Irene D. Newcomb

Irene D. Newcomb was born February 9, 1931 in a small community just south of Bartlesville, Oklahoma known as Silver Lake. She was the daughter of Dewey and Hazel (Stanton) Warehime. Irene moved with her family at an early age to a community between Bartlesville and Pawhuska in rural Osage county, Okesa where she attended her early education. Her family operated a vegetable farm providing fresh produce for grocery stores and families throughout the area. Irene attended Neloganey High School where she met and later married her high school sweetheart, Euel "Hoot" Newcomb on July 11, 1948 prior to starting their senior year in high school. The couple made their initial home in Barnsdall and after graduation moved frequently during their early marriage, following work in the oilfields of Oklahoma and Kansas. The couple later returned to Barnsdall where Irene worked as a floral designer for several years. Irene then began attending vocational school in Bartlesville where she completed training as a licensed practical nurse. Additionally, she passed her state board testing on her first attempt. After receiving her license, Irene accepted employment with the Cleveland Area Hospital. The couple later moved to Gainesville, Texas where Irene was employed at the Muenster Memorial Hospital for a couple of years from 1973 until 1975. She obtained her certification as a Licensed Vocational Nurse while residing in Texas. In 1975, Hoot and Irene moved to the Cleveland area and Irene immediately accepted a position with the Cleveland Area Hospital. She continued to work for the Cleveland Area Hospital for eighteen additional years, retiring in 1993. Irene was a compassionate and caring provider, dedicating her life to providing a loving home for her husband and family. Irene was described by her family as a strong and resilient person who was very appreciative of anything that was done for her; a very grateful lady. She seemed to develop a special relationship and bond with each member of family as well as friends. Her love for children initiated the couple's adoption of two grandchildren, Sarah and Taylor Spears and were affectionately known by them as Grandpa Hoot and Grandma Irene. Irene was a longtime member of the Barnsdall Methodist Church and has been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Cleveland for the past few years. She enjoyed reading the Bible and exhibited in her daily walk her love of the Lord. Through her faith, she exhibited an extremely kind heart toward everyone. Even with her health deteriorating and requiring daily dialysis treatment she continued to take care of her family by placing their needs above her own. Irene was an active person and enjoyed many hobbies and crafts. She has maintained her love for floral arranging throughout her life and enjoyed her wildflower and herb gardens. She was especially proud of her sage. She was an avid antique collector which included a collection of Roycroft hammered copper and bronze. She operated an antique booth in Claremore for nearly a year. While Irene was shopping for groceries on one occasion, Hoot drifted over to a nearby Salvation Army Thrift Store and while looking around found a piece of Roycroft at a bargain price and gave it to her for their anniversary. Irene enjoyed cooking and liked to watch the Food Network; especially Rachael Ray and Guy Fieri. She was famous for her homemade chicken and noodles and taught all of her family members how to make them. She enjoyed sewing and made most of her daughter's clothing as she was growing up. She loved watching birds and Hoot actually placed feeders outside her bedroom window as her morning treatment required her to remain inside and she could watch the birds from her room as she was waking up. She was often quoted as saying to her daughter, "You can't cook in the living room", referring to having to be totally involved in everything you do. She also enjoyed receiving and sending greeting cards and had a special handmade valentine card exchange with her daughter, Terry each year for several years. Irene also enjoyed collecting bricks and searched for many years looking for a brick that was stamped, ìDonít spit on sidewalk.î Hoot later molded many of these special bricks and they have found their way into many sidewalks. Irene enjoyed learning about Mission furniture and the Arts and Crafts Movement from her son Greg, and sharing that interest with him. She also loved her daughter-in-law Mary, and the antics of their little dog Becky. For several years, Hoot and Irene traveled frequently to Vivian, Caddo Parrish, Louisiana where the couple developed a location to place their travel trailer and enjoy the cypress trees and Spanish moss. Additionally, Hoot built a dock extending into the bayou for Irene to fish from. She would often get up at day light and be found fishing with crickets from the dock. Irene passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa after an extended illness. She is survived by her husband, Euel "Hoot" Newcomb of the home, near Cleveland; a son and his wife, Greg and Mary Newcomb of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota; a daughter, Terry Newcomb of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sisters, Mildred Hallum of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma and Dorothy and her husband, Doyle Pendley of Rush Springs, Oklahoma; a brother, Marvin Warehime of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and their adopted grandchildren, Sarah and Taylor Spears. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dewey and Hazel Warehime; four brothers, Frank, Delbert, Ivan and Gerald Warehime; and a sister, Nettie Lou Weldon.