Norma Jean Hankins, 82, of Kellyville, passed from this life Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our Mom was looking forward to when she could be with the love of her life, our Dad, Lauren, Sr.
She was born January 28, 1939, to Russell and Helen Gould Witmer, at Joplin, Missouri. Her Mom, Helen later married Henry Hankins, who happened to be the Uncle of Lauren, and that’s how they met. They were married June 5, 1954 andenjoyed 66 years of beautiful love together. After living in Joplin, California, and Tulsa, Lauren and Norma eventually settled in Sapulpa, Oklahoma where they raised their childrenRichard, Dennis, Helen, Yvonne, and Lauren, Jr.
Norma raised the kids until they all started school and then worked for Gibson’s Discount Store before her and Lauren purchased their first business, the old Apco service station at the Main Street Y in Sapulpa. They then opened the Lazy H Laundromat and proceeded to own every laundromat in Sapulpa at one time or another. They also purchased the convenience store at Dewey and Poplar, then called the Plaza One Stop. Lauren and Norma managed several convenience stores in the area before retiring. They lived in their little oasis on Grand Lake for years before moving back to the area to be with the grandkids.
For Norma, her life was built around her Faith, her Family and her yard. She loved going to Church and valued her friendships made there and enjoyed the yearly trip to Branson with her Church Group. She loved the time she spent with her family. From the time we were young Mom and Dad took us kids on vacations to many places sightseeing and to U.S. Parks and amusement parks all over the U.S., continuing that with the grandkids. Mom missed that time with the grandkids and great-grandkids and great-great-grandkids most of all the last few years. So, she devoted her time “in the garden” as she put it on her way out the door. At her place in Bristow, she planted almost all the trees, plants, flowers and more and felt a sense of pride watching them grow from seedlings to towering shade trees. She continued the tradition at our new house in Kellyville.
Norma was proceeded in death by the love of her life Lauren, her parents, Her sisters Mary, Shirley and her husband Clifford, brother Gary, daughters Kathie Sue Hankins and Helen Lovell, and her grandson Allen Desjarlais, sons-in-law Ray Desjarlais and Billy Casteel and daughter-in-law Keli Hankins.
Norma is survived by her children Richard and wife Vivian, and Yvonne of Sapulpa, Dennis of Kellyville, and Lauren, Jr. of Bristow, Grandchildren, Daiquiri, Jason, Geneva, Tiffany, Justin, Beth, Kim, Christopher, Christie, Misty and Will, 19 Great-Grandchildren, 5 Great-Great-Grandchildren, sister-in-law Joyce Witmer, son-in-law Dickie Lovell and a whole lot of nieces, nephews, and even more greats who will miss her dearly.
Visitation will be from 6:00pm-8:00pm, Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at Traditions Funeral Chapel in Kellyville. Services will be 10:00am, Thursday, January 13, 2022, at Westside Freewill Baptist Church in Sapulpa with burial to follow at Sunrise Cemetery in Kellyville with Rev. Roger DcDougal officiating. Bearers will be Chris Guthrie, Skye Slaton, Jason Desjarlais, Chris Casteel, Will Thompson and David Steele
