Arlene Eakens

Memorial services for Fern Arlene Eakens, 76, of Ada are 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 18, 2025 at the First Free Will Baptist Church, Rev. Dean Stone will officiate.

Mrs. Eakens passed away Monday, September 15, 2025 at a local nursing home. She was born May 26, 1949 at Foreman, Arkansas to Tom and Cecelia T. Tice Ripley.  She received a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma.

She married Bob Eakens July 2, 1970 at the East Central University Chapel in Ada. Mrs. Eakens was a Registered Nurse at East Central University, Rolling Hills Hospital and Valley View Regional Hospital (now Mercy Hospital-Ada).

She had served in the Army Nurse Corps Reserves, enlisting August 22, 1988 and was discharged July 15, 1998 as a First Leuitenant. Mrs. Eakens was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Ada, a member of the Ada Elks Lodge BPOE #1640 in Ada, the Humane Society and the Oklahoma Nurses Association.

Survivors include her husband, Bobby W. Eakens, of the home; two daughters, Laura L. Eakens of Oklahoma City and Ginger D. Emrich and husband Paul of Ada; a son, Chris Eakens and wife Charity of Ada; seven grandchildren, Caleb Emrich, Stillwater, Canaan Emrich, Ada, McKinley Eakens, Ada, Jacob Emrich, Ada, Walker Eakens, Ada, Jett Eakens, Ada and Sarah Emrich, Ada; and a sister-in-law, Bobbie Ripley, Fouke, Arkansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, David Ripley; sister, Mary Altenbaumer; and brother-in-law, Foster Altenbaumer.