Dollie Marie Carriger

Service for Dollie Marie Carriger will be 2:00p.m., Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Foyil United Methodist Church, Pastor Steve Posey will officiate. She will be laid to rest at Ward's Grove Cemetery following the service. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 20 from 1pm--8pm with family receiving visitors from 6pm--8pm. Dollie passed away on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at Wood Manor Nursing Home. She was 80.

Born October 23, 1935 in Bushyhead to George and Elsie (Smith) Lewis, Dollie attended Bushyhead and Foyil schools. She later attended Northeastern State University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree. Dollie also received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma in 1983.

On December 22, 1957 Dollie married Thomas James Carriger in Pryor, Oklahoma. The couple's first home was in an apartment in the Belvidere Mansion in Claremore. Dollie's working career began at Bassman & Gordon, Attorneys at Law. After her children were born she transitioned to the Department of Health and Human Services for the State of Oklahoma. During this time she worked full time, took care of her home and family and drove back and worth daily to Tahlequah to complete classes for her Bachelor's Degree. Dollie was an outspoken champion of furthering your education and she took her own advise by then completed her Masters Degree at OU. She did this with grace and determination, with none of her duties suffering. She made sure she was always at Gavin and Kelli's activities and that they were always first in her life.

Dollie was with DHS for 45 years, most of that working as a child welfare supervisor. Her commitment to her job was evident in her love of children and duty to set things right. She loved the children and families she worked with and cherished her foster parents. She also held many positions with various organizations, Foster Care Review Board, CASA Board, American Red Cross, and Safenet Board to name a few. Dollie's career afforded her the opportunity to meet a lot of people through the years. She maintained those acquaintances which many turned into lasting friendships. Dollie mentored many people through internships when they were starting their careers. She was always there with help and advice when needed.

When Dollie wasn't busy working, she loved to spend time with her family, especially those grandchildren. She also traveled to many different places, Paris France and cruising the Caribbean, to name a few. And there was always time for a shopping trip! Dollie enjoyed lunching at the Pink House and trips with her friends to the casino. Even when health challenges made it necessary to slow down, Dollie kept right on going and enjoying life to the fullest. She took to heart her own advice to her children, "bow your neck" or "get busy".

Dollie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Thomas, her brothers Joe, Kenny, Don, Jack and Jim Lewis.

Those family members that survive include her daughter Kelli Carriger and husband Mark McBurney of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; her son Gavin Carriger and wife Deana of Krum, Texas; her grandchildren Terrabeth Stesney and husband Kyle of Claremore, George McBurney and Elizabeth McBurney both of Chapel Hill; her great grandchildren Bill Guyer and Hanna Stesney and many nieces and nephews and other extended family members.

Memorial contributions in Dollie's name may be made to either Safenet Services, P.O. Box 446, Claremore, Oklahoma 74018 or to The Claremore Library, 1515 N. Florence Ave., Claremore, Oklahoma 74017.

View and sign Dollie's online tribute at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com