Clairann Tate Dula

Clairann Tate Dula gained her heavenly home on Friday, October 30, 2015 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. She was born January 17, 1933 in Binger, OK, the only daughter and youngest child of Clair and Anna Tate. She graduated from Binger High School in 1950 and attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, where she was a member of “Q” Club. While in college, she met and married a young Army pilot, Jim Dula. The couple lived briefly in North Carolina until he departed for Korea; she then returned to OCW and completed a degree in elementary education in 1954.

Upon Mr. Dula’s return from overseas, they lived outside Binger for some time and there became parents with the arrival of their daughter, Stephanie. The couple purchased property in Love County, Oklahoma and relocated there around 1957. Clairann was part of the opening of Turner School and taught the first music class as well as 3rd grade. She recalled selecting the piano for the Turner music room. The family moved to Houston the following year where they operated a Helicopter Service. While in Houston, a son, James III, and another daughter, Elizabeth, were born. The family moved back to Rubottom, OK in 1966 and later welcomed their youngest son, George.

Clairann was elected Court Clerk of Love County in 1977 and served one term. She then returned to teaching, a career that would span 27 years and two states. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1980. She was a reading specialist for Marietta Schools until 1987, when she moved to Lewisville, Texas and began teaching middle school classes. Clairann retired from LISD in May 2002.

Following retirement she moved to Frisco, TX where she frequently served as a substitute teacher and began work as a volunteer and active member of Frisco First United Methodist Church. She was a Sunday School teacher for many years as well as a member of numerous women’s groups in the church. She survived breast cancer in 2001 and melanoma in 2008, and went on to become a vital part of the Dallas Presbyterian Cancer Resource Center. At a later point she assisted with setting up a similar Resource Center at Plano Presbyterian. While sorting materials for the resource center, she came across a pattern for pillows that could be used by patients following surgery and began a new project: she made heart shaped pillows and distributed them through the resource center. As time went by she expanded the project and included some of her “Silver Sombrero Sisters” friends from FUMC, and the “Pillows for Patients Ministry” was formed. Over the years the group created, bagged and donated hundreds of pillows to the Cancer Resource Centers and also to VNA Hospice. The story of her pillow ministry was recently published in the FUMC Frisco Flame Newsletter and also the Frisco Style Magazine.

Clairann enjoyed playing Bridge and Gin, and spending time with her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Melvin Tate and Leo Tate, and a grandson, Steven Nickles. She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Stephanie Dula Moore and husband Jeff of Stillwater, OK, James Dula and wife Kim of Ardmore, OK, Elizabeth Dula Nickles and husband Bob of Hockley, TX, and Dr. George Dula and wife Kelly of Frisco. She is also survived by grandchildren Jessica Holloway, Austin Holloway, Travis Holloway and wife Nicole, all of Dallas, Sarah Moore Pope and husband Eric of Kansas City, MO, Danielle Dula, Memphis, TN, Jeremy Dula, Allen, TX, Madeleine Nickles, Hockley, Charlotte Nickles, Belton, TX, Bridgette Nickles, Stillwater, Michael and Mitchell Nickles, Hockley, Carson, Campbell, Quinlan and Landry Dula and Nicole and Natalie Howard of Frisco, TX.

The family wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Sunrise Assisted Living of Frisco for their loving care and compassion during Clairann’s final weeks. They also request that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be directed to Frisco First United Methodist Church Children’s Ministries.