Obituary for Larry Nigh

Dr. Larry Nigh

August 8, 1951 – February 27, 2023

Larry Eugene Nigh went home to be with his Lord on February 27, 2023, surrounded by family members, after battling several health issues. Viewing will be from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Trout Funeral Home. A Funeral Ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, March 3, 2023, at Northeast Baptist Church with Dr. Richard Thomason officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 1:45 PM.

Larry was born on Aug. 8, 1951, in Iraan, Texas, the son of E.L. Nigh and Clarice Stancil Nigh. He graduated in 1969, from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City. At the age of 16, he accepted God’s call into pastoral ministry. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in Shawnee, OK., followed by a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO.

On Aug. 18, 1973, he married Saundra Kay Heer in Oklahoma City, where the couple made their first home. He served for 18 months as Associate Pastor/Minister of Youth at Mayfair Baptist Church in Oklahoma City while Sandy obtained her degree in nursing from OBU in 1975.

His first full-time pastorate was at First Baptist Church of Gage, OK, where he served for eight years before being called to Alameda Baptist Church in Norman, OK, serving the Lord there for almost four years before accepting the call to pastor Northeast Baptist Church (NEBC) in Ponca City, OK. He retired from NEBC on Aug. 19, 2018, after serving its congregation as pastor for 34 years and completing 42 years of full-time pastoral ministry. After retirement, he served as interim pastor and then pastor of Crestview Baptist Church in Ponca City.

During his ministry at NEBC, Larry led the church body through several building and remodeling projects, including the construction of a 680-seat worship center in 1996 and a $1.34 million, 14,350-square-foot, two-story Family Life Center in 2004.

Larry led more than 30 international mission trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, India and Belize. He served as mission trip pastor several times with the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Baptist Youth Choir.

He was heavily involved in Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) and national Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) activities, including serving on the BGCO Board of Directors (1989-1990; 1993-1997; 1999-2003 and 2005-2009); OBU Board of Trustees (1990-92) and Board of Trustees for Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (1999-2003).

He also was a member of the Credentials Committee for the SBC Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA, in 1995; preached the annual sermon at the BGCO Annual Meeting at Broken Arrow, First in November 2013; served as Moderator for the Kay Baptist Association and as vice president of the Oklahoma Baptist Pastor’s Conference.

Larry enjoyed playing golf, racquetball, hunting and fishing (Especially with his grandson, Caleb Free). He and Sandy made many trips to Red River, N.M., enjoying hiking in the mountains. He was an avid University of Oklahoma sports fan and enjoyed good-natured bantering with those in his congregation who were fans of Oklahoma State University.

Larry is survived by: his wife, Sandy, of the home; daughter, Julie Free and husband, Josh, of Newkirk, OK; son, Jason and wife, Jennifer, of Piedmont, OK; grandchildren, Caleb, Kate, Nicole and Haley Free and Reysa and Reyden Nigh; sister, Sandra Lichliter of Oklahoma City; brothers, Cliff Nigh and wife, Cathy, and Bob Nigh and wife, Glenda, all of Oklahoma City; and by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made the Northeast Baptist Church, 2200 N Pecan Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604, or the Crestview Baptist Church, 38 Indian Hills Road, Ponca City, OK 74604.

Source: Trout Funeral Home