September 22, 1947 - December 09, 2021
The funeral services celebrating and honoring the life of Nellie Catlett, 74, of Enid will be held 10:00 A.M. Wednesday December 15, 2021 in the Central Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. The service will be live streamed via Brown-Cummings Funeral Home’s Facebook page.
Celebrating what a life! She was born Nellie was born in Fairview at home at 2:03 A.M. on September 22, 1947, to George Washington Countryman and Anna Francis Countryman. Our beloved mother Nellie Catlett went to her eternal home on December 9, 2021.
She was reared in a 2-bedroom house without indoor plumbing with 8 siblings. This included sharing a number 3 washtub to bathe in, she learned early on that you never wanted to be last to wash up. She grew up in a Christian household and always loved her family. At 13 she became the president of her church youth group. She went on to graduate from Fairview high school in 1965 and then on to Oklahoma state tech where she graduated with a certificate in printing.
Nellie was married to Elwyn (Sonny) Tidball and had 4 children with him, David, Sonya, Jeff and Gwen. She divorced Elwyn in 1975 and married Glen Catlett in 1982, until he passed in 2002. Nellie was dedicated to her family, work and God!
Nellie loved people and working with people. Her first job was working at the Hallrens chicken processing plant. She went on with a desire to work in the newspaper business and after getting her printing certificate went to work at the Canton newspaper. 1970 she moved to Enid where she went to work for the Enid News and Eagle. Nellie had an amazing career working at the paper for 45 years creating content and putting the paper together for all of northwest Oklahoma. No small task especially during the time where the majority of news was through the papers. During this time, she served in the Union acting in different roles, but mostly as the Treasurer. She was also an active part of the American Business Women’s Association helping young women connect with opportunities.
Nellie has always valued helping people with her kindness and generosity rooted firmly in her faith as a Christian. She has always been an active participant from her youth being the president of her youth group to more recently at Calvary Assembly serving on the board and as a Deaconess. Nellie has always been described as a doer, instead of just saying how to make it better she has always acted to make the world a better place. Nellie has always worked in the church in many capacities. She led the women’s ministry group, managed all of the newsletters and any printing needs for various churches. She also led bible studies, girl’s ministry teacher, Sunday school teacher and (very importantly) drove the van to ensure the anyone who wanted to attend could be there. Nellie loved Christmas time quite possibly the most. There are many years where she directed the Drama club and put on plays where she spent many hours making costumes, producing plays, and putting on an amazing theatrical events. Nellie loved God, her family, her friends and always strove to make everyone around her better.
What a life, Nellie will be missed. Nellie Catlett has been preceded by:
George (Father) & Anna (Mother) Countryman, Delorise (Sister), Elwyn Tidball (first husband), Glen Catlett (husband), Georgeanna (Sister) & Bill Watkins, Leonard Smith (Brother in Law), John Countryman (Brother), Mary (Sister) & Fred Weber, Geroge “Butch” (Brother) & Faye Countryman
Nellie Catlett is survived by: Edith Smith (Sister), Pearl (Sister) & Bobby Keesee, Susie (Sister) & Jerry Rowell, Judy Countryman (Sister in Law), Jackie (Sister) & Neil Bolenbaugh, David (Son) & Mary Tidball, Sonya (Daughter) & David Bigby, Jeff (Son) & Vicki Tidball, Gwen (Daughter) & Thomas Wilson. Along with Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, and too many others to count as she was loved by many people!
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.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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