Obituary - Dan M Heil

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Dan M. Heil of Durant, Oklahoma passed away on Friday, April 22, 2011 at the age of 77 at his residence in Durant, Oklahoma. He was born on Friday, March 9, 1934 in Unger, Oklahoma to Hugh Lawerence and Sarah Elizabeth (Beavers) Heil. Dan often joked that his parents must have expected a lot out of him by naming him after a great biblical character, and the first governor of Oklahoma. Family Hour will be Tuesday, April 26, 2011 from 7-8 P.M. at Holmes ~ Coffey ~ Murray Funeral Home. 

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at the Northwest Church of Christ with Bro. Ernest Sturch officiating. Interment will follow at Restland Cemetery in Boswell, Oklahoma. Serving as pallbearers will be Jim Heil, Don Heil, Richard Tonubee, Paul Mauck, Dwight Currie, and Jim Anderson.

Dan was thirteen when he graduated from the eighth grade in only seven years. He then began to attend Boswell High School. At Boswell he lettered in football, basketball, and chorus. He was a four year member of the FFA and was elected by his peers to office in that organization as a reporter. As a member of FFA he would write a weekly article for the local news paper keeping residences informed on FFA activities. His Junior year he met his sweetheart, Chowning Holman, who later became his wife. They married in 1952 and made their home here. After graduating in 1951, Dan moved to Durant and went to work for the Durant Armature Works, rewiring and repairing electric motors. In 1957 he and Ernest Slack put in the S & H Electric Motor Service. Later he purchased Ernest's part of the business and continued to run it. He hired Richard Tonubbee, his cousin, to help him. Dan loved to hunt and fish, and now that he had help he was able to enjoy doing more of this. His hunting and fishing took him to Canada, South Dakota, Kansas, Utah, New Mexico, south Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, and all over Oklahoma.

He was a member of the Northwest Church of Christ. The possession he was most proud of is a little white towel, presented to him by the elders of his church, that had "Dan is a servant" sewn on it. He was a author of two published books, “His Fathers Hands” and “Bread and Bullets”.

In 1980 he sold his business to Richard Tonubbee and went on staff at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, the local college, working there for ten years.

Dan is survived by daughters, Susan Flanagan and husband Kent of Durant, Oklahoma, Beverly Krebs and husband David of Durant, Oklahoma and Annette Peoples and husband Kevin Of Madill, Oklahoma; son, Dan Heil and wife Donna of Hooker, Oklahoma; step-son, Roger Fergueson of Florida; grandchildren, Kent Flanagan Jr. and wife Rebeckah of Sherman, Texas, James Flanagan and wife Heather of Sherman,Texas, Sarah Heil of Caddo, Oklahoma, Kevin Dale Peoples of Madill, Oklahoma, Kadie Peoples of Madill, Oklahoma; great granddaughter, Samantha Flanagan of Sherman,Texas and numerous other nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Sarah Heil; the mother of their children, Chowning Heil; his second wife, Lawanda (Fergueson) Heil, and also by his brothers and sisters.

Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, Durant, Oklahoma.