Montezuma – Our Dad and Grandpa, John Nightingale, was born to Alfred and Ida (Unruh) Nightingale on January 26, 1932 in Grady County, Oklahoma. He peacefully departed this life on November 30, 2022 at Bethel Home in Montezuma, reaching the age of 90 years.

Dad was the eleventh child in a family of thirteen children.  Life was challenging during the Depression years but God always provided for their needs.  Dad spoke of his childhood with fond memories.  Some of his earliest memories were of family devotions. He and his siblings walked the 1 ¾ mile distance to the Sandlin School where they received their education.

Dad responded to the call of God and surrendered his life to the Lord. He was baptized on December 17, 1944 by Minister Reuben Koehn becoming a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.  Dad was always concerned about living and teaching the Faith. On April 26, 1953, Dad married our mother, Ella Mae Koehn at the Lonetree Congregation in Galva.  About a month after their marriage, they begin a two year term of service at the Christian Public Service Center in Tucumcari, New Mexico.  Lifetime friendships were formed during those years with many interesting memories.

In June of 1955, our parents moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma where we as their four children were born. Life was not always easy and presented many challenges, but family was important to Dad. We have many memories of happy times spent playing games and doing things together. We felt very secure in our parents' home and they left us with a beautiful legacy of love and faithfulness to the Lord. On February 16, 1964, Dad was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Minister Reno Hibner.  He endeavored to faithfully serve the Lord and the Church in these responsibilities.  In August of 1974, we moved to Hydro, Oklahoma to pastor the congregation there.  We returned to Chickasha in June of 1976.

Dad worked at various jobs through the years. After his retirement, our parents volunteered their time to USA Missions. Under the supervision of the mission board, our parents returned to Hydro, Oklahoma in March of 1994.  They served there for three years and then returned to Chickasha. Mom was diagnosed with cancer in November of 1997 and passed away in January of 2020.  Dad was very lonely after Mom's passing.  He soon went to live with Verle and Evelyn at Dalhart, Texas. After a time, he was invited to become part of the ministerial staff at the Dalhart Congregation.

On December 16, 2001, Dad married our mother's sister, Mary Ann Koehn.  We have many wonderful memories of time spent with them in their home in Dalhart.  In February of 2012, they moved to an apartment at Bethel Home.  Mary Ann passed away on November 6, 2020 and Dad became a full care resident of Bethel Home in December of 2020.  He was lovingly cared for till his passing.  We as his family very much appreciated the care he received.

Dad was a gentle soft spoken person. In his later years, he often said "I love my Family". He has left us with a legacy that we as children and grandchildren cherish; a faith in God through many challenging times of life. He didn't achieve a lot of great things in life but he left us an example of the way Home to Heaven.

Those left to cherish the memories are his children, Evelyn and Verle Koehn of Princeton, Idaho, David and Judy Nightingale of New Plymouth, Idaho, Carol Nightingale of Montezuma and Grace Nightingale of Montezuma; four grandchildren, Niki and Mitchell Toews of Glenn, California, Ande and Verle Boese of Princeton, Idaho , Charla and Isaac Kreseks, presently serving in Kenya, and Mahlon and Julia Nightingale of Fruitland, Idaho ; and 11 great grandchildren; one brother –in-law; and three sisters-in-law. He is preceded in death by; his first wife, Ella Mae; his second wife, Mary Ann; his parents; his parents-in-law; his brothers and sisters; and his wives' brothers and sisters.

Funeral service will be held at Plainview Mennonite Church, Chickasha, Oklahoma on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at the Plainview Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Plainview Mennonite Church on Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 6-8 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com