Obit of Woolley, Carlene Dean - Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Wanda Purcell 23 Oct 2005 Return to Roger Mills County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Surnames: Woolley, Dean, Coker, Nabors, Brauner, Lee Originally posted at: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/5YB.2ACE/6319 Carlene Woolley entered this life on February 24, 1941 to the home of Melvin and Margaret Dean in Elk City, Oklahoma. Most of her years growing up were on a farm northwest of Hammon, Oklahoma. She attended Union Center Grade School and graduated from Hammon High School in 1958. She went on to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma, Stephens College for Girls in Colombia, Missouri and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklaholma. On July 7, 1962, she was united in marriage to Don Woolley in Hammon. To this marriage were born two daughters, Shelley and Melody. Carlene's life was consumed by people....her family and vast array of friends. Both she and Don immersed themselves into their girls as they would gol to all their events desiring to see their "potential stars" in the making, as Meldoy put it. She went to every ballgame and even those exciting speeech contests which every parent can't wait to go to. Stock shows and the trip to and from were definite highlights off thed girls because of mom. Carlene's interest was not only in her daughter but also in young people in general. This was attended to by their being the class parents of the 1972 and 1975 graduating classes of Leedey High School as they went to Florida and California. She was always interesting herself in following the lives of these respective classes. However, she did the same for many young people in the years following. Leedey, as a whole, was blessed and benefited from the generousity of Carlene. Not only did she divest and invest herself into the lives of children and teens, the Easter and 4th of July celebrations of Leedey were for several years sponsored by her. Obviously, as many of you can attest, Carlene loved to cook and she never went half way in the preparations. She always made eating a production. Whether it was a wedding, family function or funeral, it was done with style. She always did it with a touch of the "ice carvings." No, not literal ice. But those flares of elegance, such as, radishes to look like flowers and dips served in loaves of bread. Alll this was done before it became the fad. She could make one "mean" glass of lemonade that caused the taste glands to crave more. As a friend of the family, Sandy Moorman, noted, "She made the best cucumbers and onions in vinegar she had ever tasted." It could be that she was very particular where items were bough, such as cumcumbers had to be bought from the Chenese. As for certain salads that contained apples, those had to be purchased from the Farmer's Market in Oklahoma City. Woo unto Shelley, her daughter, if she failed to show at the crack of dawn at the market to be sure the best were purchased before they were picked over. For Shelley and Melody's graduation and several other occasions, she would throw a hog roast. However, the pork had to come from Oklahoma State University's meat lab because it had to be the best. A lol of us benefited from her quisene gifts as from 1981-1986 she ran Carlen's Kitchen to help put her girls through college. It should be further noted thaty she had china place settings for every occasion there were always proper and well placed and, yes, add that Carlene flair. She did things with style Carlene was a lady of intensity and passion. She loved her Oklahoma State basketball as was so evided\nced in the last couple of years. Though she could not walk into Henry Iba Arena, though determined to, she allowed herself to be wheeled in by wheelchair so she could support Mr. Sutton and his (or her) boys. Yes, she was passionate about supporting Leedey in all of their sports endeavers as well. But her intensity carried over into her personal ventures. Just ask Sue and Duane Moore, G.W. and Karen Harrel when they would get goether to play Spades. She was determined to win! One time, due to bad weather and road conditions, she and Don loaded up the girls into the tractor and off they went for their traditional night of fun with their friends. Ping-pong, for a time, became the obession of these families and it was witnessed that Carlene would be pouring sweat exhibiting her desire to not lose. Furthermore, her intensity and passion exhibited itself as in the last couple of years she would call Shelley at 4:00 a.m. telling her to meet her in the emergency room because of the great pain caused by her heart. Shelley thought EMS should be called. She was only met by "Meet them at ER" and the slamming of the phone. Off shed would drive herself to the emergency room only for Shelley to meet her there. Carla was determined to travel in the last months as Hawaii and Mexico City were proof of. Though it appeared she might not make it through these trips, she gritted her way to survive a little longer to be with her family. Even in her last three days, Carlene disclosed to a family friend pastor that she had to live. She had to see Morgan and Jake, her grandson, grow up. Boy, was she passionate about them. It was Shelley and Meldody who? She gave herself as strongly to them as to anyone. Even when she declared that was not going to give as many gifts for Christmas, it was found that the trunk of the car was overloaded with gifts. She never went half way. All of us will remember her as a lady with aura of deference as she woulds talk to you with her arms folded and as though. opionion or insight would arise, she would raise her right arm, index finger pointing out and pinky slightly out and with a cocked head would express her thought. Carlene was a lady of laughter and saw humor in the most serious of times. She had to be able to laugh as after Don's death, she maintained the farm, two insurance agencies and tried to keep her girls under control. Thought she laughed, there were times of great serioousness. When the pastor was inforrmed of her diagnosis a year and a half ago, her pastor friend was asked by her to come for she wanted to visit. She expressed her desire to live to see the grandchildren raiseds, relationships mended and relationship with Jesus Christ. It was an intense afternoon. In candor, discussion was made as to what she needed to do and she expressed that Jesus was her in her heart and life. The lord allowed the pastor to share Scripture and insight which brough peace to her spirit. No, she was not ready to die but she knew where she stood with the Lord! That day with always be treasured! Carlene died on Saturday morning, August 13, 2005 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with her daughters and "sister" aunt, Aria at her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, and her parents. She is survived by her two daughters, Shelley Woolley of Oklahoma City and Harry Coker, Melody Nabors and husband Monte of Antlers, Oklahoma; two greandsons, Morgan and Jake, California, onew brother Rick Dean and Jacque Brauner of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a special friend, John Edd Lee and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and many friends. All our lives were enriched by her and she will be greatly missed! Services were held Tuesday, August 16, 2005 at the First Baptist Church of Leedey, Oklahoma with burial at Shirley Cemetery, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma under the direction of Shaw Funeral Home. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 25-Aug-2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Roger Mills Archives http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html