Wanda Lee Kimbrell
Wanda Lee Kimbrell, 85, of Oaks, Okla., died May 29, 2019.
She was born Nov. 20, 1933, at home in Bokoshe, Okla., to Henry Theo Mills Sr. and Audrey Lee Whiteside Mills. She grew up in Keota, Okla., with three younger brothers. She graduated from Keota High School and went on to Oklahoma A&M College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics education. She later received her master’s degree in education from Northeastern State University.
She met Billy Ray Kimbrell while they were both students at Oklahoma A&M College and the couple married on July 1, 1956. They raised four children and enjoyed farming for many years. She was a talented seamstress and cook and also enjoyed gardening, working outside, helping others, children, working puzzles, reading the newspaper, tootsie rolls and cookies.
She began her 28-year teaching career by teaching home economics at the Stigler (Okla.) High School and then at Lenapah (Okla.) High School. After moving to Oaks she started the Head Start program and taught kindergarten. She then taught home economics for 20 years at Oaks, teaching life skills and helping e she taught many students valuable life skills and helped her Future Homemakers of America.
She was an active member of the Kansas Eastern Star Chapter where she served as an officer for many years. She served as the Oklahoma Worthy Grand Matron in 1995-96 and Grand Chaplain in 1986-87. She was a member of the Delaware County Retired Educators Association and the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association where she was named as Very Important Member in 2005. She is a long-time member of Oaks Eben Ezer Lutheran Church.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Theo; son-in-law, Rick Enyart; two brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law.
She is survived by her husband; children, Larry Kimbrell and wife Cindy of Rome, Ga., Gary Kimbrell and wife Dee of Owasso, Okla., Nancy Kimbrell of Oaks, and Kathy Enyart of Wyandotte, Okla.; four grandchildren; one greatgranddaughter; two brothers, Bill Mills and Charles Mills; four sisters-in-law; and one brother-in-law.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 2, 2019, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, June 3, 2019, at Oaks High School Gym in Oaks, Okla. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at Keota Cemetery in Keota, Okla.
An online guest book is available at www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers the family would like to request donations to the Kansas Masonic Lodge 252, c/o Bill Crites 16604 E. 504 Road, Jay, OK 74346; or the General Grand Chapter’s Order of Eastern Star Service Dog Project, please make your check is payable to: General Grand Chapter, OES, Memo: Service Dogs, Minyon Shepherd, Co-Chair, 316 Redford Dr., Moore, S.C. 29369.
Wasson Funeral Home of Siloam Springs is in charge of arrangements.