Leota Punches

Leota Faye Punches, age 86, died Friday December 5, 2008 in Tulsa, Ok. Leota Faye (Sears) Punches was born in Bartlesville. OK the eldest daughter of Leona (Clapp) and Preston Sears on March 10, 1922. In 1924 she moved with her parents and grandparents by covered wagon to Osage County in Lyman, OK. In 1925 her parents moved the house they were living in to rural Webb City. Faye started school in a one room house at Rock Creek School near Red Eagle, OK north of Pawhuska. After her first year of schooling she started the next year near Webb City, OK at a school called the Little Phillips School; in the 5th grade she attended and completed Jr. high school in Webb City. Faye completed eight years of schooling in 7 years being able to skip the second grade. Faye married William Henry (Bill) Punches in the Assembly Of God Church at Webb City, OK on October 6, 1940 She and her husband were lifetime members of the 1033 Emergency Team of Nowata. While employed she was also a member of H.E.F.T.S. Faye gave her heart and made a commitment to serve Jesus Christ, she was a faithful worker, teaching Sunday School and conducted Daily Vacation School as long as her health permitted. She was very involved in WMC's for many years. She received her workers license from the Assembly of God Organization allowing God to use her any way He saw fit. She was a member of the Faith Assembly Of God in Tulsa. While in Nowata she and Bill were members and attenders of Nowata First Assembly and later Trinity Full Gospel Church. She will be extremely missed by all who knew her. She loved sewing and cooking and was a cook and a kitchen manager for Nowata General Hospital for seventeen years. She loved babysitting and house cleaning. For a time, she worked at Nowata Publishers. Faye and Bill had five children. Losing the last one in childbirth. The four remaining are Gladys and Merl Gray, Tulsa, OK; William Preston (Billy) Punches of Pawhuska; Robert Wayne (Bob) and Janell Punches of Portland Texas; and Peggy Sue Randolph and Robert Adams of Bartlesville. Special friends Wanda Punches, Sharon Mason, and John Randolph. Faye is survived by her four children and their families. There are 18 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren and 15 great, great grandchildren. Also two sisters; Beatrice Gregory of Oklahoma City; and Leona Mae McDonald of Tracey, California. Four brothers; Cecil and Ruth Sears of Ponca City; Eugene and Icephine Sears of Fayetteville, Arkansas; S.D. and Betty Seras of Witichie, Kansas; and Bert Sears of Las Vegas, Nevada. Also five sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends She is preceded in death by her husband of 64.5 years, her parents, two infant sisters, one newborn son, two grandsons and one great granddaughter. Faye loved the Lord and served him to the best of her knowledge for 72 years. Funeral Services will be held at Nowata New life Assembly of God Church on Tuesday, December 9th at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Kelly Goins and Mr. Arlis Henegar officiating. She will be laid to rest in Nowata Memorial Cemetery beside her beloved husband. There will be a viewing from 6p.m. - 8p.m. on Monday evening. Donations can be made to Nowata 1033 Emergency fund. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. Services are under the direction of the Benjamin Funeral Home.

Service Details

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 2:00pm, New Life Assembly of God

Interment Details

Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery