Donald Keith York was born February 16th, 1936, in Crawford, Oklahoma to Jesse Elmira (Molton) and William Hobart York. He passed away Thursday, January 22nd, 2026, at Elk City, Oklahoma at the age of 89 years, 11 months and 6 days.

Donald, known by most as "Donnie", grew up in the Durham community. He graduated from Durham High School in 1954 and was married to Jo Nell Meek at Pampa, Texas on December 24, 1953. After their graduation, they moved to Oklahoma City where Donnie worked for the Dr. Pepper Bottling Plant and Jo Nell worked at Lintone Belt Company. They later moved to Pampa, Texas where Donnie found employment at Celanese as a welder's helper. In mid-1950's Donnie and Jo Nell moved back to the Durham community where they purchased the Durham Grocery Store as owner and operators. After a short period of time, they traded the grocery store for a dairy herd near the Spring Creek area. After 5 years at the Spring Creek location, they moved the herd to "York Corner" where they continued for the next 15 years. It was during this time that their dairy was known for having the Double Four enabling them to milk 8 cows at once, which was state of the art at the time. After Donnie and Jo Nell retired from the dairy business, they purchased the Oklahoma Farmer's Union Roger Mills Agency which later became American Farmers and Ranchers insurance that is still currently owned by the family. Donnie was a lifelong wheat and cattle farmer and rancher that was known to use a hammer to make a truck run better and wasn't a stranger to four letter words. He also enjoyed hunting coyotes, raccoons, and quail and riding dirt bikes in his younger years. He was the official chauffeur for his children taking them to rodeo and basketball competitions. He loved having his family and especially his grandchildren around. Donnie was also a member of the Durham Baptist Church, where he was baptized at the age of nine years old. He sat on the Roger Mills County Memorial Hospital Board as well as the ASCS Board. Donnie had a larger-than-life personality. He especially loved April Fool's Day and would prank his children causing great frustration on their part. He loved to laugh. His children often accused him of having a warped sense of humor. He was black and white on his opinions and did not hesitate to express them. He considered arguing a form of entertainment and delighted in proving his point of view as the only way. The countless cousins that came to the farm during the summer labeled the farm "Camp Donnie." As he made them feel right at home with chores and rules that he deemed important by making sure they would become productive citizens.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his 8 siblings.

Donnie is survived by his wife of 72 years, Jo Nell, of the home; 4 children, Debbie Davis and husband, Jim, Burns Flat, OK, Janie Arnold and husband, Mike, Amarillo, TX, Eddie York and wife, Rhetta, Blanchard, OK, and Jeremy York and wife, Jennifer, Durham, OK; 5 grandchildren, Jordan Cook and husband, Nocona, Jacob York, Price York, Tyler York and girlfriend, Brianna Allen, and Sophia York; 2 great grandchildren, Denton Cook and Baylor Cook and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Post Acute Medical Care, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Bell Avenue Nursing Center, and Comforting Hands Hospice for the medical care shown to Donnie.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.