Dr. Clinton Tyler Purtell, age 50 of Stillwater, Oklahoma, passed away unexpectedly on March 9, 2026. He was born on October 2, 1975 in McAlester, Oklahoma. Both of Clinton’s parents were pastors which led to traveling statewide in his youth. They were called to serve a church in Lexington, Oklahoma which is where he finished high school, graduating in 1994, and met the love of his life, Amber Leigh Grider. The young couple fell in love and were wed on June 27, 1998. Clinton was the first student in the state of Oklahoma to do dual-credit enrollment. Clinton began his journey in higher education at Oklahoma City University where he studied international business and earned his Bachelors in 1997. He earned his Masters degree in 2001 at Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee. Following his Masters, he earned certificates through the Northwestern Kellogg Program in 2011. In 2020, Clinton finished his PhD at Oklahoma State University. He worked at the University of North Texas in several capacities, including serving as the Director of the McNalt Institute of Logistics Research, and as a Professor of Professional Practices. While at UNT he founded and directed the ACE flight camp, a hands-on opportunity for young people to see cutting edge aeronautics in person and witness them in action. In recent years, he joined the faculty at OSU and his family made the move to Stillwater. There he continued teaching on subjects such as supply chain management, and working closely on projects with military and NASA applications. He founded the Supply Chain Club at Oklahoma State University. He was very proud of his officers, students, and the program itself. He was a great researcher and publisher. He published Phantoms, BATNAs and Negotiation Power, the Pitch, and many, many more. He was on the board of the PhD Project (1994), helping with mentoring and supporting students of minority. He also had many awards including Outstanding Professional Track Researcher (UNT), Faculty of the Year (UNT), Executive Scholar (Northwestern University), OSLEP Scholar (OU), Graduate Scholar (National Center for American Indian Economic Development), and many, many more. He lectured at numerous international institutions including Harvard, Oxford, and INSTEAD. He also traveled to and conducted business and managed various company divisions in more than 30 countries across the globe.
Away from the academic world, his greatest joy was his family. He loved his family, and would do anything for them. He cherished his children and supported them in all their endeavors, which often meant most of his free time was spent traveling to and from softball, baseball, and football games, and even coaching his son’s little league football team, the Vikings. He loved coaching his son and his son’s friends in the Vikings FFL football team. Traveling was a beloved family tradition, they all looked forward to a summer vacation in Gulf Shores, Hot Springs, Cape Cod, Broken Bow, a cruise to Mexico, and many, many more adventures. He loved to host family game nights and movie nights every week. He loved to hunt and enjoyed spending time outdoors with his son, Chip, and father-in-law, Harry Grider. While living in Texas, he was very involved in the First Frisco Global Methodist Church, where he loved helping with the Revive Camp in south Texas hosted by the church that he would attend with his son. His family described him as an intelligent man who always “just knew.” He enjoyed country music, country tribute acts, old school rock, old school rap, and new school rap, always appreciated a fine cigar, stargazing, and liked surprising people with his ability to speak Mandarin, and occasionally French. A big tradition every Halloween was dressing up, where Clinton went above and beyond on costumes with his family. Dr. Purtell was a beloved husband, father, friend, and educator who will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marsha and Vaughn Clinton Purtell, and his grandparents, Frank and Marcella Regan.
He is survived by his wife Amber Purtell of Stillwater, his children Brooklyn Purtell of Bartlesville, Jacquelyn “Jackie” Purtell of Oklahoma City, and Clinton “Chip” Purtell of Stillwater. He also leaves behind his parents-in-law, Harry and Kathy Grider of Lexington, sister and brother-in-law Scott and Ashley Lacefield and their children Tegan and Jenny of Lubbock, Texas, and numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Obituary provided by Wilson Little Funeral Home.