Garland Nix

Foy "Garland" Nix, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at the age of 90. He was born on September 29, 1927, in Vernon, Texas, to Vernon McLin and Maude Augusta (Winn) Nix. Garland was the sixth of eleven children. His family moved to Hinton, Oklahoma, when he was six months old. The Nix Family lived and farmed in the rural community of Niles, which was near the banks of the South Canadian River. Garland attended Moss Grove Elementary through the eighth grade and graduated from Hinton High School in 1945. After graduation, Garland farmed with his dad until he enlisted in the U.S. Army. After basic training at Camp Crowder, Missouri, he was sent to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where he was in Signal Corp Radio School. He was stationed at many bases while in the Army, with his longest assignment in Kilauea, Hawaii. After Garland was discharged, he returned to Hinton to farm and met his future wife, Carmen Vega Ayala. Garland's brother, Frank, had married Mary Vega while stationed in the Army in Puerto Rico. Mary was Carmen's aunt, and she invited Carmen to visit Oklahoma after the war was over. Two years later, on January 29, 1950, Garland and Carmen married and had five children while living in Hinton and Geary, Oklahoma. Garland farmed and worked several service-related jobs. Upon moving to Weatherford, Oklahoma, in 1964, he discovered his passion for the restaurant business. He managed the A & W Drive-In for several years and eventually bought the Dairy Boy Restaurant, and he renamed it Garland's Dairy Boy, which became a mainstay in Weatherford for many years. All five of his children and many of their friends worked for Garland in the restaurant business. Garland sold the restaurant in 1988, and he and Carmen moved to Oklahoma City. Garland wasn't one to sit around the house—in his later years, he worked at three places that were all very special to him due to the countless friendships that he developed: Latham's Menswear, JC Penney (Men's Department) and Wilson Chevrolet in Stillwater. Garland was known as a fair, honest, hard-working leader who led by example. He valued all people that he came in contact with— regardless of their status in society. He enjoyed golfing, and he was an avid sports fan. He loved to watch OSU and OU games, and he was one of the few fans who could passionately root for both schools. He loved attending any activities involving his grandkids and great grandkids. Garland gave his life to Christ when he was twenty-one years old, and he served as an RA Leader and Sunday School Teacher at the First Baptist Church of Hinton. In 2009, Garland joined the fellowship of Quail Springs Baptist Church where he served as President of the Bykota Class for three years. Garland was a humble man, and he led by example through the faithful life he lived, glorifying Christ and pointing others to faith in Jesus. We have been blessed by his presence on all of our lives, and we are so thankful for his positive impact of love and devotion in all of our lives. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Garland was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of almost 60 years, Carmen, his siblings: Frank, Jack, ElPerna Mills, Carl, Glenn, Curtis, Delwinn, Lois Jean Schedler & Rev. Dois Nix. Garland leaves cherished memories with his brother, Roy Nix, Grand Terrace, California; daughter, Linda, and husband, Bill Black; son, Tom Nix; daughter, Janet Stone; daughter, Teresa, and husband, Dathan Wilson; son, Von, and wife, Cheryl Adler Nix. 11 Grandchildren: Tabitha, and husband, Stuart McCuan; SoRay Carter; Tonya, and husband, Cleve Wheeler; Jason Stone, and wife, Andrea; Granger Nix; Chad Stone, and wife, Kim; Shane Stone; Allison, and husband, Matt Keys; Aaron Wilson, and wife, Allison; Trevon Nix, and wife, Jorden; Jordan Nix, and fiancé, Chris Ganz. 16 Great Grandchildren: Carter, Quent, Blakelee, Mackenzie, Ian, Carson, Sarah, Lindsey, Lance, Peyton, Cooper, Hadley, June, Lucy, Adler & namesake, Hope Garland. The family would like to thank all of the physicians that cared for Garland, as well as the entire team at Physician's Choice Hospice. We are also very grateful to Tammy Love, Dianne Dunbar, and Blakelee Carter for the care they have provided to dad the past few months. Viewing will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 16, 2018, at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home on N. May Ave. The family will be available from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday to greet friends. A celebration of Garland's life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at Quail Springs Baptist Church, 14613 N. May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK. Prior to the celebration, Garland will be laid to rest in a family service at Gracelawn Cemetery in Edmond, OK. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, P.O. Box 270968, Oklahoma City, OK, 73137. Condolences may be made online at www.smithandkernke.com. The service will also be available via live stream video by going to http://qsbc.org/ and clicking on "Watch" on the home page.