ArMintie Elizabeth Axley

A Memorial service for ArMintie E. Tindle Axley will be held 2:00 p.m, Friday, December 4, 2020 at the MMS-Payne Funeral Home Chapel.

ArMintie was born in 1926 to Leroy and Nellie Tindle, she was the oldest of five children. Her early schooling was completed in small schools throughout Osage County. ArMinitie attended Barnsdall High School, but in her senior year the Tindle family moved to Mt. Vernon, Illinois. After graduating high school from Mt. Vernon in 1944, ArMintie moved back to Oklahoma to live with her aunt. ArMintie furthered her education at Draughn’s Business School, which she paid for by teaching dance lessons. Upon completion of Business School, ArMintie landed a job with Texaco performing several administrative duties. She was employed by Texaco for over 30 years.

In 1958, ArMintie met Arthur Axley. At the time, Arthur was a milk man and was delivering milk to ArMintie’s house. In April of 1959, the couple was married in the Methodist church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. ArMintie brought 2 daughters, Clydia and Roberta, into the marriage. Arthur brought three children, Gary Lee, Barbara Jo and Judy, to the union. The newly formed Axley family made their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In February of 1962, Art and ArMintie decided the country was the place the raise the family, and moved the entire brood to Chelsea, Oklahoma.

After the children were grown, ArMintie and Arthur moved to Cassville, Missouri in 1975. They purchased and operated Axley-Culver Funeral Home. ArMintie wore many hats during this time. She managed the office, provided family care and kept the funeral home in top shape. ArMintie was also an emergency medical technician who was responsible for ambulance runs. The couple eventually retired from the funeral business after 18 years.

ArMintie did not take retirement well, in 1993, she and Arthur built and operated a country music show and restaurant called the Axley Country Music Hoedown. ArMintie managed the show and the restaurant alongside Arthur until they finally retired for good in the year 2000.

The couple finally moved back to Chelsea in 2000 to be near their family. They enjoyed their retirement together from their home in the country with a Big Cabin address. They worked cattle together, enjoyed their grandkids and great-grandkids together and genuinely loved being in each other’s company.

ArMintie was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Axley, her parents, her brother LeRoy (Mike) Tindle, her daughter Clydia Needham, her son-in-law Gary Draeger, her grandson James Wayne Doolittle and great-grandson Joshua Smith.

ArMintie is survived by her children, Roberta Draeger of Chelsea, Barbara Fox of Claremore, and Judy Robertson of Sequoyah; her brothers, Danny Joe Tindle and wife Jane of Longview, Texas, Pete Tindle of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and George Tindle and wife Cindy of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; her grandchildren, Andrea Duvall, Quint and Denise Draeger, Jennifer and Jack Smith, Steven Doolittle, Stacy Doolittle, Brittany and Craig Abbott, Daniel and Payton Robertson, Art and Stephanie Axley, Kim Axley and Angela and Robert Estrada; and 22 great- grandchildren of whom she is very proud.

Memorials may be made to the Chelsea H.S Softball Program or the First Baptist Church of Chelsea Youth.

View and sign ArMintie's online memorial at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com