MICHAEL DICKINSON

1955 - 2015

December 20, 1955 - June 15, 2015 EDMOND Michael Wayne Dickinson, of Edmond, Okla., defeated brain cancer while being held by his loving wife when he was welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, June 15, after a courageous and well-fought battle. He was born Dec. 20, 1955, to Harrell and Pearl Dickinson in Ardmore, Okla. and grew up in Healdton. Michael was always proud of his Southern Oklahoma roots and graduated with honors from Healdton High School in 1974. He received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Accounting from Oklahoma State University and began his career with Peat Marwick (KPMG) in the Oklahoma City office upon graduation as well as received his license as a Certified Public Accountant.In 1984, he moved his family to Ardmore, Okla. where he was the president of Michael W. Dickinson, CPA, Inc. for more than 15 years before joining The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in 2000 as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Michael served as the president of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, president of the Ardmore Rotary Club, served on the Board of Directors of the Mercy Memorial Hospital of Southern Oklahoma, and as president of the Board of Education for Plainview Public Schools. His greatest joy in Ardmore was raising three sons and volunteering for many church and community activities.In 2002, life took Michael back to Oklahoma City where he returned to public accounting. On Oct. 28, 2003, he married Lori Hatfield. He often told the story to friends that in meeting Lori his world emerged "in Technicolor." Michael was invited to join the BancFirst family in January 2006 as senior vice president and trust officer in the Oklahoma City corporate offices. Michael and Lori became actively involved in the civic and arts community while raising Lori's daughter, Grace and welcoming a son, Samuel Hatfield Dickinson. Michael was a proud member of Class II of Leadership Oklahoma and the OKC Downtown Rotary Club 29. He served on the Board of Directors or executive committees of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Oklahoma City Allied Arts, Hewitt Mineral Corporation, OSU Foundation Board of Governors, OSU Alumni Association, OCU's Meinders School of Business, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, Leadership Oklahoma and Oklahoma Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was Governor Frank Keating's appointee to the Oklahoma DHS Commission and was the first president of the Oklahoma State Board of Juvenile Affairs. Michael's passion was experiencing life to the fullest and never letting a moment pass to tell people he loved and appreciated them. Together Michael and Lori backpacked 200 miles of the Appalachian Trail through Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, New Hampshire and Maine; hiked from the north to south rim of the Grand Canyon twice (a feat he completed six times); climbed Mount Katahdin in Maine; and hiked across the White Mountains and Mount Washington in New Hampshire, to name a few. Michael also enjoyed hiking with friends the last 50 miles of Maine's 100-mile wilderness and with his older sons on other sections of the AT and in El Paso. Michael and Lori loved to travel to Coronado Island, Taos/Santa Fe, New York City, and thought of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, as a second home and consider friends there their extended family. He was a voracious reader who had an insatiable desire to learn and loved the arts and all things Oklahoma State.Michael will be forever missed by his loving wife Lori, his son Samuel and daughter Grace, of the home; son John and daughter-in-law Miranda of Stillwater, Okla.; son Joseph and daughter-in-law Tisha of El Paso, Texas; and son Michael and daughter-in-law Terra, of Tunkhannock, Penn. He was the loving "Papa" of Natalie, Reagan, David and Macy Dickinson of El Paso, Texas, and Michael, Benaiah, Joyous and Elisabeth of Tunkhannock, Penn. He is survived by his father-in-law and mother-in-law Dan and Yvonne Hatfield of Norman, Okla., who provided extensive support with his care; brother-in-law and sister-in-law David and Lori Beth Hatfield and nephew Clay and niece Sarah of Stillwater, Okla.; his Aunt Sue and Uncle Duke Burnett of Wills Point, Texas; sister Sherri Johnson; numerous cousins across Oklahoma, Texas and California; and countless friends across the United States and Canada. His parents, Harrel and Pearl Dickinson, his grandparents, and several aunts and uncles preceded Michael in death. The family wishes to thank Dr. Brian Geister and numerous staff at the INTEGRIS Cancer Center of Oklahoma, Dr. Mark Gilbert with MD Anderson/National Institutes of Health Cancer Center, McCortney Family Hospice, and the Rainbolt and BancFirst families for the care and compassion showed to Michael and the family during a difficult time.Michael's life will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on June 19 and will be officiated by Pastor Randy Faulkner at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla. The family will hold visitation on June 18 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Crawford Family Funeral Home located at 610 NW 178th Street, Edmond, Okla. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for a memorial donation to be made to the Edmond Public Schools Foundation (1001 W. Danforth Rd., Edmond, OK 73003) or to the Education Support Fund for the minor Dickinson children at any BancFirst location. Friends and family attending funeral services are invited to wear orange in honor of Michael's endearing love for Oklahoma State University.