Delores Ann Hodges Wilsie, 87, Shawnee, died Oct. 31, 2021. She was born in Oil City, OK, Dec. 2, 1933, to James and Thelma Hodges. She was a member of the Class of 1951 at St. Louis, OK. She was also a 1967 graduate of East Central University with a degree in education.
Delores married Darryl Gene Wilsie, June 29, 1952, in Romulus, OK. The couple enjoyed 61 years of marriage before Darryl passed away in 2014. They made their first home in San Antonio, TX, later moving to Wayne and Lexington. Immediately following Delores’ graduation from college, the couple moved to Tecumseh where they both completed distinguished teaching careers with Tecumseh Public Schools. She was a Teacher of the Year, Lola C. Durham and President’s Award recipient. Delores taught second grade students for 23 years. Her warm heart, gentle personality and overwhelming love for children made her a favorite teacher among hundreds of students and colleagues in Tecumseh. Delores was a devoted Christian woman who enjoyed membership at Tecumseh’s First Baptist Church for more than five decades. She was a Sunday School teacher, member of numerous vacation bible school teams and active in women’s mission projects.
Delores had been a resident of Primrose Retirement Community in Shawnee since September 2013 where she made numerous friends. She enjoyed her craft circles, social gatherings and especially the singing of her dear friend Jimmy Gibson and his musical ensemble.
Delores was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Darryl; her son, Jim Wilsie; daughter-in-law, Tinyia Wilsie; a sister and brother-in-law, Alfred and Manie Roach; brother Bill Hodges; brother-in-law, Jerry Austin; and brother and sister-in-law, Ross and Dorothy Wilsie.
She is survived by children, Russ and Gara Wilsie, Edmond, Debbie (Jim) Wilsie, Shawnee, and Tom and Lori Wilsie, Tecumseh; grandchildren: Jason and Liz Wilsie, Mansfield, TX, Logan and Ashleigh Prather, Edmond, Josh Wilsie, Deer Creek, Landon Prather, The Village, Chad and Carisa Wilsie, Yukon, Amy and Blake Area, Nashville, TN, Lauren and Jon Collings, Norman, Logan and Rheanna Wilsie, Norman and Avery and Mesha Wilsie, Seminole; great-grandchildren, Meredith and Maggie Wilsie, Kade and Drake Prather, Isaiah, Carly and Kylee Wilsie and Eleanor Area; and sisters, Wynell (Jerry) Austin, Mary and Skipper McNeal, sister-in-law Geraldine (Bill) Hodges; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services were held Nov. 3 at Tecumseh First Baptist Church with burial following at Tecumseh Cemetery; arrangements under the direction of Walker Funeral & Cremation Service..
