Madgie "Vallene" Yarmuk passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 29, 2012, at the age of 83 in Plano, TX. She was born the daughter of George Elbert and Eva Mae Baxter in Temple, OK on August 5, 1929.
Vallene married James Nance Yarmuk on May 29, 1958. Vallene and Jim lived in the Lawton, OK area most of their lives. They moved to Hugo in 2004 to be closer to family and she was very proud to call Hugo home. Vallene was a very smart business woman and with her husband ran the Lawton Iron & Metal Company in Lawton, OK. She also worked as a bookkeeper for Humpty Dumpty, a purchasing agent for the Carson & Barnes Circus, and did a variety of bookkeeping right up until the day she passed away. Vallene never ceased to amaze one with her strength and persistence. She was always willing to lend a helping hand. She loved being with family, crocheting, and gardening. Where she really loved to be was in the kitchen. She loved to cook and bake and share her specialty, her delicious chocolate cake. She was a proud member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church and truly loved her church family and serving God.
Vallene was preceded in death by her parents; six siblings and her beloved son, Thomas Rodney Johnson.
Vallene is survived by her husband, James Nance Yarmuk of Hugo, OK; one son, Geary Lee Byrd of Hugo, OK; two daughters-in-law, Barbara Miller Byrd of Hugo, OK and Kathy Zimmerman of Pisgah Forest, NC; four grandchildren, Traci Cavallini and husband Julio, Kristin Parra and husband Gustavo all of Hugo, OK, Kevin Johnson and wife Guillemette of Truckee, CA, Carrie Johnson and husband Jeff Horvath of Durham, NC; seven great-grandchildren, Bryce, Brandon, Cameron Marie, Peyton, Lia, Blake and Sasha.
Funeral services will be held at Oak Grove Baptist Church on Saturday, September 1, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. with Brother Kyle Cummings officiating and burial following at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Family and friends are welcome to join the family after the services for lunch at the First Christian Church.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 31, 2012 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey funeral Home in Hugo, OK.
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book or send private condolences to the family at www.praterlampton.com.
In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Endangered Ark Foundation or to the Circus City Museum and Park.
Vallene was a wonderful lady who touched everyone she met and was loved by all who knew her -- she will be greatly missed.
