July 15, 1936 ~ October 12, 2024
Duncan, OK
Betty Jane Dearen was born Betty Jane Woolwine on July 15, 1936, to Rev. Buford and Virginia (Perry) Woolwine in Chilhowie, VA. She passed away after a lengthy illness on October 12, 2024, at the age of 88 years.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the Whitt Funeral Home Chapel, with grandson, Pastor Brandon Sanner officiating. Burial will follow at the Duncan Municipal Cemetery. Viewing will be Friday, October 18, 2024, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
On June 18, 1953, Betty married J.C. (Jack) Smith in Ada, OK. From this union came three children; Debbie, Jonathan, and Cindy. In 1975, Betty moved to the Duncan area and began working as a sales clerk for the J.C. Penney company, where she worked for 24 years, until her retirement in 2000. On May 28, 1979, Betty married Charles Orr and they shared 14 years of marriage until he died in 1993.
Betty enjoyed sewing, and crafts, attending her grandchildren’s school and sporting events, and traveling to Virginia and Louisiana to visit family. She was a wonderful cook who always enjoyed cooking for her family and the holidays. She loved birds and would sit for hours watching them flutter about eating from her feeders. Betty enjoyed attending church, and she loved singing the old gospel hymns. This is where she met her late husband Cecil Dearen, and they married on September 24, 2000. The two of them enjoyed 22 years of marriage until his death in April of 2022.
Betty is survived by her three children and their spouses: Debbie and husband Ronnie Green of Sulphur, Jonathan Smith of Ravia, Cindy and husband Larry of Velma, and two stepchildren: Paul and wife Barbara Dearen of Albuquerque, NM and Cheryl and husband Ray James of Sapulpa; and sister, Peggy and husband Bobby Ainsworth of Oak Grove, LA. Other survivors include grandchildren: Kaz Tolbert of Velma, Misty and husband Tanner Hinton of Milcreek, Jeremiah and wife Teresa Smith of Sulphur, Jimmy and wife Whitni Sanner of Velma, Linzy and husband Cody Officer of Vale, OR, Brandon and wife Kourtany Sanner of Velma, Blakely Sanner of Tulsa, Kaylee and husband Zachary Morse of Velma; step-grandchildren: Sheila and husband Jeff Swanson, Christy and husband Ronnie Pitezel, John and wife Annette James, Candi Moran, Charissa Sumka; great-grandchildren: Brittinii and husband Shaun Deen, Kolton and wife Julia Tolbert, Haven, Zaden, Zale, Embyr, and Ryden Hinton, Makayla, Nathan, and Caleb Officer, Haelyn Smith and Maddux Thompson, Ryker, Jagger, Hynder, and Rumer Sanner, Kynlei and Kendall Sanner, Aspyn and Nash Tolbert, Grace Sanner, Leo Tilley and Noah Morse; step-great-grandchildren: Makayla and husband Edward Swanson, Clint Swanson, Laura and Charlie Pitezel, Maggie Sumka, James and wife Mikayla Beck, Dilan and Ben Moran. Great-Great-Grandchildren: Westin and Addi Deen and many other nieces and nephews.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband Cecil Dearen; parents, Rev. Buford and Virginia
Woolwine; sister, Doris Taylor; sister, Oleta Smith; sister, Gladyss White; brother, Paul Woolwine; daughter-in-law, Judy Smith; and stepson, Steve Dearen.
Pallbearers will be grandsons: Kaz Tolbert, Jeremiah Smith, Jimmy Sanner, Brandon Sanner,
Blakely Sanner, and Zachary Morse.
A special thank you to Monica Bowers, Mom’s caregiver and close friend. She loved you so
much, and you were always so very good to her.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Chisholm Trail Hospice care team. You all
were phenomenal in the care of our mother.
