February 15, 1942 – December 24, 2025
William George “Yankee Bill” Nygard gently crossed over into heaven surrounded by loved ones on December 24, 2025.
He was born on February 15, 1942, in New York City to Edith Barkman and Walter Nygard. He was the oldest of five children. Bill was raised on a farm in upstate New York in the little village of Shushan. He spent his summers in Manhattan with his grandmother and his brother Bob. They also led their Cambridge High School basketball team to win sectionals for the State of New York. His basketball skills led to a scholarship to Oklahoma City University. It is there where he met his lovely wife of 59 years, Helen Willou Cooper Nygard, a native of Okmulgee. They had two children Heather and Billy.
Bill graduated with a Business degree that landed him in the Managerial department of Montgomery Wards. This job led them to move every time he got a promotion. His father-in-law, DeRuse Cooper, ran the local furniture store in Okmulgee, Jones Furniture, and talked him into coming to work for him in 1972. Together they ran the store for forty years. They sponsored and coached lots of little league teams over the years and even started girls t-ball in the county. Eventually, they started girls softball in the same way. Both of Bill’s children participated in all of the sporting opportunities and that led to them to following their father’s footsteps into collegiate basketball.
Bill was very active in First United Methodist Church Okmulgee and the Eastern Oklahoma United Methodist Men. He served on every committee and opened thirteen new chapters of Men’s groups in the time he served. He represented the United Methodist Men at the Local, District and Conference level. His participation included leading district retreats, mowing the grounds at the church and hosting bean dinners and men’s breakfast. He also lived out his faith coordinating and picking up food for the Food Pantry for many years. Through this work, he met people who he helped find employment, housing and stability.
Bill is survived by his wife Helen; his daughter, Heather and Jon Scherer of Tulsa; his son, Billy and Kyme Nygard of Frisco, Texas; his grandchildren, Spencer Scherer of Keller, Texas, Hillary and David Dunlap of Boynton, Paul Scherer of Silver Springs, Maryland, Stratton, Cooper and Bryce Nygard of Frisco, Texas; and many great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Bob and Kathy Nygard of Saratoga, New York, Steve and Carol Nygard of Harvest, Alabama and Walter Nygard of Shushan, New York.
The celebration of Bill’s life will be held at First United Methodist Church Okmulgee on Friday, January 9, 2025, at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made in his name to First United Methodist Church.
