A private family service and burial will be held at a later date for Laura Geneva (Brown) Ream, 93, of Cherokee.
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Laura was born on October 8, 1923 in Carmen, Oklahoma to Joseph (Tom) and Lottie Brown. She departed this life Wednesday, September 6th, 2017, at home in Cherokee, OK.
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Laura grew up in Carmen on her family’s farm. She attended school in Carmen, graduating 1941. On June 29, 1942, she was united in marriage to Hiram (Gene) Ream in Cherokee, OK at the Alfalfa County Courthouse. They lived in Alva then moved and made their home in Cherokee where they raised their family. At retirement in 1973 they moved home to Carmen to farm and care for family.
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Laura worked in several cafes, a bakery, a hotel and a motel in Cherokee. In 1965 Gene and Laura started their own business, Gene’s Repair, in Cherokee where Laura was his bookkeeper and office manager.
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She was a member of the Carmen United Methodist Church and The Cherokee United Methodist Church including circle chairman of women’s group. She is a lifelong member of the IOOF Rebekah Lodge (lastly #44 of Alva including Past Noble Grand). She served as a volunteer and officer for many organizations including the American Red Cross (Cherokee Chapter as local representative for over 20 years), Carmen After 55 Club, Red Carpet Jim Beam Club and served on the Alfalfa County Election Board for over 50 years. Laura also loved to drive and was the driver for a bi-county van that traveled across Oklahoma and neighboring states taking senior trips for many years.
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Gene and Laura loved music and for many years played with friends every Friday night at their homes and at retirement became very active playing music to entertain at the Carmen, Fairview, Cherokee, Waynoka, Enid and Hennessey Senior Centers and Nursing Homes. They also played for several years with many music groups for senior citizens and other public gatherings.
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She is survived by two daughters: Betty Joyce Norton, Cherokee, OK; Laveta Ruth Summerlin and Bill of Arlington, TX; Sister-in law Kathryn Ream, of Midwest City, OK. Three grandchildren: Keith Norton, Carmen, OK; Laura Girty and Ken, Enid, OK; Mike Summerlin and Sara, Arlington, TX. Six adored great-grandchildren: Kelly Nech and Chad, Enid; Nicole Ekberg and Sean, Yukon; Josh Girty, Enid; Alex Summerlin, Albuquerque, NM; Max & Madison Summerlin, Arlington, TX.
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She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Hiram (Gene) Ream, daughter Charlotte Belle Ream, son-in-law, Dean Norton, son-in-love Frank Csipak, brother and sister in law Orlen & Janice Brown, sister and very best friend Josephine Paul and brother-in-law Linwood Paul Jr, brother-in-law Jack Ream, brother-in-law Hubert Ream and a sister-in-law, Leona Ream.
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Memorial contributions may be made to the Carmen Senior Citizen’s After 55 Club, the Carmen First Responders or Hospice Circle of Love.
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Condolences can be made to the family online at WWW.EnidCremation.com
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Condolences may be made to the family online at www.Brown-Cummings.com. As one of Oklahomaʼs oldest single family owned and operated providers of funerals and cremations, Brown-Cummings is the name families have turned to for generations. They fully understand the honor and responsibility entrusted to them to preserve the story of oneʼs life. Visit 400 W. Maple, Enid, OK 73701. Call: (580) 237-5432.
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