Vivian D Renfrow

Vivian Deloris (Crawford) Renfrow. a Henryetta resident for nearly 60 years and a lifelong Oklahoman, departed this life at Clarehouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, February 16, 2013, after a brief hospitalization and illness. She was exactly 99 ½ years of age. Vivian was born into this world August 16, 1913, in Henryetta, the first child of James ("Ed") and Jewel (Collins) Crawford. Her early life was spent in the Weleetka and Wetumka area, where she was a student at the Lone Star and Stony Point schools. Vivian left school around the time of the 11th grade in order to help look after her disabled grandmother after she moved in with the family due to illness. At the age of 19, Vivian eloped with Roy Festus Renfrow, whom she had known from girlhood, and they were married at a minister's home between Weleetka and Wetumka on December 21, 1932. The couple welcomed their first child, Emma Jean, in January, 1934, and their second daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, in October, 1936. The family moved to Henryetta about 1943. Vivian went to work as a Home Service Attendant in the housekeeping department of Southwestern Bell Telephone on November 4, 1948, eventually retiring from there August 31, 1978, after almost thirty years of credited service. During those years, she also did housekeeping for several local doctors' and dentists' offices, as well as working in a number of individual homes. Following her husband Festus' death in 1967, Vivian continued to live in Henryetta, where she became a proud homeowner at 218 North Third Street. She enjoyed keeping her home spotlessly tidy and maintained colorful flower beds and a sizable backyard vegetable garden into her early 90's. In 2008, just before her 95th birthday, age-related concerns led her to relocate to Tulsa to share the home of her daughter and son-in-law. As a longtime active member of the Henryetta Church of the Nazarene, Vivian was a "greeter" at the door for more years than she could remember. She also served the church as a kitchen worker, preparing meals for funeral guests, and enjoyed the camaraderie of her church family during many bus trips to Glorieta, New Mexico, and other destinations. Although she never had a driver's license and lived her entire life as a resident of Oklahoma, Vivian traveled with family and friends to a wide range of places that included trips to Hawaii, California, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, and other states. In the fall of 2012, Vivian was interviewed by a reporter for the Boston Globe newspaper about her memories of Oklahoma in the early days of statehood. Her comments were subsequently quoted in a published article about the candidacy of Vivian's first cousin's daughter, Elizabeth Warren, who was elected U.S. Senator from Massachusetts in November. In addition to her parents and her husband, Vivian Renfrow was preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law Jean and Carl Duncan; sister Lavaca ("Topsy") Bachus; and three brothers Walter, John and Truman Crawford. She is survived by her sister Mary Katharine (Kathy) McKinney; daughter and son-in-law Margaret and Glenn Hargett of Tulsa; and six grandchildren and their spouses: Jim and Dena Duncan of Oklahoma City; Ken Hargett of Tulsa; Shari and Chet Cross of Tulsa; Tim and Frankie Duncan of Paoli; John Duncan of Mulvane, KS; and Ron Duncan and Nikki of Wichita, KS. She also leaves behind nine great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. The family has designated that donations honoring the memory of Vivian Renfrow may be made to Henryetta Church of the Nazarene, P.O. Box 806, Henryetta, OK 74437; or to the nonprofit hospice-related Clarehouse, 7617 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK 74133. The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Friday, February 22, 2013 from 6pm until 8pm. Viewing and visitation will be Thursday from 11am until 8pm and Friday from 8am until 8pm at Integrity Funeral Service. Funeral Services will be held at the Henryetta Church of the Nazarene, 718 West Trudgeon, at 1:30PM on Saturday, February 23, 2013 with Rev. Ark Noel and Pastor Sharla Stephenson officiating. Interment will follow at Wetumka Cemetery under the direction of Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta. Pallbearers will be Jim Duncan, Ken Hargett, Tim Duncan, John Duncan, Ron Duncan, and Chet Cross.