Lillie Mae (Perry) Edwards

Lillie Mae (Perry) Edwards was an early pioneer farm girl whose family moved her to and from Arkansas in a covered wagon in the early 1920’s. Little did she know that Oklahoma was where she would live out her life, eventually marrying and having two children. Early Tuesday morning, Feb. 13, 2018, at the age of 99, her long journey came to an end peacefully at her home in Durant. She was a gentle woman who survived serious childhood diseases in the days before medicines could make a difference. She worked the family farm and hardly noticed the Great Depression in the 1930’s, producing almost everything their family needed themselves. “We always had plenty of food and made our own clothes,” she said during her birthday celebration in November of last year. That may have been why her family avoided the Dust Bowl migration to California during The Depression, made famous in the novel, “The Grapes of Wrath.” She attended Bennington schools and later became a member of the Eastern Star. She was of the Baptist faith. She was born on Nov. 7, 1918, four days before the armistice was signed that ended WWI, near Broken Bow, Oklahoma, to Thomas David Perry and Lera Lee (Anderson) Perry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claud Edwards Sr., her parents; brothers Charles, Leslie and Paul Perry; sisters Ola Logan, Hazel Rogers, Ruth Campbell and Lucille Dirickson; daughter-in-law Nelda Edwards; son-in-law Charlie Crawford; and great-granddaughter Lacy Ryan. Survivors are daughter Betty Crawford, Durant; and son Claud Edwards Jr., Bokchito; grandchildren, Sherry Ryan and Mark, Shelly Whatley and Kevin; Laura Allen Scott; Shelia Knight; Cristy Lindsey and Mark; Carolyn Faull and C.W.; Savanah Toma and Clay; Summer Roberts and Bradley; Charles Edward Crawford and Kathy; Diana Bretthorst; Timothy Robinson and Amanda; Tammy Thompson; Chance Hudspeth; 25 great grandchildren, and 13 great-great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Kevin Whatley, Nick Whatley, Ian Lindsey, T.J. Knight, Michael Mays and Alex Ryan. Honorary pallbearers will be Phil Cross, David Dirickson, Glenn Campbell, and J.D. Campbell. Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Brown’s Funeral and Cremation Service. Family hour will be 6-8 p.m. Friday at Browns Funeral and Cremation Service. Bro. Anthony Williams will officiate. Interment will follow in Bokchito Cemetery. The family would like to give a special thank you to the entire staff at Encompass Home Health and Hospice especially, Marissa, Danny, Jessica, Elizabeth and Ashley. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.

Lillie Mae (Perry) Edwards

November 7, 1918 - February 13, 2018