Johnny Duke Arbuthnot

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Johnny “Duke” Arbuthnot, 57, of Goodwell Oklahoma, on June 1, 2025, at Memorial Hospital of Texas County in Guymon, Oklahoma.

Duke was born on December 15, 1967, in Lamar, Colorado to John and Thelma (Moore) Arbuthnot. When Duke was 4 years old the family moved to Cassville, Missouri. He accepted Jesus into his heart when he was 10 at Corinth Baptist Church. It was in Cassville that his dad passed on his love of golfing and bowling. When he was 16, he moved back to Springfield where he excelled in high school basketball, football and track. His summers were spent playing baseball and working at Everett-Moore.

After graduating high school in Springfield, Colorado in 1986. He spent a year at West Texas A&M University before joining the United States Navy. He proudly served in the Navy during desert storm on the USS Saratoga. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he went to Panhandle State University and worked for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission for 25 years. He proudly served as the Disabled Veteran’s Outreach Program representative, helping veterans receive their benefits.

Duke loved life and lived every day to the fullest. He loved God, his country, his friends and his family. He loved sports and had a natural talent for any sport he tried. He loved being a dad to “little guy” and was ecstatic about being a papa to his new granddaughter, Ramsey Laine Arbuthnot. To know Duke was to love him.

He is survived by his son Christian Arbuthnot (Jordan) and granddaughter Ramsey of Fayetteville, Arkansas; daughter, Nicole Hamilton (Robert) and grandchildren, Benjamin and Andrew of Canbarra, Australia; Duke’s mother, Thelma Arbuthnot of Springfield, Colorado. 3 sisters Tammy Mizer (Charles) of Cassville, Missouri; Sherri Russow (Craig) of Washburn, Missouri; Gina Martin (Reid) of Springfield, Colorado. Nephews Shawn Alley (Amanda), Brandon Alley (Samantha), Dillon Alley, Trever Mizer (Sunnie), Aaron Mizer, Dustin Martin (Katrina), and one niece, Brittney Martin. Wife of Duke for 28 years, Tara Arbuthnot and numerous other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his father John Arbuthnot, grandparents Linnie and Virgil Arbuthnot, Glenna and Chester Moore. One niece Leah Mizer.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Springfield First Baptist Church, 801 Church Street, Springfield, Colorado. Interment will follow at Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Colorado with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) on their website at  DAV Memorial Contributions  .