Donald Kinsey, 83, of Sapulpa passed away on September 18, 2021 at his home while doing what he loved—mowing the lawn.
Dad was born to Gladys & Walter Kinsey on November 10, 1937 in Yukon, Oklahoma. The family moved a lot, even to California and back a few times, throughout his childhood and youth, working farms the family rented. Dad had a hard time with school. The demanding farming schedule coupled with the many moves and a bad motorcycle accident that put him in a body cast pretty well ended his formal education early. Nevertheless, he was a hard worker, freakishly strong, who never tired, and had an excellent mechanical mind. He landed at Byron Jackson Pump in Tulsa in 1966, where he worked until his retirement in 2000. He made many, many friends there. They all called him “Red” for his thick, wavy red hair.
He met Ann Davidson on a blind date in early 1960. They were married at her parents’ farm outside of Checotah, Oklahoma, on July 23, 1960. They welcomed their first child, Donna, the following year. They adopted me, Darren, in December of 1969 only to find out a short time later they were expecting their third child. Julie came the following August. We were a mostly happy family. Dad worked hard at the plant, raised at least one garden every year, spent several years piecing together a 1956 Chevy Bel Air from seven or eight junk cars, always had a side car or truck he was fixing up to sell, and built a house from the ground up along the way. He did not have a healthy sense of danger, though. I remember him driving down railroad tracks, trying to kill a copperhead with a crowbar, grabbing live electrical wires with his bare hands, driving over 100 on the highway to show 8 year old me the Monte Carlo would go that fast, and multiple incidents involving a running chain saw, including leaping from the roof of the house into a tree. He fiercely loved his wife and kids, taking great care to ensure our lives did not resemble his. Dad spent hours putting us first–watching our ball games, listening to piano practices, going to our choir concerts, and even driving me to Ada in a blizzard so I would not miss my drafting class. He made certain we knew he would do everything in his power to help each of us that wanted to attend college to do so.
Anyone who knew Dad knew he loved to be outside. Nothing made him happier than playing in the dirt. He mowed the lawns of every old lady on the block when we were little—until I got old enough that he passed those same lawns on to me. After retirement, he continued mowing with his friend Danny from Byron Jackson for a few years. He ultimately promoted himself to head lawn mower at church. When he was not mowing, he loved to garden. He grew everything from potatoes to tomatoes, often keeping mom so busy canning and freezing in the summer she would beg him to give or even throw stuff away. Many of you here have been beneficiaries of his hard work and bounty.
Dad’s other favorite thing was Blue Bell Freewill Baptist Church, where the family attended since 1960. His mother had attended church there when he and Ann met. It quickly became their church home. The family got more involved as we kids became involved in youth. Dad fully embraced his spirituality in the late 80’s, and our lives changed. By the mid 90’s he was ordained a Deacon, taking on more of the business end of the church. He also became the Sunday School Superintendent. He held both roles proudly for years.
With Dad’s spiritual surrender, the walls his youth had built began to dissolve. He became fun and even silly. Julie married Rick in 1994. They welcomed Kaley the following year and Don Kinsey was reborn a Poppa. He walked on air. Nothing made him happier than his grandkids. Garrett and Tanner came along over the next few years. My kids, Karenna and Camille, rounded out the bunch. He spent a lot of his time going to the kids’ sports events. He was an enthusiastic supporter of his Kellyville Pony grandsons and enjoyed watching his cheerleader granddaughters at Kellyville and Jenks football and basketball games. He also helped teach every grandchild how to drive, both in the front yard and on the roads around the house. In recent months, he spent countless hours taking Donna to her cancer treatments, often waiting in the car, sometimes for hours, through doctor appointments and treatments he was not allowed to go in to because of COVID. Even though others volunteered to take Donna to her appointments, he insisted on doing it himself instead of burdening others.
Dad went on to be with Jesus on Saturday, September 18, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gladys and Walter Kinsey, siblings Oliver Kinsey, Nima Wilson, Bill Kinsey, Wanda Slaybaugh, Glenda Bruton, and Clifford Kinsey.
He is survived by his wife of more than 61 years, Ann Kinsey of Sapulpa; children Donna Kinsey of Sapulpa, Darren Kinsey and wife Leah Kinsey of Tulsa, Julie Clayton and husband Rick Clayton of Kellyville; grandchildren Kaley Clayton of Sapulpa, Garrett Clayton of Stillwater, Tanner Clayton and wife Alyssa Clayton of Stillwater, Karenna Kinsey of Tulsa, and Camille Kinsey of Tulsa; siblings Darrell Kinsey and wife Sherry Kinsey of Jay, OK, Norma Stokesberry of Bullhead City, AZ, and Jimmy Kinsey of Houston, TX; and countless nieces, nephews, friends, and family.
Services will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Blue Bell Freewill Baptist Church, 12381 South 209th West Avenue, Sapulpa, OK 74066.
Family Visitation will be Tuesday, September 21, 2021 from 6:00 – 8:00 at Traditions Funeral and Cremation Services,
