David D.L. Wilkerson

D.L. Wilkerson passed from this life at the age of 85 at his home in Cloudy, OK on Friday, May 8th, 2026.

David Lee "D.L." Wilkerson was born on November 15, 1940 in Oklahoma City to Joe Levoise Wilkerson and Nellie Byrl (Smith) Wilkerson. 

As a small child, he lived in Oklahoma then they moved to Arizona for his mother's health. He talked about seeing the atomic blast tests in the in the desert during this time. 

D.L. went to Glendale High School and graduated in 1958. His love for photography m grew during these years and he learned to print and develop his own photographs. He then attended Phoenix Junior College then Glendale Community College. 

D.L. was married on September 1, 1960 to Kathryn Joan Goheen in Phoenix, AZ. They were together for 65 years and 8 months. 

D.L. had his own business as a painting contractor in Arizona for 15 years. 

During this time in Arizona, D.L. was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. D.L. was a member of the Phoenix Jaycees, the Arizona Varmint Callers, and Apache Sportsman's Club where he won many trophies. 

D.L. owned a vintage Cessna airplane which he re-covered himself, in the backyard. After he got his pilot license, he flew from Phoenix, Arizona to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the Annual EAA AirVenture. 

In 1978 D.L. and his family moved to Cloudy, OK to be a rancher and raised Beefmasters and Herefords. 

He retired from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture as a Fire Prevention Officer/ Agriculture Specialist Investigations Officer/ Special Agent. He also had his own Private Investigator business for 2 years. 

D.L. worked with the National Forestry Service during wildfire season out west. He fought fires and worked as an Information Officer in California, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and Alaska. 

He received an award from the Chief of the Cherokee Nation Wilma Mankiller for training and leading Cherokee fire fighters. 

D.L. was a member of the Cloudy Baptist Church and a founding member of the Cloudy Volunteer Fire Department. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph Levois and Nellie Beryl Wilkerson; brother: Daniel Wilkerson; sister-in-law: Patti and husband Dennis Alcott; brother-in-law: Donald Goheen; and son-in-law: Donald Smith. 

He is survived by his wife Kathryn Wilkerson of Cloudy, OK; daughter: Cindy Lorraine Smith of Cloudy, OK; son: David Lee Wilkerson, Jr. of Cloudy, OK; sister: Jonell Loeffler of Prescott, AZ; brother: Dennis Wilkerson of Prescott, AZ; grandchildren: Cybil Nicole "Nikki" Cavalieri nand husband Vince Cavalieri of Traverse City, MI, Ashley Smith Cooper and husband Eric Cooper of Cloudy, OK, Rachel Smith of Cloudy, OK, and Angelica King and husband Dalton King of Ft. Towson, OK; and four great-grandchildren: Travis Smith Cooper, Noah Smith Cooper, Vera Weaver, and Jasmine Smith Cooper, all of Cloudy, OK. 

He loved traveling and flea markets, but most of all he loved his family and treasured his friends. He had a zest for life and will be dearly missed. 

A family night will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026 from 5-7PM at Serenity Funeral Service. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 2PM at Cloudy Baptist Church. Interment to follow at Rattan Cemetery. 

Services are under the direction of Serenity Funeral Service of Antlers. 

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