Johnny Ray Nunley

Johnny Ray Nunley was born on October 13th, 1957 in Tahlequah, OK, the son of Billy Gene Nunley and Nancy Jane (Wacoche) Howze. Johnny Ray or Boo as he was affectionately called by his sister, nieces and nephews, grew up in Tahlequah and attended Stone Chapel School as a young boy. His childhood was spent with his Aunt Joni. Joni was only a year older and more like another sister. Johnny grew up taking in the joys of the countryside. One of his favorite pastimes was an afternoon fishing out behind his grandma’s house. He left high school in 1976 to help his mom raise his baby sister, Linda. He continued to be the sole parent figure after the passing of their mother Nancy in August 2020. Johnny’s mother and grandmother held a very special place in his heart. He was sure to call and check on his mother every morning and stopped off at grandma’s house every day before work. Johnny spent many years employed as a field laborer for Mid-Western Nursery and Greenleaf Nursery. In the later years, he worked in the dietary department at Grace Living Center’s in Tahlequah. He was blessed with a daughter, Summer Dawn, on May 10, 1989. He tried his best and did everything he could to be a great dad. In 2005, Johnny met Glenna Boyet and stepping in to help raise her son, Brice Lanning. For almost 16 years, they have shared in many wonderful memories as a family. He was an avid Sooners Football Fan, and hardly ever missed a game. If the OU wasn’t playing, he would cheer the Oklahoma City Thunder or the local Sequoyah Indians. Back in his prime years, he was skilled basketball player, winning a few championships in the family basketball tournaments held by his grandparents. A Christian by faith, he attended both Cedar Tree Baptist Church and Blessed Hope Baptist Church. It was a rare occasion to see Johnny unhappy. You would always catch him with a smile on his face and some funny jokes on his mind. He departed this life at the age of 63 years, 6 months and 3 days on April 16, 2021 in Tahlequah, OK with family and loved ones by his side. He was loved by family and will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

Johnny was preceded in death by his parents Nancy, Bonus dad Irving Durnin and his father Bill Nunley, his grandparents Johnson and Katie (Towie) Wacoche, a baby sister, Maneka Renee Lopez in 1973, Uncles Eddie Martin, Douglas Twoshields, Glen Thompson and Isaac Wacoche Sr.; Aunt Susannah Lou (Wacoche) Martin; cousins Kimberly Ann Sands and Trifton Wacoche.

Those left to cherish his memory are Companion Glenna Boyet of the home, bonus children Brice Lanning and companion Nick, Daniel, and Yolanda Cordero; Sister, Linda Lopez and companion Howdy Osceola, His daughter Summer Dawn Nunley and husband Francisco Gonzalez, Grandchildren: Paloma Diaz, Sophya Velasquez, and Yannahmarye Jane Gonzalez, Nephews Ramon Garcia Jr. and fiancé Bethany Tiger, Juan Martinez, Nieces: Destiny Garcia companion Jonathan Montoya, Liliana Martinez, Great Niece Serenity Jane Montoya, Aunts: Joni Wacoche, Mona Wacoche and companion Eddie Thompson, Helen Wilder and husband Sidney, and Bonnie Twoshields, Uncles: Watie Wacoche and wife Margie, Benjamin Wacoche, and Allen “Bun” Wacoche Sr., a very special cousin that was loved like a brother, Alex “Bear” Wacoche and lots of loving cousins, as well as a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Johnny Ray Nunley will be held on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Bill Pettit officiating. He will be laid to rest beside his mother at Towie Cemetery. Pallbearers for Johnny include Billy Wayne Wacoche, Ronald Holden, Jeffrey Wacoche, Alex “Bear” Wacoche, Stacy “Luby” Wacoche and Radeck Thompson. His honorary pallbearers are Johnson Wacoche, Legend Thompson, Bodie Drywater and Bart Fields. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 21st, 2021 from 2-6pm at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com.