Betty Charlene Sharpnack

Betty Charlene Sharpnack was born January 11, 1926 in Cushing, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Charles and Belle Jane (Smith) Barnes. Charlene moved with her family at an early age to Cleveland where she was raised and attended school; graduating from Cleveland High School with the Class of 1945. While attending high school, Charlene was a member of the Cleveland High School Marching Band where she served as Drum Major for two years.

Shortly after graduation, Charlene was married to Mitchell Dewey Sharpnack in Sedan, Kansas on October 5, 1946. The couple returned to Cleveland where they established their home and resided together for over sixty-six years before Mitch preceded her in death on November 11, 2012. Charlene was a devoted wife to Mitch and dedicated her life to his well being and taking care of him. As they never had children of their own, the couple considered all of their nieces and nephews as their own and Charlene attempted to spoil them all much to the chagrin of Mitch. Charlene was truly a care giver taking care of her mother Belle Jane for nearly sixteen years before having to admit her to a nursing facility.

As Mitch was an avid bird hunter, the couple raised bird dogs and all of them seemed to enjoy the same benefits as children; Charlene loved them as much as Mitch. If Charlene and Mitch missed having children around they would pick up a couple of nieces and nephews and treated them as their own. Charlene was described as a loving, caring wife, sister, aunt and friend who was extremely loyal and helpful to everyone; although she was also a little unpredictable.

She had many friends through the years including Ruby Custer who she did many craft and ceramic projects with, Sybil Blake, a lifelong friend and Betty Davis. On their 50th wedding anniversary the nieces and nephews organized a celebration which was cherished by Charlene as it gave her the opportunity to have the couple’s marriage recognized by family as they had ran off to get married initially. When told that he would have to purchase Charlene a new ring to celebrate their anniversary, Mitch commented that he didn’t understand why since he had just put four new tires on her car just prior and that should be enough. The couple spent countless hours together watching sports, especially the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University Football and the Detroit Tiger baseball team. As strong supporters of the Democratic Party they seemed knowledgeable in many facets of our country and government as well as current affairs. On one of her memorable trips, Charlene went to Washington D. C. with a group of Oklahoma Democratic Women where they met with Oklahoma Congressman and Senators.

Charlene enjoyed volunteering her time when she could and worked tirelessly with the Cleveland Hospital Auxiliary and was a Cancer Crusader and was awarded a silver plate for her participation in assisting Pawnee County achieving the state’s highest percentage of quota during the 1976 Cancer Fund raiser. Charlene also served as a Girl Scout Leader for many years in the Cleveland. Charlene was a seventy year and lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star, Cleveland Chapter No. 116.

Charlene accepted her first job at an early age at the Pawnee County Court House. She later served as secretary and clerk at the Indian Electric Cooperative in Cleveland for several years before accepting employment with L. A. “Friday” Davis Pipeline Construction Company as a dispatcher, secretary and accountant. She later was employed as a secretary for Osage Oil in Cleveland for many years before beginning a career working for Linda Maggard Tax Accounting in Mannford.

Charlene was a longtime member of the First Christian Church where she assisted with all the church dinners for many years. She passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at the Cleveland Manor Nursing Home at the age of eighty-nine years. In addition to her husband, Mitc