Della Mae Waddell

Della Mae Waddell, longtime Cleveland area resident, passed from this life into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Friday, November 30, 2012 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of eighty-seven. Della was born on April 2, 1925 in Stuttgart, Arkansas. She was the daughter of John Wesley and Zola Fae (Waddell) Gales. Della moved frequently throughout central Arkansas as a child, moving to Edmond, Oklahoma in her early teens. While working as a waitress at a cafÈ in Edmond, Della met the ownerís son, Leroy and the couple was later married on March 10, 1946. The couple made their initial home in Edmond as Leroy worked for the City of Edmond after his discharge from the service. In 1953, they relocated to Hominy, Oklahoma when Mr. Waddell accepted a position with the City of Hominy. In 1957, Leroy was called as the Pastor of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Wynona and the couple worked together in the Church for nearly four years when they moved to Hominy to Pastor the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Hominy. The couple moved to Cleveland in 1969 and became active members of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Cleveland where later Leroy service both as interim Pastor and Pastor. During many of these preaching assignments, Della served as a Sunday school teacher, as well as the Pastorís wife. Her love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was evident in her daily walk and the compassion she displayed to those around. She also enjoyed taking care of children in the nurseries of the churches and baby sat many children in the Cleveland area. Leroy preceded her in death on November 16, 1999. Della continued to reside in Cleveland until 2007 until for health reasons moved to Tulsa and has resided with her daughter for the past five years. Della enjoyed sewing and reading and was an always maintained a beautiful flower garden in her yard. She was a strong supporter of her church and church family throughout her life. Her tireless dedication to her family, church family and friends will be remembered by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Deweese of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandson and his wife, Charles Anthony and Stephanie Deweese of Tulsa, Oklahoma; great-grandson, Garry Parker Deweese of Tulsa, Oklahoma; brother and his wife, Leroy and Glenda Gales of Des Arc, Arkansas. In addition to her husband, Leroy; she was preceded in death by her parents, John Wesley and Zola Fae Gales; her son, Dennis Lee Waddell; a son-in-law, Garry Deweese; five brothers, Loyal Gales, Virgal Gales, Isaac Gales, Fred Huggs, and Alfred Huggs; two sisters, Deloris Hall and Mattie Shay; and a grandson, James Alan Deweese. . Funeral services will be held 11:00 Am Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at New Hope Fellowship Church, 349 South 49th West Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127 with Pastor Stanley McCabe officiating. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home or online at www.chapman-black.com