OBITUARY: Dee Ann Lambert

Dee Ann Ely Lambert, 68, of Okarche, passed from this life on Nov. 9, 2024, in Concordia Assisted Living Center in Oklahoma City, after several years of declining health.

She was born March 22, 1956, in Perry to Harvey Carl and Naveda Lee (Wise) Ely.

Graveside services for Dee will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Kingfisher Cemetery with Deacon Max Schwarz officiating. Services are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home, El Reno.

Family meant the world to Dee.

She had a tender heart for the handicap and the less fortunate.

Dee was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Okarche. She was chairman of the Red Cross blood drive in Kingfisher for several years.

She was active in the Stagecoach Community Theatre in Perry and the Community Theatre in Kingfisher. She enjoyed her grandchildren, traveling, crafts, especially stained glass, and lending a hand to help others.

Dee attended Red Rock School through the ninth grade and was named valedictorian of her eighth grade class.

She was active in 4-H, showing cattle and sheep.

She attended Perry High School, graduating in 1974.

Among the activities she participated in was the marching band and the swing band playing trombone. She also accompanied students in contests onpiano. Deewasoneof the two students awarded a one-year scholarship to Oklahoma State University. The selection was made on grade-point average, rank in class, participation in school activities and American College Testing Program.

She was in the Oklahoma State University marching band. In 2005, she received a bachelor’s in family studies and gerontology from Southern Nazarene University.

Among her several occupations, Dee was a staff writer for Kingfisher Times and Free Press, transcriptionist for Dr. Mark Gregory in Okarche and Kingfisher, assistant to the Kingfisher County 4-H Extension agent, a paraprofessional at Kingfisher school and a case manager at Center of Family Love in Okarche.

On Aug. 27, 1976, Dee married Alan M. McIlvain in Red Rock. They were blessed with two sons, Ryan Jay and Andrew (Andy) Jacob.

Dee worked at University of Oklahoma and put Alan through law school. They made their home in Perry, Duncan and then Kingfisher.

In Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Kingfisher on March 9, 1991, Dee married Franklin William Kraus and they were blessed with a son, Franklin (Will) William Kraus, Jr.

Franklin passed away on April 29, 2001.

Ryan, Andy and Will loved living on the farm near Omega.

On May 29, 2004, James (Jim) Floyd Lambert and Dee were married. Jim passed away on Sept. 18, 2006.

Dee was preceded in death by husbands Franklin and Jim; her father; and grandparents Claude and Gladys Ely and Lee and Willie Wise.

She is survived by her three sons, Ryan (Karyn) McIlvain, Andy (Ryan) Canady and Will (Kara) Kraus; her mother, Naveda Ely; eight grandchildren; a sister, Linda (Joey) Pyeatt; nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives.

Memorials may be made to Cardinal Point, P.O. Box 852033, Yukon, OK 73085.