Dan Michael Crummett was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on April 18, 1948, to Ruby and Austin Crummett. Growing up, he attended Garfield Elementary School and East Junior High, and was a 1966 graduate from Ponca City High School. He enjoyed throwing papers for the Ponca City News, riding his bike to the “old river bridge”, shooting fireworks anywhere, swimming at Conoco pool, photography, and a long 50-mile hike!
Dan later turned his attention to journalism. He worked on the high school yearbook, The CatTail, and was the class photographer. His junior year, he met Jerrie Sue McClaflin. They were one another’s one true love. Following college at OSU, they were married in June 1970. They remained in a lifelong marriage for 56 years. In October of that same year, Dan was “asked” to serve in the US Army. He completed his duty and served in Vietnam in 1971-1972. He achieved the rank of SP4 with the 445th Aviation Assault Helicopter Company. As part of a Presidential Early-Out Program, Dan was able to serve his remaining 2 years stateside in the National Guard.
He and Jerrie lived in Oklahoma City while he worked at The Associated Press. During that time, they had their oldest daughter, Jami Danelle.
As the news business became less attractive, Dan returned to OSU to earn a Master’s degree in Agriculture. He began working for The Oklahoma State University Ag Information Department as a columnist for outstanding ag producers, 4-H, and agribusiness. During this time, they had their second daughter, Jill Marie.
The family then moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, for Dan to write for the Farmer Stockman Magazine, where he rose to the Editor Position. This magazine and the publishing group it was part of were sold several times in the coming years. Dan continued as an editor for the company, known as Farm Progress, and later became an executive editor, which was a supervisory role, but still a working editor, until his retirement in 2013.
After retirement, he formed DMC Communications and continued to freelance for several major agricultural publications, and especially for Lessiter Media up until the time of his death. With more than forty years in regional and national agricultural journalism, including editing state farm magazines and web-based machinery reporting. Dan had a long-term interest in no-till and conservation tillage.
He was also active in professional organizations, including the Agricultural Editors’ Association, for which he served as president for a year.
Throughout his career, he won numerous awards for writing, including the most recent in 2026, from the American Society of Business Publication Editors, for his story on how soil testing is evolving into ‘predictive agronomy.’
Dan enjoyed spending time with family, his loyal dog Lili, hunting, hydroplane boat racing, vacationing in the mountains, and exploring trails in his Polaris Ranger. He was an active member of Countryside Baptist Church along with the men’s group.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Austin and Ruby Crummett, and one grandson, Gabriel Longan.
He is survived by his wife, Jerrie, of the home. Two daughters, Jami Pittman and husband Jeremy, from Preston, OK. Jill Longan and husband Gary, from Perkins, OK. Dan and Jerrie have five grandchildren, Ashley Varner and husband Gunnar, from Okemah, OK. Matthew Pittman from Preston, OK. Graden Longan, Garrison Longan, and Gunner Longan from Perkins, OK. A sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and Blaine Talbot, from Stillwater, OK. A niece, Whitney Warner, and husband Cody, from Stillwater, OK. A nephew, Collin Talbot, and wife, Mandy, of Parker, CO, along with a handful of great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Countryside Baptist Church in Stillwater, OK, followed by a graveside service at Resthaven Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. in Ponca City, OK, under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.
Flowers may be sent to Countryside Baptist Church prior to the service or to Trout Funeral Home.