Ethel Mildred Mccaslin Buckner

ETHEL MILDRED MCCASLIN BUCKNER August 24, 1924 - February 22, 2014 Ethel Mildred Stubbs was born August 24, 1924 to parents Hugh Ernest Stubbs and Ella Lucille Stubbs in Henryetta, Oklahoma. She died February 22, 2014, in Hillcrest Hospital, Tulsa. Except for brief periods, Mildred was a proud resident of Henryetta for the 89 years of her life. Mildred, often called "Millie" by her family and many friends, was the youngest of seven siblings, the two oldest of which died in infancy. Millie attended Henryetta Public Schools through grade 10, when she was forced by the death of her mother to leave school to help manage and care for the family. She married Harold J. Cooper, from Sterling, OK and a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps unit stationed in Henryetta, in February, 1941. Their marriage produced two sons, Harold Ray and Norman Wayne. She was a loving mother, remaining close to her sons and their families throughout her life. During World War II, when Harold was serving in the U. S. Navy, she lived on West Broadway near her older sister and sisters-in-law, all working together to raise young families while husbands were deployed with the military around the world. The challenges of the war years contributed to their strength and closeness in later years. Mildred spent a large part of her life as a homemaker, but worked as a cashier/checker for many years at Safeway of Henryetta, making untold numbers of friends along the way. She also worked at the Wilcox Veterinary Clinic and Hospital south of town. Religious faith was important to Mildred. As a young child, she stood side-by-side with her mother in the work of the Salvation Army. Years later, she would join the First Church of the Nazarene, an affiliation that would continue until her death. In July, 1967, Mildred married Trumon McCaslin, a widower with two children younger than her own. Upon Trumon's death one year later, she continued to help raise Sharon and Gerald. In 1973, she married G. D. "Buck" Buckner, a marriage that would last only a short time due to Buck's death. Mildred was a proud member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 539 Ladies' Auxiliary, which she served as President and in several other capacities during the 1950's. She lived independently the 19 months preceding her death in the loving and safe environment of the Chrystal Springs Retirement Village of Henryetta. Mildred McCaslin Buckner was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother and sister Ernest Byron Stubbs and Esther Mae Stubbs, older sister Edna Stubbs Smith, brothers Everett, W. R. "Dick," and Lenard Stubbs, sisters-in-law Doretha Stubbs and Hellen Stubbs, nephew Dickie Stubbs, and nieces Barbara Stubbs Goodman, Donna Stubbs Powders and Shelly Stubbs Crow. She is survived by son Harold R. Cooper and wife Elizabeth, son Norman W. Cooper and wife Kathy, daughter Sharon Nunn, son Gerald McCaslin, grandsons Wayne Cooper and wife Dee Dee, Dan Cooper and wife Terry, Jim Cooper, Brad Cooper and wife Jigna, and Chris Cooper and wife Ashley. She is also survived by 10 great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, two great-great grandchildren, and a special sister-in-law, Hazel Stubbs. Funeral services have been entrusted to Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta, OK. A church service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 28, at First Church of the Nazarene, 8th and Trudgeon. A graveside service will follow at Westlawn Cemetery in Henryetta.