James Enoch Piersol III

Known affectionately by everyone as “Nick”, he was a proud and life-long Oklahoman, born May 4, 1939 in Oklahoma City. As a youth he lived and grew up in Oklahoma City, graduating from Northwest Classen in 1957 and Oklahoma City University in 1962, earning a B.S in Business.

One of the first key moments of Nick’s life came in 1953 at the age of 14 when he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For the rest of his life, Nick was an active minister for his faith, serving as pioneer and ministerial servant for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. He enjoyed Bible discussions and sharing his faith and hope for the future with anyone who might listen.

It was through his faith that Nick met the love of his life, Christy Lynn Watts. The two were married on December, 4, 1971 in Edmond and remained deeply committed to each other through almost 54 years of marriage. They had three children together: Derrick Jason in 1973, Ryan Justin in 1977 and Lance Enoch in 1979.

Nick bought his first horse when he was still in college. He had a great love for farms, ranches, horses and the lifestyle that went with it. In 1980, he achieved one of his lifelong dreams, purchasing a ranch east of Guthrie where he could further pursue his dream of raising Quarter Horses. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association for 59 years and spent 33 of those on the ranch, breeding, showing, riding and even racing horses during that time. In 2013, after the sale of the ranch, Nick and Christy moved back to Edmond, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Nick had a passion for travel, geography, people, places and the world at large. Throughout his life, especially in his younger years, he enjoyed extensive travel throughout North America and visited numerous foreign countries in Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and other parts of Oceania.

Nick inherited from his family a passion for Oklahoma University athletics, especially the Oklahoma Sooners football team. In recent years, he had also become a fan of the OKC Thunder, immensely enjoying their recent run to the NBA title. Nick also had a love for other sports such as horse racing, rodeos and wrestling, as he was a former high school wrestler himself. He enjoyed attending sporting events of many different types. Nick had an appreciation for the culture of the Old West and could often be seen in cowboy boots or occasionally a cowboy hat. He was a fan of country music, as well as Western movies and television shows. As much as anything, he was a man who loved his faith and family and loved his many friends, some of whom he knew for decades.

He is preceded in death by his father James Enoch Piersol II, mother Viva Minerva Piersol and grandson Mason Michael Piersol. He is survived by wife Christy Piersol of Edmond; sons and daughters-in-law Derrick and Nicole Piersol of Edmond, Ryan and Claire Piersol of Edmond, and Lance and Christie Piersol of Edmond; grandchildren Gavin Beverley of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Tristan Lake and Trinity Lake of Edmond, Riley Piersol and Reece Piersol of Edmond, Dylan Piersol of Edmond, and Preston Piersol, Dean Piersol and Sean Piersol of Edmond; as well as brother-in-law and sister Denny and Christy Byers of Arizona.

A private burial service for family and close friends has been scheduled. A memorial service for Nick will be held on Saturday, November 8 at 1 p.m. at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors, 6600 Broadway Ext, Oklahoma City, OK, 73116.