December 15, 1943 ~ March 18, 2022
Dr. John Kessinger, 78 year old Burkburnett resident, died Friday, March 18, 2022 in Woodward, Oklahoma. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2022 in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel. A private family burial will be held at a later date.
John Paul Kessinger was born in Roswell, New Mexico on December 15, 1943 to Paul Sefton and Wilma Jennilee (Lindley) Kessinger. He grew up in Alva, Oklahoma and graduated from Alva High School. John enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1961. He served his country and was honorably discharged in 1965. He earned his Bachelors degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and later received his Doctorate Degree from Oklahoma State University. John was united in marriage on August 5, 1967 to Linda Kay Wolgamott in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. They were blessed with three children, Kim, Kris and Kelli. They lived in several different places including, Kiowa, Kansas, Cleo Springs, Fairview, Medford, Stillwater and Woodward where John was the assistant superintendent of schools.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. John was united in marriage to Gayla Delayne Cooper on November 20, 1987. They made their first home in Oklahoma City. They later moved to El Paso, Texas where John was a Principal. They retired to Burkburnett, Texas and they enjoyed traveling in their motor home with their dogs. John worked at the prison in Granite for eight years.
He is survived by his son Kris Kessinger and wife Jeannine of Aledo, Texas; daughters Kim Courtney and husband Brian of Pryor, Oklahoma; and Kelli Shirkey and husband JP of Woodward, Oklahoma; step-son Eric Cooper and wife Sunny of Tulsa, Oklahoma; sister Janice Banister and husband Corney; seven grandchildren Will Shirkey, Brock Courtney, Jackson Shirkey, Madison Courtney, Alyson Kessinger, Lucas Shirkey, and Lindley Kessinger; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife Gayla, father Paul Kessinger, mother Jennilee, sister Karen Nickell, and brother-in-law Joe Nickell.