Edra Jeanne Dark

Edra Jeanne Dark, 88, passed peacefully from this life on August 22, 2016 in Ada, Oklahoma. Jeanne was born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on June 26, 1928 to Riley Boyd Dodd and Louise Victoria Williams Dodd. Jeanne was the youngest of ten siblings and was both spoiled and teased by her brothers who were closest to her in age. Some of her childhood playmates included nieces and nephews who were older than she and who always admonished her to tell others that she was their cousin, not their aunt. Jeanne excelled in school, loved books, and in the fall could be found in the apple tree with a book and a salt shaker, eating apples as she immersed herself in a good story. Jeanne attended Broken Arrow High School and was a proud Broken Arrow Tiger cheerleader. Always strong-willed and competitive, Jeanne was not to be outdone by her athletic brothers. She once played in a girl’s charity football game where she dominated the field in the rain and mud. A highlight of her high school years was participating in the Tulsa street celebration marking the end of World War II. After completing a course in secretarial studies, Jeanne moved to Southern California to live with her brother Bobby and his wife, Oneida. It was there that Jeanne began dating a handsome, wavy-haired sailor who had left their hometown a few years earlier to serve his country during the war. She married Bert, “B.L.”, Dark, the love of her life, on September 6, 1947 in Lynwood, California and began her life as a Navy wife and mother. Often left alone while Bert was overseas, Jeanne was undaunted, once driving alone from Bremerton, WA. to Jacksonville, FL with three young kids and a cocker spaniel. After twenty years of service, Bert and Jeanne moved back to their home state and bought a country home in Wynnewood. When her youngest child was nearing graduation, Jeanne was determined to forestall empty nest syndrome. Bolstered by expert sewing skills and a love of design, she opened Jeanne’s Sew ’n Sew, a fabric store and Singer dealership, in Pauls Valley. Her independent enterprise was soon thriving, and Bert left his job and joined the business. Jeanne always joked that she was the Jeanne, and Bert was the Sew ‘n Sew. They soon opened stores in Chickasha and Purcell. Retiring from business after twenty years, they enjoyed motorhome trips, many of which were Jeanne’s genealogical forays. After Bert’s death in 1996, Jeanne enjoyed volunteer work and the company of many beloved friends. She was active in the First United Methodist Church of Pauls Valley, to which she lent her design skills by making many beautiful banners. She enjoyed quilting and made quilts for many family members. Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband Bert Leon “B.L.” Dark. She is survived by her brother, Bobby Dodd of Laguna Woods, CA.; by her daughter Diane Dark, of Ada, OK; by her son Patrick Dark and his wife, Patty, of Santa Maria, CA; by her son Michael Dark and his wife, Cynthia, of Eagle, NE; and by her daughter Debbie Thompson and her husband, Mark, of Ada, OK. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Diane’s children, Rebekah Dark-Smith and Thomas Dark-Smith; Patrick’s children, Angel Dark and Robert Dark; Debbie’s children, Bobby Thompson, Ryan Thompson, and Rachel Thompson; by her great grandchildren, Shirley Mohamad, Ben James Dark and Zachary Dark; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her companion of many years, Evan Cherry. According to Jeanne’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. The family would be grateful for contributions made in the memory of Jeanne Dark to Nora Sparks Warren Library, 210 N. Willow, Pauls Valley, OK 73075. Services for Cremation are under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home. You may send a condolence to the family at www.woosterfuneralhomes.com

Edra Jeanne Dark

June 26, 1928 - August 22, 2016