Funeral service for Mildred “Kay” LaZelle will be 10 a.m., Tues., Oct. 2, at the Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Chapel with Rev Duane Cowen officiating. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. at A.J. Powell Cemetery, Hominy. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Mon. 1-8 p.m.
Kay died Fri., Sept. 28, 2012, at Hillcrest Hospital Claremore at the age of 81.
The daughter of Lloyd Wyval and Mildred Marie (Young) Tisdale was born Feb. 6, 1931, in Hominy. She graduated from Hominy High School; where she played French Horn in the band. Kay married Johnny Ray Cowen and they had three daughters. During the 50’s they lived in Claremore and later moved to Muskogee. In 1964 Johnny passed away. Kay went on to graduate with the first nursing class at Bacone College and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from OU. She returned to Bacone as an instructor in the Nursing Program. In 1971 she moved to Florida where she went to work in Civil Service at the hospital at the Naval base in Pensacola, FL. Returning to Oklahoma in 1974, she went to work for Indian Health Services at Claremore Indian Hospital and lived in the Claremore area the rest of her life. Her second marriage was to Roger LaZelle. They enjoyed traveling together and OU football. Kay was a seamstress, a dedicated do-it-yourselfer, and amateur carpenter. She loved dancing, fishing and Blue Grass music.
Kay was preceded in death by her first husband, Johnny Ray Cowen; second husband, Roger LaZelle; her parents; great-grandchild, Jackson Hensley; sister, Patsy Sweeden; brother, Bill Tisdale; and brother-in-law, Tim Ray.
She is survived by her children: Kate Cowen of Claremore, Jonanne Cowen of Oakland, CA, and Melissa Smith and husband, Retired Major Stanley Smith of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; step-daughter, Denise LaZelle of Skiatook; siblings: Johnny Tisdale and wife, Linda of Barnsdall, George Tisdale and wife, Delilah of Florida, and Nancy Ray of Hominy; brothers-in-law, O.J. Sweeden of Pawhuska, and Duane Cowen and wife, Elaine of Pryor; grandchildren: Casey Hensley of Moore, Jennah Wimmer of Oakland, CA, Jesse Wimmer of Santa Cruz, CA, and Rene Liegh and Michael Leigh of Skiatook; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA.