Carl Gale Summers

Carl Gale Summers of Davis, better known as Uncle Carl, Papa Carl to his grandkids and many others, T-ball guy, fireman, Santa at the nursing home for many years and Summertime answered heaven’s fire call on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. He was 75 years and 2 months old.

A private memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church in Davis, Okla., on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, at 2 p.m. The service will be officiated by Bro. Johnny Tohnika and Bro. Wayne Knight. Carl asked two things of his memorial service: that no one wear a tie and that friends be given options to attend the service due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had everyone else on his mind, even at the end of his life.

The family will share the service on the First Baptist Church and The Davis News Facebook pages and the service will be broadcast over the radio in the church’s parking lot. Those wishing to listen to the service over the radio can tune in to 94.3 FM. An antique firetruck procession to Green Hill Cemetery will end with Carl’s burial after the service.

Carl was born May 18, 1945, to Cassie (Palmer) Summers and Lonnie Charles Summers in Davis. Carl graduate Davis High School in 1964. He earned All Around Athlete Honors in football, track and basketball and a scholarship to Murray State College. In high school he worked for Frank Gray Oil Company in Davis. In 1969, he married the mother of his children, Phyllis Huggins, in Ardmore. Carl went on to work for CM Mays Lumber Company until its closure. In 1979, he became a volunteer fireman for the Davis Fire Department. Carl retired in 1994, after 15 years of service to the Davis Fire Department, when his health prevented him from continuing his firefighting career. He later worked for Excel Microscopic Computer Cleaning Services in Sulphur as the receiving manager. He spent his last years of employment working for the City of Davis and as the ticket office manager at Turner Falls Park.
With sports being one of Carl’s favorite pastimes, he helped reorganize the Jaycee’s, run the Davis Men’s Association and later, the Davis Kid’s Association. This passion gave Carl the nickname, Davis’ oldest T-ball player.

Carl was a friend to everyone. His son asked him once if a man he was talking to was a friend and his response was, “Well, we’ve been talking for about 5 minutes so, we’ve been friends for 4.” He has often bragged that he could fix the world’s problems with his coffee drinking buddies. His strong will and stubbornness will be missed by family and friends and his passing leaves a void that will be felt for many years to come.

Carl is survived by his daughter, Christy Summers Vineyard and son-in-law, Billy of Stonewall; son, Michael Summers and daughter-in-law, Sherry of Sulphur; mother of his children, Phyl Foster and husband, Eulis of Davis; mother-in-law, Lorraine Mitchell and husband, GW of Davis; sister-in-laws, Lynn Reynen and husband, Kenny of Davis; and Lisa McCarty of Oklahoma City, Okla.; brother, Paul Dean Summers, and wife Lucky, of Davis; sister Charlene (Summers) Nieto and husband, Tito of California; 6 grandchildren; Chris Vineyard and wife, Jourdan; Brittany Harjo and husband, Matt; Brittany Summers; Callee Graham; Cloee Graham and Carlee Summers; seven great-grandchildren: Emily, Melany, Mattilyn, Wyatt, Gracie, Rylee and Issac; and 14 nieces and nephews: Tammie, Kathy, Charlie, Lonnie, Steven, Richard, Shelly, Jeff, Shane, Robert, Steven, Amber, Blakely and Braden.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Donald Ray Summers; Guy Gene Summers and an infant brother; and his nephew Chad Reynen.


Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Dye, Rick Roady, Rod Roady, Buddy Vinyard, Mike Lee, Jimmy Salter, Eddie A. Tomlinson, Phil Beller, Mark Saunders, Mike Knight, Paul Ozbirn, the Snak Shak coffee drinkers, active and retired Davis firemen, HealthBack Home Health, Cross Timbers Hospice, Artesian Nursing Home and the Oklahoma Heart Hospital South.

The family will accept family and friends at the home of Kenny and Lynn Reynen at 6249 Fairview Road in Davis on Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, from 2 to 5 p.m.