Virgil Max Brandon, lifelong Newkirk area farmer/ rancher, died unexpectedly Monday night, Feb. 3, 2020 in Alliance Health Ponca City. He was 63.

The son of Max Carman Brandon and Kathryn Ann (Gelmers) Matney Brandon, Virgil was born May 22, 1956 in Blackwell. He grew up and received his education in the Newkirk school system, graduating from Newkirk High School in 1974. While in high school, Virgil was very active in FFA, and he was a member of the 1974 National Champion FFA Dairy Judging Team. After high school he attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1978 with a degree in Animal Science. In 1976 he helped build the original Newkirk Youth Ag Barn, and then the addition to the building which was completed in 1995.

On Aug. 12, 1977 Virgil and Nila Lou Balzer were united marriage in the First Christian Church of Newkirk. They established their first home southwest of Newkirk at his Grandparent Gelmers’ farm where they have since resided. Except for a brief time working at the Newkirk Sale Barn, he has always farmed and ranched.

Virgil was a member of the First Christian Church of Newkirk. He was also a member of the Newkirk Farmers Coop Board. A member of the Kildare Volunteer Fire Department for almost 30 years, Virgil worked up the ranks to Chief. He was a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association; a life member of the OSU Animal Science Alumni Association, and an avid OSU fan. He was a man full of life, orneriness and love for farming/ranching and family. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face. He was once described as a farmer; rancher; volunteer firefighter; predator eradication advocate; 2nd amendment proponent; husband; father; grandfather; and friend who never met a stranger. He enjoyed updating facebook on what was happening, and he was the king of creating memes and hashtags. His family, especially grandkids, will miss his weekend donut deliveries. He left the world enjoying two of his favorite things, diet coke and peanut butter. Virgil had always been a staunch believer in the idea of organ donation. He succeeded in following this belief by being one.

Virgil is survived by Nila, his wife of 42 years; his children, Charlie and Lindsey Brandon, and Kaycee Brandon, all of Newkirk; grandchildren, Piper Ruth Brandon, Baylin Max Brandon and Bowen Charles Brandon; his siblings, J.B. and Rosemary Matney of Disney, Okla., Peggy (Brandon) and Bill Sproul of Sedan, Kan.,; his brother and sister’s children, Jill (Matney) Whitbeck, Doug Matney, Nancy (Sproul) Aubel, and Raymond Sproul. He also leaves his beloved dog Maxx and three grand-dogs, Diesel, Jade and Duke.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Kathryn (Gelmers) Brandon; paternal grandparents, John and Ada (Gile) Brandon; maternal grandparents, John and Anna (Albers) Gelmers; and a nephew, Ross Sproul.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 in the First United Methodist Church of Newkirk. Interment will follow in the Newkirk Cemetery. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. The body will lie in state at the funeral home Friday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.

Those serving as casket bearers will be Robbie Bergman, Jason Schneeberger, Kyle Engle, Travis Harris, John Leven, Gerald Boyer and Kurte Peters.

The family request that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Mr. Brandon’s name and mailed to either Newkirk FFA Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 91, Newkirk OK 74647, or the American Diabetes Association, 5401 S. Harvard Ave., Suite 120, Tulsa, OK 74135. Please designate on the memo line of your check Virgil Brandon Memorial. paid obituary