Earnestine Teel was born January 29, 1931 to Lester and Zelma (Brown) Meals near Bokchito, OK and departed this worldly existence October 5, 2024. She was a 1948 graduate of Bokchito High School. On September 22, 1949, she married Alfred Smith Teel in Sherman, TX and went on to have three daughters, Earline, Evelyn and Regina.

Residing in Bryan County most of her life, she made a lifetime commitment to caring for others as a wife, mother, granny, great granny and professionally as a Nurse Aid/Med Aid. She worked in the healthcare field for 35 years prior to retirement and continued to provide private care to family and neighbors thereafter. She was the oldest of 13 children and being raised on a farm during the Depression Era, she started early in life caring for her siblings and being responsible for many chores. She was always happiest when her family was gathered near. From 2015 to 2023, she moved to Devine, Texas with her daughter, Evelyn and her husband, Mel. There, she and Evelyn spent many hours quilting together. She became a member of the Medina County (TX) Quilt Guild and assisted in creating charity quilts. The last year of her life, she returned to her home state of Oklahoma under the care of her granddaughter, Brenda Thomas.

She is survived by daughters Evelyn and Regina, grandchildren Tina, Connie, Brenda, Bruce and Beverly; great grandchildren Nicholes, Jeremie, Christina, Rachel, Austin, Rebecca, Hannah, Jessica, William, Robby and Brandon; and 15 great great grandchildren; sisters, Sharon and Decline and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Earline Parrish, her mother and father, her husband, Smith Teel, son-in-law, Melvin LaFargue, and 8 sisters and 2 brothers.

Pallbearers will be Bruce, Robby, Brandon, William, Issac, and Billy. Honorary Pallbearers are Anthony Thomas, Bill Pendleton, Kenneth Hickey, JW Jones, and John Teel.

The family would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Centric Home Health and Hospice for her wonderful care the last few months. And a special note of deepest appreciation and gratitude to Brenda and Anthony Thomas for opening their home to her this last year and for Brenda’s continuous care.

Her family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Family Hour preceding her funeral service at 2:00 p.m. the same day in the Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Anthony Williams officiating. Earnestine will be laid to rest at Bokchito Cemetery following her funeral service.

Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, 121 North 5th Street, Durant, Oklahoma 74701. www.holmescoffeymurray.com