Jacqueline Lewis Adair

Jacqueline Lewis Adair, Stillwater resident since 1949, was energetic, compassion and a philanthropic spirit concerning her hometown. Her list of accomplishment and volunteering lifestyle in the Stillwater Community is admirable and noteworthy. In her nearly sixty-five years of residency in the community, Jacquie Adair served at the helm of many projects that made Stillwater what it is today, truly a volunteer community. Mrs. Adair was one of those ambitious women on the Hospital Auxiliary who embarked on a project to improve technology at the Stillwater Hospital in the 1990ís; assisting in the development of a plan to acquire heart-monitoring equipment. This effort led to the construction and operation of a new hospital which Mrs. Adair served on the interim board during the process. She later became concerned about the baby care in the hospital and spearheaded, along with help from her Delta Zeta sorority alumnae, to establish a program for hearing-testing of the newborns. Jacquie often said her two years as auxiliary president where her most rewarding, as she was in the center of a wealth of change in the hospitals programs. In 1970, Mrs. Adair was recognized with an award from the State Hospital Volunteers; only the second such award ever given. She was also recognized with the Altursa Award for Community Service in 1972 and a state award from Delta Zeta in 1966. Jacquie was a fixture for many years at the Stillwater Nursing Home whom many residents relied on for a friendly word and a kind smile. She often provided activities for the residents including birthday parties and a dinerís club. Jacquie, along with her friends Virginia Thomas and Orlean Hunter spent countless hours involved in the Oklahoma Legislative process in improving nursing homes throughout the state. They attended special committee meetings at the Capitol and urged legislators to approve specific guidelines for the stateís nursing homes. Her activities also included memberships in the Daughters of American Revolution, Daughters of American Colonists, P.E.O. (Chapters OK-EP and FU) Stillwater, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, Stillwater Country Club (founding and charter member); First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater Hospital Auxillary (life member), Stillwater Literary Program, American Legion Auxillary, Oklahoma City Petroleum Club, Stillwater Women's Club; Delta Zeta, Epsilon Gamma Chapter, Payne County Genealogy Society, Delta Zeta Alumna Chapter of Stillwater and a Patron Associate of the Sheerar Cultural Center and Museum. She also assisted the St. Cecilia Music Club for many years. She often said about volunteering, ìI donít even think about ëwhy I like to volunteer.í It is just something I do and will probably continue as long as I can in some capacity. Jacqueline Lewis Adair was born September 18, 1921 in Canon City, Colorado. She was the only child of Overton M. and Martha Helen (Cooper) Lewis. She moved at an early age to Cleveland, Oklahoma where she was raised and attended school, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1939. During her senior years, Jacquie received the Dramatics Award for her particiapation in drama and speech. Shortly after graduation, she was married to Joseph Aruthur Adair while attending Central Missouri University on November 18, 1939. The couple later moved to Kansas City where they resided until moving to Stillwater in 1948. . Jacquie served as secretary for Lieutenant Governor James E. Berry in his Stillwater office for a few years. In addition to her volunteer activities, Jacqueline was the office manager of Adair and Jenkins, Independent Oil Producers in Stillwater where she did title search, maintained accounting records, lease records and rentals, billings and contracts. Joe preceded her in death on December 23, 1994 after fifty-five years of marriage. In September of 2002, Jacquie found love again and married Dr. Wilton T. Anderson of Stillwater. For a number of years, Jacquie and Wilton traveled extensively to both coasts to visit friends in Florida., Georgia., Texas and California. In addition, they made trips to New York City to see plays on Broadway, and took in many of the Lyric Theater productions in Oklahoma City. Dr Anderson preceded her in death on November 15, 2012. When she wasnít volunteering, Jacquie loved to golf and spent countless hours on the course at Stillwater Country Club and was a member of the Womenís Gof Association. She often commented on not having children, ìOf course I regret not having children. Iíve missed the joy of always being broke, exhausted, and stressed out.î Jacquie passed from this life on Friday, June 13, 2014 at her home in Stillwater at the age of ninety-two. In addition to her two husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, and Adair relatives including nephew Lewie Tyler. She is survived by her first cousin, James Overton Hardin and wife Dawn of Monroe, Louisiana; sister-in-law, Shirley Adair Treasure of Carrollton, Texas; brother-in-law, William G Adair and wife Mary of Chilhowee, Missouri; and twelve Adair nieces and nephews, Bill Adair, Jr., Cheryl Bray, Clint Adair, Dale Treasure, Debbie Waibel, Jo Ann Ellingson, Julie Thompson, Linn Fairchild, Mark Treasure, Nancy Langley, Rick Adair, and Toni Sargent. The family wishes to thank ìJacquieís Angels,î the private duty caregivers who kept Jacquie smiling over the last two years. They include: Alyssa Nickels, Cari Feasley, Celia Madden, Diana Marin, Elnora Sanders, Emma Johnson Atchison, Geneva & Cecil Dugger, Jordain Nickels, Julie Ward, and Mesha Carter. A memorial service to celebrate Jacqueline Adairís life will be held on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 2:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made in memory of Jacqueline Lewis Adair to the Cottey College for Girls, 1000 West Austin Blvd., Nevada, MO 64772; to the First Presbyterian Church, 524 S Duncan, Stillwater, OK 74074; or to the Oklahoma State University Foundation, 400 S Monroe, Stillwater, OK 74074. Arrangements were entrusted to Chapman-Black Funeral Home in Cleveland, Oklahoma.