Neva Ann (Lucas) Jeter, born on February 28, 1934, to Bert and Lola (Lewis) Lucas, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2025, just short of her 91st birthday. Neva was born and raised on the Lucas Ranch northeast of Copan, Oklahoma. She graduated from Copan High School in 1951, having completed her early education through the 8th grade at the two-room Antioch School.
During her senior year of high school, Neva began dating Joe Edward Jeter of Copan. The couple married on May 5, 1951, just before her high school graduation, and shared over 68 years of marriage until Joe's passing on August 21, 2019. Both Neva and Joe came from long-time community families, with grandparents who settled in the Copan area before statehood.
Except for a year in Lancaster, Texas, after the birth of their son Joe Allan in 1952, Neva and Joe spent their entire lives residing in rural Copan. They built their home in 1954, just a few hundred yards from the farmhouse where Neva was born.
Neva's working career outside the home began at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Bartlesville. She also worked as an operator for Sears Catalog while living in Lancaster, Texas. After returning to Copan, Neva worked for the 1st National Bank of Bartlesville and Reda Pump. She became a full-time homemaker after the births of her sons Kevin and Kent in 1957 and 1959. In 1971, Neva joined the U.S. Postal Service as Copan's beloved rural mail carrier, a position she held for over 28 years until her retirement in 1999.
Neva and Joe were faithful supporters of Copan Schools, the Copan community, and Washington County. Neva was one of the original members of the Homemakers Club and was very involved with the PTA, serving as a homeroom mother for several of her sons' classes. She also worked on many homecoming floats. She and Joe were members and part of the original organizers of the Copan Alumni Association. Neva served as Superintendent of the crop division for the Washington County Free Fair and was an ardent supporter of the Copan and Washington County 4-H and FFA programs. She prepared countless meals for busy show kids at fairs and other livestock shows.
Neva was renowned for her cooking, especially her pie baking, providing hundreds of pies over the years for fundraising auctions and events, some fetching as much as $650. While pies were her passion, she also made exceptional biscuits, fried chicken, chicken fried steak and cinnamon rolls. Neva loved being outside, working in her flower beds, mowing her lawn, feeding her cats, and watching the birds at her feeders. Even in her later years, she could often be found riding around the farm and ranch in her John Deere Gator.
Neva was preceded in death by her husband Joe E. Jeter, her parents Bert and Lola Lucas, her brother Clark Lucas, and her grandson-in-law Kyle Davis. She is survived by her three sons, Joe A. Jeter and wife Helen of rural Copan, Oklahoma, Kevin L. Jeter and wife Denise of rural Ramona, Oklahoma, and Kent A. Jeter and wife Ginger of rural Copan, Oklahoma; her grandchildren, Greg R. Jeter and wife Jessica Rae of rural Ramona, Oklahoma, David P. Jeter and wife Jo Lynn of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jessica Quade and husband Matt of Waco, Texas, Jennifer Sellers and husband Matt of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Kristin Davis of rural Copan, Oklahoma, Cami Jo Wallis and husband Brody of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Rickey Landes of rural Copan, Oklahoma; and by her great-grandchildren, Kinnedy, Logan, Brooklyn, Lea, Declan, Noah, Caleb, Joshua, Grace, Lydia, Parker, Seth, Pearl, Ashton, and Tandy. She is also survived by her sister Norita Martin and husband Russell of rural Copan, Oklahoma, and her sister-in-law Barbara Lucas of rural Wann, Oklahoma.
Honoring Neva's long-standing wishes, only a graveside service for immediate and extended family will be held. Her cherished friends, neighbors and family are invited to an informal visitation from Tuesday to Thursday, and a visitation with the family from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 27th, at the Stumpff Funeral Home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Copan FFA, Copan 4-H, or The Journey Home.
Copan FFA, c/o Copan High School, 527 Hornet Lane, Copan, OK 74022
Copan 4-H, c/o OSU Extension Office, P.O. Box 10, Dewey, OK 74029
The Journey Home, 900 NE Washington Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006
https://www.thejourneyhomeok.org/donate
Neva's legacy of love, friendship, community service, and her pie excellence will be cherished memories by all who knew and loved her.
© Stumpff Funeral Home