Bernice Kent

Jeraldine Bernice Kent, longtime Osage/Cleveland area resident went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Monday, May 16, 2016 at the Cimarron Pointe Care Center in Mannford. Bernice was eighty-nine years old.

Bernice was born on October 16, 1926 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Herman Clyde and Oma Belle (Woods) Lay. She attended school in Cleveland through the eleventh grade and later obtained her high school diploma through the GED program. She moved with her family to California during her high school years and immediately accepted employment at an Air Force Base; being hired through the Work Projects Administration (WPA).

After a few years in California, Bernice returned to Oklahoma, accepting a position at a dry cleaning shop in Pawhuska. While there she met and married James Wesley Kent on August 30, 1947. The couple had three children, Nancy, Sible and Clyde Wesley, Nancy B. and Sible I. preceded her in death as they both passed away as infants; Nancy in 1948 and Sible in 1952.

James and Bernice later moved their family to White Oak when they both accepted positions with the State of Oklahoma at Eastern State Hospital. Bernice provided janitorial services and worked in the food service department for nearly twenty-seven years; retiring in 1980. Upon their retirement they moved to Osage to be located closer to family and enjoy their passion for fishing. Bernice loved to cook; when she and her husband lived in White Oak and they had visitors, she always cooked big family dinners. After James preceded her in death on January 6, 1996, she continued to cook large meals for herself.

Bernice continued to reside in Osage for several more years before moving to Cleveland in 2010. Bernice spent most of her life working as she seemed to always be busy and find a position no matter where they lived. At one time she even accepted a position and learned to be a butcher for Whites Grocery in Sand Springs. Although she had little free time, she did enjoy playing cards, word search puzzles, bingo, watching Andy Griffith and games shows on television and when possible going to the casino in Hominy. She especially loved her son and his family and her sisters and brother and their families.
In addition to her two daughters and her husband, Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Herman Clyde and Oma Belle Lay; a sister, Oneida Harp; a brother, Lowell Lay and a step-son Kenneth Kent.

Bernice is survived by her son, Clyde Wesley and Charlene Kent of Big Cabin, Oklahoma; two sisters, Johnnie and Joe Garcia of Cleveland, Oklahoma and
Naomi and Ed Wiseman of Cleveland, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Chris Kent of Seattle, Washington and Carrie Kent of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; numerous nieces, nephews and other family and friends that will mourn her passing. She also loved her church family at the Church of the Nazarene in Cleveland and she especially enjoyed going to Sunday School.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 20, 2016 at the Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Steve Brown officiating. Serving as honorary pallbears will be Larry Wall, Joe Garcia, Ed Wiseman, Brent Wise, Dwaine Grey and Lynn Quick. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.