Lahoma Bechtel

Lahoma Pearl Bechtel was born on March 28, 1933 in Foster, Oklahoma to William Earl and Mary Louisa (McConnell) Driskill and passed from this life on Sunday, January 17, 2010 at the age of 76 years surrounded by her loving family. Lahoma spent her childhood days around Pauls Valley, Rosedale and Whitebead areas and graduated from Rosedale High School in 1951. After graduation, Lahoma was employed as a telephone operator in Pauls Valley. On July 11, 1953 she married Kenneth Bechtel in Ada, Oklahoma. Kenneth was an engineer for Magcobar Company, and the couple raised their children in various locations as they moved with his job to Ada, Enid, and Olney, Illinois before returning to Pauls Valley in 1982. Lahoma was a homemaker and worked as a secretary from 1978 to 1982 in Olney. While living in Olney, she served as a Red Cross volunteer, a school board member, and was Woman of the Year in that community in 1977. Folks in Garvin County will remember Lahoma best in her role as the delivery person for the Pauls Valley Daily Democrat. Lahoma loved becoming acquainted with others and her paper route afforded her this opportunity. She had also worked at Ben’s Country Kitchen in Pauls Valley in the 1980’s. Lahoma possessed a fun-loving, caring and encouraging spirit. When dropping off her children at school, she always told them “see you later alligator, afterwhile crocodile”. Lahoma saw her cup as always half full rather than half empty. She taught her children to obey the first time. The shake of her finger or the look in her eyes was enough to tell them what to do. Lahoma was a faithful member of the Valley Christian Church. It was important to her to stay at the church until it was clean after a meal, leaving it neat and tidy. Lahoma is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Mary Driskill; son, Kenneth Bechtel; sisters, Lavinia Wynn, Lois Brooks; and brothers, Julius and Loyd Driskill. Survivors include: 3 Daughters and their husbands – Denise and Jay Mewes of Chickasha, OK; Deborah and David Siebenaler of Elizabethton, Tennessee; and Dionne Manning of Pauls Valley 1 Brother – Dwayne Driskill of Friendswood, Texas 1 Sister-in-Law – Joyce Driskill of Pauls Valley 8 Grandchildren – Stephanie Madden, Tabitha Winn, Jennifer Wood, Jesika Wilkerson, Katherine Siebenaler, Deena Manning, Rebecca Siebenaler, Kenneth Manning 1 Great-Grandchild – Cloey Wilkerson Funeral services for Lahoma Pearl Bechtel are scheduled for Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Wooster Funeral Home Chapel in Pauls Valley with Rev. Larry Cornforth officiating. Interment will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley. Services are under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com

Lahoma Bechtel

March 28, 1933 - January 17, 2010