Laura Jane McMullin

Funeral service for for Laura Jane McMullin will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 8, at the Musgrove-Merriott-Smith Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Dawes Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Wed. 1-8 p.m., and family will greet friends 6-8 p.m.
Laura Jane McMullin was called to her eternal rest on Saturday, September 3, 2011.
She was born on July 26, 1932 to Lawrence & Mattie Lechlider in Vinita, Oklahoma. Laura spent all the early years of her life in Vinita going to school and caring for her younger siblings. The cute girl from Vinita met and dated the handsome boy from Chelsea and on December 17, 1949 Clinton McMullin and Laura Lechlider became husband and wife. After their marriage, they moved to Oregon, where Clinton worked in a jewelry store as a salesman and a watchmaker. Following the birth of their son, Clinton Ray in 1950, they returned to Oklahoma and settled in Miami where Clinton continued working as a watchmaker. In 1952, Laura gave birth to her second child, a daughter, Alice Jane, who died in infancy. In 1954, Laura and Clinton began a new life adventure. Unhappy with his current profession, Clinton began a life-long sales business working at many fairs and rodeos throughout the United States. Laura did her part, working in the business for the next 40 years. In 1962, they bought land in Eastern Mayes County and began a cow and calf operation near Rose, Oklahoma. Laura became a full-fledged ranch wife, feeding the cows, breaking the ice in winter, and helping deliver the calves in the spring. On top of her "ranch" duties, she maintained her yard and grew a large garden every year. When time would allow, Laura loved to fish and was a great fisherman, a love she continued until cancer struck her in 2009. After Clinton passed away in October of 2001, Laura continued with the ranch, helping take care of a small buffalo herd with the help of her grandsons and her Rose neighbors. In January 2006, she gave up her "ranching" chores and moved to Claremore, Oklahoma, where she lived until March of 2011 when her health forced her to move to her son's home in Oklahoma City to continue her battle with colon cancer.
Laura, is survived by her son, the Reverend Clinton McMullin, of Oklahoma City, four grandchildren-Michael McMullin and Chad McMullin of Oklahoma City; James McMullin and wife Lorri, of Tulsa; and Lindsay James of Dodge City, Kansas; seven great-grandchildren-Christine James, Cody James, Casey James, Jazzlynn White, Christopher Patton, Cameron McMullin, and Kaden McMullin; four sisters-Irene Logan and Shirley Wilson of Claremore; Betty Callison of Pryor; Linda Cronin and husband Paul of Tulsa; two brothers-Clyde Lechlider and wife Grace of Olive Branch, Mississippi; and Johnny Lechlider of Vinita, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clinton; her daughter, Alice Jane; three brothers-Charles, Francis, and Jack Lechlider; and her daughter-in-law Beverlee McMullin.
Donations may be given to the American Cancer Society.