BETTYE DEES

BRISTOW-Services for Bettye Jo Dees, 82, Bristow, formerly of Ada, are 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Dr. Rusty Fuller will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Dees died Friday, January 11, 2008 at a Bristow nursing home. She was born May 5, 1925 at Stonewall, Oklahoma to Richard Otto and Kathryn Johnson Uhlich. She spent most of her school years in Stonewall. In her junior year of high school, she moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. About a year later, she moved to Long Beach, California and graduated from Poly Technical High School. She worked for Douglas Aircraft at night while attending school.

She married Maburn Dees in August, 1944. He died in 1966. Mrs. Dees moved to Ada in 1954. She was employed at Valley View Regional Hospital, and also started earning her college degree by taking classes at East Central State College. After working at the hospital, she then worked at Meads Bakery. In 1960, she began working for Arkla Gas Company. She retired in 1976.

In her spare time, Bettye crocheted, played piano and worked with the youth choir for the Baptist Indian Mission, and for children's church at the First Baptist Church. She wrote poetry and joined the Ada Writers Club. She also became active in the Business and Professional Women's Club, where she held various offices, including president, compiled the club book for four years, and attended several state conferences. Mrs. Dees was a volunteer at the Chickasaw Nutrition Center Site for many years. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, where she was active in the choir, Sunday school, and participated in the church Easter Pageant. Previously, she was a member of the First Baptist Church and Baptist Indian Mission. She moved to Bristow, Oklahoma in 2005.

Survivors include a daughter, Lavena Rager and husband Ken, Bristow; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews; and a God granddaughter, Sarah Drush, and her parents, Lloyd and Debbie Drush.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Ray Uhlich, Chester Uhlich, Jack Uhlich, Fred Uhlich, and Jelly Uhlich; and three sisters, Mary Martin, Lucille Burt, and Verda Raper.

Bearers will be Harold Uhlich, Eldon Flinn, Don Uhlich, David Raper, Lyndon Flinn, and Larry Murphy. Honorary bearers will be Stan Compton and Floyd Uhlich.

The family says those who wish may make memorials to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oklahoma Chapter, 4606 E. 67th Street, Ste. 103, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada