Jessie Geneva Carlile

Jessie Geneva (McDonald) Carlile was born on November 17th, 1928 to Nolan Ernest McDonald and Sarah Curtis (Denney) McDonald in Haskell, Oklahoma. Jessie passed from this life on Saturday, March 26th, 2016 at the age of 87 years, 4 months and 9 days.

Jessie was the sixth born of ten children. As a very small child, Jessie moved to the Keys Community, where she attended the Keys School and was an active member of the Cherokee Home Mission. She later attended high school in Tahlequah. She met the love of her life, Leon Perry Carlile in 1945 just after the war, when he returned from a tour of duty with the Signal Corp in the Army. Jessie and Leon were married on December 19, 1945 in Oswego, Kansas. They raised a family of five children on a ranch in the Keys Community. Jessie was a member of the Home Demonstration Extension Cooperative, the Farm Bureau Member group and was a very active member of the Cherokee County Women’s Democratic Organization. She did an excellent job of serving Cherokee County as the wife of a long term county commissioner and enjoyed seeing the abundant progress made in the county. Jessie was always seen in the community as the individual who was ready to visit and sit with the ill and to take food to others who had lost loved ones. She also was ready to assist with showers for people who were getting married or having a baby or otherwise needed support. Jessie was a willing participant in all things needed from a rancher’s wife, whether it was working in the hayfield or preparing food for a tired crew. She loved organizing family gatherings and helping with whatever was needed to make arrangements for these events. Jessie was an excellent cook and took pride in preparing food for the perfect family holidays. All of her family have fond memories of the meals and family time that they shared. In later years, she and Leon loved traveling and attending Blue Grass Festivals. They all enjoyed spending time camping with friends and loved ones.

Jessie is preceded in death by her husband Leon and two sons, Leon “Bill” and Russell, her parents, two sisters, four brothers, and one grandson.

She is survived by three daughters, Dr. Sandra Farmer and her husband Sam of Coweta, Donna McNabb of Claremore, and Karen Howe and her husband Gary of Park Hill as well as two daughters-in-law, Dr. Mary Culver-Carlile of Enid and June Carlile of Tahlequah. Her nine grandchildren include, Sam Farmer II and his wife Alisa of Killen, Texas, Sheri Cook and her husband Jarrett of Oklahoma City, Steve Farmer and his wife Amy of Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Shelley Hogue and her husband Kevin of Coweta, Scott Farmer and his wife Emily of Sallisaw, Cara Carroll and her husband Todd of Claremore, Aaron Lucas and his wife Megan of Coweta, Kyle Fisher and his wife Chelsi of Muskogee and Kurt Fisher and his wife Chelsea of Park Hill. Her 15 great-grandchildren are Kate and Olivia Farmer of Killeen, Texas, Rebekah and Luke Farmer of Monroe, Louisiana, Kenneth and Libby Cook of Oklahoma City, Kalley, Sam and Ben Hogue of Coweta, Kaycie, David and Jessie Farmer of Sallisaw, Andrew Lambert and Gracie Carroll of Claremore, and Akya Lucas of Coweta. Jessie’s surviving sisters are Carrie Davenport of Tulsa and Nora Minter of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and one brother Jerry McDonald of China Springs, Texas. Her surviving family includes a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 30th, 2016 at Reed-Culver Chapel with Brother Clayton Sellers officiating. Interment will follow at Tahlequah City Cemetery. Viewing will be held on Tuesday, March 29th, 2016 from 12:00 pm until 6:00 pm with family visitation from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandsons-in law, Scott Farmer, Aaron Lucas, Kyle Fisher, Kurt Fisher, Kevin Hogue and Todd Carroll. Arrangements will be under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com