Elnora Lucile Lee

Elnora Lucile Lee was born October 19, 1919 near Jennings in rural Pawnee County, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of John Will and Ida May (Louis) Tompkins. Elnora was raised in the Jennings area attending High Grove and Jennings School. Elnora was married to Chester Martin Lee, Jr. on July 6, 1938 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. The couple initially moved to Illinois when Martin began working in the oilfields. After residing in Kansas and Ohio for a short time the couple moved to the Dog Center area between Cleveland and Hallett for a while before moving to Blackwell for nearly seven years. Later they moved to Hominy for a couple of years before returning their family to Cleveland in 1956, where they raised their three sons, Chester, Forrest ìDocî and Charles. Elnora dedicated her life to taking care of her husband and her family. She served as a child care provider for the Carnes family for several years, taking care of their son Dwain when he was young. Additionally, Elnora cleaned homes throughout the area and in other baby sitting positions. She was described by her family as ìthe worldís greatest momî and a tremendous woman; serving as a blessing to those she came in contact with. Her obvious love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was evident in her participation in her church,. Church of the Nazarene in Cleveland and her caring and loving spirit in her everyday life. She seemed to always strive to do whatever she could do for God in anyway she could do it. In addition to teaching Sunday school at the Church of the Nazarene, Elnora served on the board for many years and was Missionary President. She assisted with Vacation Bible School for numerous years and was recently honored with a Distinguished Service Award at the Church in 2007. She was a vigilant and devout prayer partner for all those in need and enjoyed studying the bible. Elnora was a Christ oriented, church and family loving lady that always placed the needs of others above her own. She had a unique ability to make everyone around her feel special and loved. She also loved feeding and watching Red Birds, a hobby she has enjoyed since she was young and shared with her mother. Additionally, Martin and Elnora enjoyed spending the winters camping in south Texas, near McAllen following their retirement. She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin on November 29, 2006 after nearly sixty-eight years of marriage. Elnora passed away on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of eighty-nine. In addition to her husband, Elnora was preceded in death by her parents, John Will Tompkins and Ida May Tompkins Maxwell; three brothers, Oscar, George and Walter Tompkins; and five sisters, Mary Hewitt, Martha Morris, Fern Lucas, Ollie Srygley and Mamie Salsbury. She is survived by three sons, Chester and his wife Elaine Lee of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Forrest Wayne ìDocî Lee of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Charles and his wife Mary Jo Lee of Chattanooga, Tennessee; four grandchildren, Sherri Herring of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Shelley and her husband Bobby Dell of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Tammy and her husband Sean Sullivan of San Anselmo, California, and Curtis Chester Martin Lee of San Lorenzo, California; five great-grandsons, Matthew and his wife Chelsea Herring of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jeremiah Herring of Cleveland, Oklahoma, C. J. and Bryan Dell of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Xavier Sullivan of San Anselmo, California; numerous other family and friends who mourn her passing.