Darrell Dion Sumner, 79, of Sapulpa, the former owner and publisher of the Sapulpa Herald, was called home by our Heavenly Father on July 1, 2024.
Darrell was born on April 29, 1945 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Donald Keith and Mildred Sumner. He was raised in Coffeyville, Kansas by Keith Sumner and Step Mother Jo Ann Sumner. He attended W. Coffeyville grade school and graduated from Field Kinley High School in 1963 in Coffeyville, Kansas.
He later attended Coffeyville Junior College on a basketball scholarship, playing for the Red Ravens. After graduating from Coffeyville JUCO, he went to Pitt State in Pittsburg, Kansas, to continue his college education.
In August of 1968, Sumner married the love of his life Patty (Courtwright) Sumner at the Assembly of God Church in Caney, Kansas.
In 1970, the couple was blessed with a son, Darren Dion Sumner, and two years later in January of 1972, were blessed with another son, Derek Dean Sumner. Patty and Darrell were married nearly 56 years.
Sumner began his 50-year career in the newspaper industry in 1970 at the Coffeyville Journal in Kansas.
He later went to work in southern Arkansas for Walter Husman, a media giant, at the El Dorado News-Times and the Camden News. Later, he branched off with a few partners and became publisher of the Poteau Daily News & Sun in 1980.
Sumner remained in the newspaper industry, buying other newspapers in Oklahoma, which included the Spiro Graphic in the mid 1980’s as well as local newspapers in Muldrow and Roland. Sumner also purchased the Aurora Advertiser in southwest Missouri.
In 1993, Darren Sumner graduated from Arkansas Tech University and followed in his father’s footsteps, going to work at the Spiro Graphic.
Darrell later purchased the Republic Monitor 1994 in Missouri and sent Darren to be publisher. A few years later, Derek graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant and moved to Republic to train under Darren.
The Sumner family ended up buying more newspapers in Missouri, which included the Table Rock Gazette (1996) in Kimberling City, Christian County Headliner in Ozark, The Nixa News-Enterprise, The Ash Grove Commonwealth and the Willard Times in 1998. Darrell’s older brother Don Sumner joined the Sumner family and was publisher of the Table Rock Gazette, as well as the Bristow News, for several years.
The Sumners then expanded further into Oklahoma, making several purchases in early 2001, acquiring the Okmulgee Daily Times, Guthrie News Leader, Henryetta Free-Lance, Eufaula Indian Journal, Bristow News and the McIntosh County Democrat in Checotah. They also bought the Coffeyville Journal and Baxter Springs News in Kansas.
Finally, in an effort to consolidate the family all in one place, so that Darrell and Patty could be around their grandkids, the Sumners sold their papers in Missouri and bought the Sapulpa Daily Herald in October 2008, as Darrell and Darren moved to Sapulpa, with Derek managing the Okmulgee Daily Times.
Outside of the newspaper business, Darrell enjoyed fishing and playing golf with his boys as well as attending church and local sporting events at Sapulpa, Kellyville and Kiefer.
Darrell was preceded in death by his parents Keith and Jo Ann Sumner of Coffeyville, Kansas, sister Shelley Mosler of Owasso, brother Donald Keith Sumner Jr. of Darby, Kansas, and grandson Dawson Keith Sumner of Beggs.
He is survived by his wife Patty Sumner of Sapulpa, sons Darren Sumner and Derek Sumner, brother Steve Nye of Nowata and grandchildren Piper Dion Sumner and Hallee Sumner.
“Don’t cry for me, This is not the end. I’ll be waiting here for you when we meet again.” God is Good, All the Time. All the time, God is Good.
At this time, no services are planned.
