Dr. Jon Huddleston Nabors, 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Tulsa, OK. He was born on Jan. 23, 1935, to Dutton Jackson, ‘DJ’, Nabors and Emma Jean (Huddleston) Nabors in Nebraska City, Nebraska.
Jon moved to Ada, Oklahoma where he graduated from Ada High School.
Jon spent two years in the Marines where he spent time at various bases stateside and also in Okinawa, Japan.
After the Marines, he lived in Lawton for a short time and then moved back to Ada to attend East Central University. While in Ada, he met and married his wife Doris and moved back to Lawton for a short time before moving to Del City, Oklahoma.
While in Del City, he taught while also completing his Master’s degree at The University of Oklahoma.
He and his wife then moved to Pittsburgh, Kansas for a couple of years. There, they welcomed a son, Jon Smith Nabors, or Smitty as he would become known.
Jon took a position at Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma. Jon was the head of the Political Science department and assisted with coaching girls’ basketball. He earned his Doctor of Education from the University of Tulsa and welcomed a daughter, Jennifer Carol, during that time.
Jon lived in Warner for about 22 years before moving to Eufaula, the childhood home of his wife, Doris. They lived in Eufaula for over 25 years before moving to Broken Arrow to be close to their daughter and her family.
Jon was raised Southern Baptist. He was an ordained deacon and taught Adult Sunday School classes at the various churches that he attended.
He was an avid reader of the Bible and Biblical books. Later, when he could not see to read, he enjoyed listening to Christian Podcasts and watching Christian Programs on television. Jon had many interests and interesting experiences throughout his life.
In addition to reading, he enjoyed fishing, golfing, watching sports, and developed a love of watching rodeos towards the end of his life.
He loved Gospel and Country music and enjoyed making frequent trips to Branson with his wife. He was known for his wit and dry sense of humor, even in the most unexpected of times. He and Doris celebrated a milestone of 65 years of marriage on August 30 of this year.
Jon is survived by his wife Doris of the home; one son, Jon (Smitty) Nabors and wife Randi of Durant, OK; daughter Jennifer and husband Micah Spencer of Tulsa, OK; two sisters Jan Hill and husband Les of Lexington, KY, and Judy Holland of Ft. Worth, TX; four grandchildren Kyle Nabors and wife Brauna of Durant, OK, Kale Spencer of Tulsa, OK, Jonna Nabors of Durant, OK, and Isla Spencer of Tulsa, OK.
Jon is preceded in death by his parents D.J. and Jean Nabors, a brother-in-law Chuck Holland, and his mother and father-in-law, Greene and Mattie Smith.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, November 1, 2024, at the North Fork Baptist Church with Dr. Walter Mullican officiating.
Burial will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Hunn, Black & Merritt Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. hbmfuneralhome.com
