Nyla Dawn (Ankney) Watson

Nyla Dawn Watson was born on May 9, 1965 in Hobart, Oklahoma, to Elmer and Gerry (Chance) Ankney. She passed away on July 16, 2023 in Weatherford, Oklahoma, at the age of 58. Nyla grew up on a farm southwest of Roosevelt, Oklahoma. She attended school in Roosevelt and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1983 as valedictorian. She later attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she met her future husband Kenny Watson. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in education from Southwestern in 1987. Nyla and Kenny were married on July 18, 1987 in Roosevelt.

Nyla taught at Hammon Public Schools for three years, Washita Heights Public Schools for 18 years, and Weatherford Public Schools for nine years. During her career, she taught many subjects, including chemistry, physics, physical science, and biology. She was named Teacher of the Year at Weatherford High School in 2013 and was Teacher of the Year for the entire Weatherford School District in 2017. She was deeply loved by students and faculty as demonstrated by the countless messages and memories sent to Nyla’s family after her passing by students and teachers whose lives she had touched.

Nyla lived with Kenny and raised her family in the same house in Weatherford for 33 years. She loved sports. She was known to be found supporting not only her own children at their sporting events, but attended hundreds of sporting events and activities supporting her students as well.

Nyla enjoyed gardening and working in the yard and was an avid fan of Oklahoma Sooner sports, attending football, basketball, and softball games as well as gymnastics meets. She and Kenny were football season ticket holders and always enjoyed traveling to Dallas for the OU/Texas football game.

Nyla loved serving at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Weatherford where she taught Sunday school, served on many committees, loved her church family, and was a proud member for the last 23 years. She loved fishing with her mom and two daughters on the family farm in Roosevelt, Oklahoma. She loved spending time with her family, but especially her granddaughter Cora. She loved Christmas and loved decorating her home for the holidays. She enjoyed traveling with her family and friends, visiting Florida, California, Montana, New York, and many places in between. She loved crafting, animals, and giving gifts. 

Nyla is survived by husband of 36 years Kenny Watson of the home in Weatherford, Oklahoma; her daughters, Haley Brownen, and husband, Trevor, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and McKenna Watson of Oklahoma City; her granddaughter Cora Brownen of Edmond, Oklahoma; her sister Lynda Adams and husband Donald of Tuttle, Oklahoma, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Nyla was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Gerry Ankney and her brothers, Chris Ankney and Sam Ankney.

Memorial Services: Emmanuel Baptist Church, Monday, 2:00 PM, July 24, 2023, Weatherford, OK

Officiating: Rev. Clint Carter and Mr. Jakeb Willoughby

Services  under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Hinton, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes).

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.