A visitation with family will be 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Henninger Hinson Funeral Home.
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Charlotte Ann (Carr) Puckett led an active life which included being a chemist, a pilot, a nature enthusiast, a photographer, a genealogist, a mother and a grandmother. Charlotte passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.
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She was born on Sept. 20, 1926, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, as the only child of Nettie and Luke Carr. Charlotte’s father was 10 years older than Nettie. He was short, stocky and strong as an ox, having worked as a driller in the early days of the Oklahoma oil boom. Charlotte’s mother was a no-nonsense teacher at the Prairie Bell country school, and later an Okmulgee High School biology teacher.
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Charlotte’s formative years were spent in Okmulgee. Both of her parents enjoyed the outdoors, which fed Charlotte’s life-long love of nature and being outside.
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Charlotte’s education started early, since she began accompanying her mother to Prairie Bell when she was only 4. Charlotte’s education continued on a fast track, and she graduated from Okmulgee High School three years early. Charlotte went to Oklahoma College for Women (OCW) where she met several life-long friends who looked after the young Charlotte, including Maxine Puckett. By attending summer school with her mother, she graduated from OCW with a bachelor’s degree in only three years.
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With a chemistry degree in hand, Charlotte joined Champlin Refining Company in Enid where her friend Maxine Puckett lived. She met Maxine’s brother Howard “Bud” Puckett when he was home on leave from the Navy. Bud was discharged from the Navy on Oct. 1, 1945, and soon reconnected with Charlotte. They were married in the living room of the Puckett family home on Dec. 27, 1946.
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Bud used his GI Bill benefits to attend aircraft mechanic school in Dallas at Love Field. Charlotte worked as a medical technician at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Charlotte shared Bud’s interest in aviation and trained to become a pilot.
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Charlotte and Bud returned to Enid to settle down. Charlotte worked at St Mary’s hospital as a medical technologist until becoming a full-time mother, first with David and then Luke.
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In 1972, Charlotte decided to return to work by gaining certification as a medical technologist. She took the additional course-work needed at Phillips University in organic chemistry and microbiology, then completed a medical technology internship at St. Mary’s Hospital. She then went to work at Northwest Oklahoma Pathologists.
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Charlotte shared many hobbies/interests with Bud and the boys. As the boys were growing up she became an amateur geologist/rock hound, dragging husband and boys from the Salt Plains to the wilds of northern Wyoming looking for minerals, crystal and petrified plants and animals. The family went camping every year, first in rented cabins, then tents, and finally graduating to travel trailers.
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In retirement, Bud and Charlotte continued to enjoy the outdoors. They would spend about six months of the year visiting Colorado in the summer, the Ozarks in the fall, and south Texas during the winter. The rest of the year was spent at home in Oklahoma.
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Both Bud and Charlotte expanded their interests in nature photography. Charlotte also focused on bird watching, which had been a hobby of her mother’s. Genealogy became a serious activity for Charlotte. She confirmed that one of her ancestors, James Sheppard, fought in the Revolutionary War, and she joined the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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In addition to her parents, her husband Howard “Bud” Puckett preceded Charlotte in death. She is survived by sons David Puckett and wife Jeanne, Luke Puckett and wife Barbara; and grandchildren Kaley Anna and McKenzie Allison Puckett.
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Obituaries are posted due to the generosity of The Commons.
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