Willa
Dean (Tucker) Keith
1937 2019
Willa Dean (Tucker)
Keith was born April 22, 1937 to parents Ott and Hazel Jane (Toothman)
Tucker at home in rural Osage County, Oklahoma, near Prue. She died
on July 29, 2019 in Owasso.
Willa graduated from Collinsville High School in 1955, having previously
attended elementary and junior high schools in Prue and Vera Tech. She
became a permanent resident of Collinsville at the age of 12 when she
fortunately moved into the home of her aunt and uncle, Osa Bell (Toothman)
and L.A. Horton. Willa worked as a soda jerk at the Rexall Drug in downtown
Collinsville during high school. It did not take long for her to catch
the eye and affection of the man she would ultimately wed, her high
school sweetheart Raymond Henry Keith. Raymond and Willa were married
on September 1, 1956 at the Collinsville Community Church.
Over the next 50 years, Willa worked for several local businesses including
Quality Chevrolet, Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative, The Collinsville
News and Schultheiss Insurance. Raising three children during the 60s
and 70s, Willa and Raymond were active supporters, sponsors and
attendees at a variety of Collinsville Public Schools activities. Willa
later actively volunteered her time and services to the Miss Collinsville
Pageant and the Nifty Fifties group functions.
Willa is survived by daughter, Cari Jane (Keith) Lousch and her husband
Joe of Enid; son, Kelly Ray Keith and his wife Reggie of Oologah; four
grandchildren, Casey Lousch and wife Tara, Justin Lousch and wife Audrey,
Cheyanne (Keith) Jordan and husband Wes of Oologah, and Chance Keith
and wife Jessica of Oologah; four great-grandchildren, Paisley Rene
Jordan, Lauren Chenault Keith, Austin Joe Lousch and Jacquelyn Ray Keith.
She is also survived by sister-in-law Carolyn Smith, brother-in-law
Felix Keith and wife Peggy, all of Collinsville, brother-in-law Jim
Goodfellow of Reno, Nevada, sister Lena Bell (Tucker) Arvidson and husband
Jim of Owasso, brother Wilbur Tucker and wife Connie of Collinsville,
and sister-in-law Verma Tucker, also of Collinsville. Willa was also
considered an older sister to survivors Archie Horton of Owasso and
Deanna (Horton) Sink of Collinsville. She also leaves behind many other
family members, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Willa was preceded in death by husband Raymond Henry Keith, son Raymond
Henry Keith, Jr. (Jeep), brothers Jack Tucker, Farrel (Cotton) Tucker,
Olen Tucker and Nolan Tucker, sister-in-law Jean Keith Goodfellow, brother-in-law
Gene Smith, father-in-law Raymond Morrow Keith and mother-in-law Cora
Udilla (Webb) Keith, uncle L.A. Horton and aunt Osa Bell (Toothman)
Horton, and Liz (Horton / Riggs) Rogers.
A celebration of life and memorial gathering for family and friends
will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 2, 2019 at the Tallgrass
& Tin event center, 398286 W 186th St N in Collinsville (1/4 mile
east of Hwy 75). Willas cremains will be placed between husband
Raymond and son Jeep in a private service at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Collinsville.
Cari, Kelly and all members of the Keith, Tucker, Horton and Toothman
families would like to express their sincere appreciation and thanks
for the many cards, gifts, kind words of sympathy and visits received
from friends, acquaintances and family during this time of remembrance.
We would also like to express our thanks for the thoughts, prayers and
kind words conveyed throughout Willas cruel and frustrating battle
with Alzheimers over the past several years. Through it all, her
captivating beauty, sweetness and smile endured.
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