Dorothy Finnell

Dorothy Lila Hughes Finnell, a long-time resident of Vinita, Oklahoma, passed away August 20th, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 92 years and 7 months. She was born on January 6, 1919, at Colcord, Oklahoma, the 4th of 11 children of Catherine Kaiser Hughes and Ezekial Henderson Hughes. She graduated from Kansas High School, Kansas, Oklahoma. She became a member of the First Baptist Church, having joined in the 1950's. She was married for over 40 years to Boyd George Finnell of Vinita, OK, and they were the parents of Colleen Finnell and James Clay Finnell. Dorothy is survived by their daughter, Colleen Finnell of Inola, Oklahoma; 2 granddaughters, Cheryl Cavalier Beasley and husband Chris, Pryor, OK, Collette Catherine Cavalier of San Diego, CA; and 3 grandsons, Kyle Scott Cavalier, Inola, OK, Boyd S. Finnell, Claremore, OK, and Gulley H. Finnell, Chouteau, OK.; as well as 4 great-granddaughters and 6 great-grandsons. Surviving also is her only remaining sibling, Gearldine Duncan, of Kansas, OK. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Boyd G. Finnell in 1983, her son, Clay Finnell in 2009, granddaughters, Becky Finnell in 2001, and Yvette Cavalier in 1966, 8 brothers (Chester, Vollie, Leonard, Web, Muriel, Lester, and two infant brothers) and one sister, Bessie Hughes Self. As a young girl, Dorothy took her father's stock trailers filled with cattle from her father's farm in Colcord, OK to the stockyards in Tulsa (without benefit of a license), worked at the gun powder plant in Pryor during World War II, assisted with Boyd's thoroughbred horse training center by keeping books, and in later years worked at various Vinita City Offices, retiring to take care of her ailing son at age 88. She was an excellent seamstress and cook and was passionate about horseracing, the Democratic Party, and ballroom dancing, having danced "with the love of my life" to the live bands of Harry James and his Band of Renowned, and Bob Wills the Texas Playboys. Intelligent, attractive, brave Dorothy loved life and was blessed to have lived 92 years with a good sense of humor and good health. Visitation will be Wednesday, August 24, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. at the Luginbuel Chapel. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, August 25, 2011 at the Luginbuel Chapel with Pastor Wade Markham officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com

Visitation Details

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home Vinita

Service Details

Thursday, August 25th, 2011 1:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home

Interment Details

Fairview Cemetery - Vinita