John Wayne Gosney

John Wayne Gosney, of Yukon, OK passed away peacefully on November 17, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. Wayne was born on August 27, 1946, to John and Irene Gosney in Tulsa, OK. He attended Bethany Public Schools, graduating from Bethany High School in 1964. Wayne first attended the University of Oklahoma until enlisting in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Wayne was assigned to the USAF Security Service as a Russian Linguist, placing him in the top 1% of basic training graduates. After attending language school in Syracuse, NY he was stationed in Italy for the duration of his service where he "mostly listened to the Russians talk about the weather."  He returned to Oklahoma at the end of his military service, completing his undergraduate education at Central State in Edmond.

Wayne began work at Kerr-McGee in 1973, eventually moving into the role of Employee Relations Director. There he met Mary Max Nelson, whom he married that same year. Wayne attended night school at the Oklahoma City University School of Law, graduating with his Juris Doctorate in 1978. Wayne retired from Kerr-McGee in 2003.

Wayne loved his family, little kids and dogs, and the Oklahoma Sooners. He mostly tolerated everyone else, even the occasional Democrat, and did not suffer fools gladly. He was loyal, honest almost to a fault, with a dry sense of humor, and was a dedicated son, husband, father and grandfather.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Max Gosney; stepson, Charles Edward Feuerborn; father, John William Gosney, and mother, Carol Irene Gosney. He is survived by stepdaughter Tami L. Bailey and her husband Peter, of Yukon, OK; son Matthew W. Gosney and his wife Sharon, of Parker, CO, and son William A. Gosney of Norman, OK; as well as six grandchildren (Rachel, Tag, Lucy, Sam, Grayson, and Graham) and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings Carol Snow and her husband Johnny of Holly Lake Ranch, TX, and Karma June Austin and her husband Lester of Kyle, TX.

A casual memorial gathering to share stories and memories will be held at the chapel at Resurrection Cemetery in Oklahoma City at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 22nd with interment immediately following. A viewing will be held in the same location beginning at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest cracking open a cold Coors Light and toasting Wayne.