorials may be made to the First Assembly of God Church Foreign Missions Program.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 at 2 P.M. at the First Assembly of God Church in Cushing with Pastor Robert Adams, pastor, officiating.
You may share your condolences with the Deering family at www.davisfh.net.
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home.
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