Jolene Winifred Deatherage

B: April 29, 1923
D: August 21, 2004

Jolene Winifred Deatherage was born on April 29, 1923, near Quinton, Oklahoma, to Clyde Graves and Clara Egbert Graves. She rejoined her husband of 52 years, Jim Deatherage, on August 21, 2004. Jim passed away on their 52nd wedding anniversary on February 23, 2004.

Jolene and Jim were married in 1952 at Palo Verde, Arizona. They have one daughter, Verna Wood, and three grandchildren, Thomas, Skye, and Dusty Wood, of Chickasha.

After living in Arizona and California for a few years, they returned to Oklahoma in 1955, living in the Oklahoma City area. In 1959 they moved to a farm north of Norman near Hollywood Corner, where they lived for many years. In 1975 they purchased 10 acres at Slaughterville Corner, where they resided until July of last year when they moved to Chickasha to be near their daughter, due to failing health.

Jolene's growing up years were spent in Quinton, Oklahoma, and Ft. Smith, Arkansas. She learned to play the piano at an early age as therapy for a serious arm injury. She taught piano for many years. She loved gospel music and played piano in her young adult years for one of the Stamps-Baxter quartets. She and her family had their own quartet and sang for the sick and shut-ins on Sunday afternoons.

Jolene worked for Montgomery Ward in Oklahoma City and Fresno, California for several years. She spent seven and a half years at the University of Oklahoma Book Exchange in Norman. Her favorite job was in downtown Oklahoma City at Russell Stover Candies, where she worked for 11 years.

Jolene became a Christian as a teenager and attended the Ninnekah Church of Christ after moving to Chickasha.

Mrs. Deatherage was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister, Lena Graves, and her son-in-law, Skip Wood. She is survived by her daughter and grandchildren, her brother, J. C. Graves, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Jolene loved people and loved to visit. She had a sweet smile and much love for her family and friends. She will be missed a great deal.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, august 24, 2004, at Memorial Chapel Funeral Chapel with Rod Carroll officiating.

Interment will be at Noble IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Memorial Chapel Funeral Service of Noble.