Joyce Saunders

03/04/2012













Joyce Saunders, Tulsa Central's first female administrator, dies at 102


Joyce Saunders was born on June 10, 1909 in Pawnee, Oklahoma, the oldest of five children to pioneer dentist Lindsey Perry Saunders and early day teacher Helen Kelly Saunders. She passed from this life on Sunday, March 4, 2012 in Tulsa, Oklahoma having reached the age of 102 years. She attended Pawnee Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1925. She then embarked on an academic career virtually unheard of for women at the time, attending college in St. Charles, Missouri, and the University of Oklahoma where she obtained a bachelor’s degree, and in the summer of 1936 she received her master’s from Columbia University in New York. She was a member of NEA, Phi Beta Kappe, Delta Kappa, Gamma Phi Beta, Psi Chapter, and began her long career at Central High School in Tulsa. She taught typing and shorthand, twenty-five years she was an office manager, and eight years she served as an assistant principal. Upon her retirement in 1974 she pursued her passion for travel and visited locales as diverse as Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, and was very active in the Tulsa Retired Teachers Association, and has served as president, vice president, secretary, and membership chair. Joyce was honored by the Pawnee Alumni Association at several of their reunions on being the old- est alumni in attendance. She always looked forward to attending and seeing her PHS friends. Joyce is survived by: 6 nephews and nieces: Bill Young and his wife, Jennifer Zanfen Young, Shenyang China, Yorba Linda, California, Robert Young and his wife, Paula McCrackin, Rohnert Park, California, Barbara Cable Saunders Turner and her husband, Anthony, Cushing, Oklahoma, Beverly Young Elfvin and her husband, Peter, Aurora, Colorado, Kelly Saunders, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Patricia Saunders Barker and her husband, Jed, Tulsa, Oklahoma; 13 grand nieces and nephews, and 11 great grand nieces and nephews. Plus a number of other relatives, and many friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Lindsey and Helen Saunders; her sisters, Mathel (Mrs. Benjamin Walter) Young, Martha Grace Saunders, and Juneal Saunders; and her brother, Lindsey Perry Saunders, Jr. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 9, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Highland Cemetery, Pawnee, Oklahoma, under the direction of Poteet Funeral Home, Pawnee, Oklahoma. Memorials may be made to Friends of the Tulsa City-County Library, 400 Civic Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74103. This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 3/7/2012.

Tulsa Central ’65

Deceased Faculty

Rodney Bridges

Dr Joe Lemley

Virginia Perett

Virginia Quesenbery

Joyce Saunders

Rex Teague

Felix Vestal


Rex Teague

December 30, 1918-March 5, 2009








Rex Patrick Teague, long-time Tulsa educator and musician, passed away on Friday, March 5, at the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was 91 years old.

A funeral service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, at Parkview Baptist Church, followed by a graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery. A viewing for friends and family will be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at Ninde Woodland Funeral Home.

Rex was born December 30, 1918 in Madill, Oklahoma to Joseph Ebb and Jonnie D. (Blake) Teague; he was the eighth and last child of the family. Rex was raised in Hot Springs, Ark., where he graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1938; soon afterward, he moved to Tulsa.

Rex met his wife Joan Fenn at the University of Tulsa in 1946 during, she recalls, the first class of their first semester. They were married on May 30, 1948, and celebrated their sixtieth anniversary in 2008. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 1950 and Master of Teaching Arts in 1962, both from T.U.

Rex served stateside in the military as a glider instructor in the Army Air Corps in WWII. He spoke conversational German, which he used while communicating with German POWs.

Rex began his career teaching music in 1947 at Marquette High School in Tulsa. He would go on to teach music in Tulsa for a total of 26 years, at both Wilson Jr. High School and Central High School. He also taught vocal and instrumental music in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Rex began teaching at Central in 1956. While at Central, he produced and directed 26 main-stage musical theater productions, including The King and I, Carousel, and Oklahoma!. After 25 years at Central, he retired from teaching in 1981. Several of his students have gone on to become to be music ministers, professional musical entertainers, actors, and theater production professionals.

Rex served as choir director in 26 churches over the course of 53 years, and led music for revivals in another 19 churches, as well as serving as a full-time music and education director in two Baptist churches in Tennessee.

He felt that (directing church choirs) was his highest calling in ministry services, said Joan Teague, but was equally committed to the students that came through his classrooms.

He played in the Tulsa Philharmonic as a percussionist for 14 years. In reference to her husbands hobbies, Joan said, He was too happily busy with music to do anything else!

Rex is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and three sisters: Arrice, Bert, Gardiner, Joe, Pet and Marie Teague, and Jonnie Dee Barrett.

He is survived by his wife Joan, his children Patrick J. Teague, Marie Hough, R. Michael Teague, J. Mark Teague, twelve grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider gifts to Tulsa Central High School Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 35274,Tulsa, OK 74153-0274 , Alzheimers Association,6465 S. Yale Ave., Suite 312 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136-7810, Parkview Baptist Church Heritage Foundation, or Parkview Baptist Churchs music ministry,5805 South Sheridan Rd, Tulsa Oklahoma 74145. To make an online donation click the link below:http://www.epartnersingiving.com/rexpatrickteague

Brought to you by: Ninde Brookside Chapel


Virginia Lou Perett

May 9, 1919-December 10, 2010





Virginia Lou Perett, 91, of Tulsa passed away Friday, December 10, 2010. She was born May 9, 1919, in Claremore, OK to Dr. Albert and Margaret Swift. She was a retired Central High School Science Teacher, a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, one of the first women in the OU Marching Band and enjoyed sewing and playing the piano. Survived by daughters Elizabeth (Beth) Carmack, Elaine Hanner and husband Ted, Marilyn Boone and husband Doug, son Greg Perett and wife Diane; grandchildren Chris Carmack and wife Stacey, Preston Hanner and wife Megan, Clark Hanner and wife Meghan, Will Hanner and wife Tess, Lindsey Atkinson and husband Sean, Erin Boone, Deanna Boone, Daniel Perett, Yvonne Perett; 4 great-grandsons and twin greatgranddaughters on the way; sister Jane Swift Fair and several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by husband Dr. William G. Perett, sister Harriet Swift, brothers Ervine Swift and Bob Swift. The family would especially like to thank Julie Donelson for her dedicated and loving support in helping care for our mother. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund. Service 3:00 p.m., Monday, December 13, 2010, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, interment 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, Woodlawn Cemetery, Claremore, OK. Under the direction of Moore’s Eastlawn Chapel 622-1155. This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 12/12/2010.


Reprinted from Tulsa World.


“P. S. While I never had the privilege of having Mrs. Perett as a teacher at Central, I do have the privilege of being God-father to her grandson Clark Hanner.  Mrs. Perett was a gentle person, a true lady and great role model who will be greatly missed by her family, her friends, her students and this life.”   John Lamberton

 

Virginia Quesenbery

February, 2010






Service:

Friday, February 5, 2010

2:00 PM

Stanleys Funeral Service

3959 East 31st Street

Tulsa, Ok 74135

“I read about the passing of Virginia Quesenbery in today's Tulsa World newspaper.  The Notice read: Quesenbery, Virginia E., 98, educator, died Friday. Services pending. Stanleys. (I took Latin from Mrs. Quesenbery at Central; perhaps others of you did also. I remember her as a very nice and capable teacher.) “ John Lamberton

 

Dr Joe Lemley

May 16, 1925-July 2, 2014







Obituary for Dr. Joe Walton Lemley

Retired superintendent of the Tulsa Technology Centers, Dr. Joe W. Lemley, went to be with the lord on Wednesday, July 2, 2014. “Evangelical Champion of Education” will be remembered in services at Christ United Methodist Church (3515 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136) on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 2:00 pm with the private burial to take place thereafter at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens (6420 S 129th E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74012.)

Joe Walton Lemley, son of Herbert and Nola Lemley, was born on May 16, 1925 near Dover, Arkansas. The birth occurred in a small community known as Pine Hill and Joe lived the first eight years of his life in and around Dover, Hector, and the Russellville, Arkansas areas.

In February of 1933, the family moved to a farm near Checotah, Oklahoma. Joe continued his public education in a two-room school at Elm Grove, exactly one mile north of the farm. A small creek ran nearby the school, therefore it became very appropriate that fishing be added to the curriculum. The elementary instruction was excellent, taught by a husband-wife teaching team, but marbles, fishing, baseball, and basketball on a dirt court was another form of education for the youngster.

An eight-grade graduation class of seven was entitled to a field trip to the McAlester State Penitentiary. Today, Joe believes such a field trip should be a requirement for all eight-grade students, because it left a life long impression on this young student. Joe later transferred to Checotah High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. Joe recalls many fond memories from his high school varsity sports for the Checotah Wildcats.

After graduation Joe entered the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific on a mine sweeper and the Atlantic in the Fleet Air Wing #16, during World War II. Joe was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy on March 12, 1946, and helped his dad on the family farm until September, when he entered college on the GI Bill at Connors Junior College at Warner, Oklahoma. He later transferred to Northeastern State University at Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education.

His first teaching assignment was in Council Hill, Oklahoma just a few miles from the family farm. He served as Principal and Head Basketball Coach there for three years. His next professional assignment was the same at Orlando, Oklahoma, a few miles west of what is now known as Oklahoma State University. This was a wonderful location for Joe to continue his college education. In 1951, Joe earned his Master of Science degree in Industrial Arts and Secondary School Administration from Oklahoma A & M College, (now Oklahoma State University). In October of 1952, Joe moved to Tulsa to be employed by the Tulsa Public Schools to teach Drafting and Design at Webster High School. Three years later, Joe transferred to downtown Central High School to teach advanced classes in Drafting and Design. In 1962, he became the Assistant Principal of 3,000 students at Central High School.

Early in 1965, one of the most exciting aspects of Joe's educational career was about to happen. He was asked to serve as Director of the first Area Vocational-Technical School, located at 3420 S. Memorial Drive, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He served as Director/Principal of the Tulsa Area Vocational-Technical Schools from 1965 until 1974.

During this time, Joe enrolled at the University of Tulsa to pursue a Doctorate of Education degree graduating in 1969 in education administration. In 1973, the Oklahoma legislature created the Tulsa County Area Vocational-Technical School District #18. The newly elected Board of Education appointed Dr. Joe as the first Superintendent effective July 1, 1974. Dr. Lemley was a member in many professional organizations during his educational career.

Dr. Lemley proudly served as Superintendent of the Tulsa Vo-Tech Schools until his retirement on September 6, 1988, exactly twenty-three years from the first opening date of school on the same campus in 1965. During his working career, he worked in the engineering department for seven major companies in the Tulsa area, classroom teacher for fourteen years in Industrial Education, fifteen years as a High School Principal and fourteen years as Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Lemley was selected by the Tulsa Retired Educators Association as VIM (Very Important Member) of the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association in 1995. Also, in 1995 Dr. Lemley was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame.

Upon retirement, Dr. Lemley became active in state and local organizations of retired teachers serving as 1992-1993 President of Tulsa Retired Educators Association. He remains in Will Rogers Rotary Club, Christ Methodist Church and the Open Door Sunday School class, and TU basketball and from football from TU Hurricane Club.

During his years in the educational field, Dr. Lemley established excellent rapport with students, fellow educators, parents and citizens of the community and state. Former students often visited him in his office. He maintained a caring and professional relationship with his fellow educators and citizens of his community and state.

Joe is predeceased by his parents, Herbert and Nola Lemley, and his brother Eugene Lemley.

Joe is survived by his wife, JoAnn Lemley, his son Joe Roy Lemley and wife Linda, his daughter Dr. Judith Holt and husband Donald, his grandson Jordon Holt and wife Emily, two granddaughters, Alexi Klenda and Lauren Webb, his stepson Jay Gann, his great granddaughter Jade Holt, great great granddaughter Preslee Webb, his two sisters, Sue Lovelady and Lucille Cairns, his two nephews, Mark Lovelady and Allen Lovelady, and his niece Vicki Smith. Dr. Joe W. Lemley was an incredible man with many accomplishments; he will be greatly missed by his family and all of the community.

Felix Vestal

1905-January 17, 1984







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