Bryan Lee Durnell

Bryan Durnell, age 54 years, died at Norman Regional Hospital, Norman, Oklahoma, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, two and a half weeks shy of his 55th birthday. A third-generation native Californian, he was born to Dale Lee and Donna Eileen Hammer Durnell on October 6, 1970, at Vandenberg AFB, California.

Raised in a military family, he lived in California and New Mexico before eventually coming to Oklahoma. For 8 ½ out of 11 years, he lived in the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany. He joined his family and friends on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in November 1986, where he was baptized in the Jordan River and rewrote the lyrics to Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" using iconic locales in Israel in place of the original geography. In 1988, he graduated from Bitburg High School. Following in his father's footsteps, Bryan enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1989. Initially trained as a Morse Intercept Operator, he was stationed at Hessisch Oldendorf Air Base in Germany, where he worked in Law Enforcement.

For 30 years, Bryan worked as a computer and network systems technical support specialist. Along the way, he completed numerous Microsoft Software and Applied Skills Certifications while earning an Associate's Degree from the University of Phoenix. He enjoyed cooking, he was an avid video game player, and a former member of The Guthrie Gunfighters.

Historically, Bryan was a direct descendant of 11 of the first French Colonists to settle Quebec in the early years of the 17th century; his 8th great-grandfather was the founder of The Church of the Brethren. Two of Bryan's 5th great-grandfathers were Revolutionary War patriots: one served in the Continental Army from 1775-1783, was wounded in the Battle of Paoli in 1776, and then wintered with Washington at Valley Forge. The other served as the Captain of a Privateer during the war.

Bryan is survived by his two sons, Kevyn Don Gillis Durnell (of the home in Norman) and Brendyn Lee Blake Durnell of Tuttle. He is also survived by his grandson, Jensyn Brantlee Durnell of Tuttle, his parents, Dale and Donna Durnell of Jones, and his sister, Chestena Eileen Whittington of Choctaw. He is already missed by the host of family, friends, and co-workers he leaves behind.

Memorial services are being planned for his birthday on October 6th, 2025, at Richland Church of the Nazarene, 10825 N. Sixth Street, Yukon, OK.