Henry Nightengale
A Western Kansas farmer should pass into the next life after a recent rain, spring’s promise of a good crop, and a fair price for grain… well, I guess two out of three isn’t bad.
Henry Nightengale could hand drive a 4955 John Deere pulled furrow so straight it would frustrate a GPS salesman. And he gave everyone he ever met, or ever made an agreement with, just as square of a bargain. His patience and curiosity allowed him to get to a part of your story you had never found yourself telling before. He had a way of helping you reach a better conclusion without ever telling you what to do. And maybe that’s how he could convince a 26 year old tractor to drive laser straight from dawn to midnight.
More importantly than crops, Henry farmed people. He knew that a person was built slowly over a long and sometimes treacherous season. He knew that the most disadvantaged often had the best chance in the long run if they were given the right care. The world delivers all the challenges anyone would ever need; we should always seek to lighten the load. For Henry every situation required a quick smile, a soft heart, a patient quiet open ear, a thoughtful intelligent mind, and a firm strong helping hand. He found his strength, peace, guidance, inspiration and wisdom in God’s manual, The Bible. Today he is looking out over and admiring his crop.
Henry has gone to join his land Lord and Savior and he has left us to flourish on his example of God’s word. His current crop includes his loving wife Marietta; adoring children Kris and wife Angela, Natasha, Yalonda, and Courtney and wife Lauren; admiring siblings Denton, Robert and wife Connie, Roberta and husband Gerald Unruh, Stanley and wife JoAnne, and Mike and wife Evangelyn. He is joining his parents as they watch over this next crop. If you ever shared a moment with Henry, he considered you family, and you will find your name listed in each of our hearts.
At the close of a hard fought season, it is the farmer who found his crop grew him.
A celebration of Henry’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 13, 2017 at the Southern Baptist Church in Sublette with burial following at Copeland Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Sublette on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 from noon to 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the “For a Nickel Fund” a scholarship in his memory. He had a great affinity for healthcare professionals and we seek to make sure there is always a new planting. Thoughts and memories can be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com. Henry Nightengale: September 10, 1947 – April 7, 2017
