Deloris Rae Lindley

Deloris Rae Orr Lindley (“Dopey”) to her family and Calvin friends, retired teacher, devoted Mom, Mother-In-Law, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Good Friend, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday, April 13, 2020 in Norman, Oklahoma, surrounded by her family.

She was born December 8, 1930, in Calvin, Oklahoma, the daughter of Millard Orr and Juanita Nunn Orr. Deloris grew up on the Harrison Farm in Atwood, Oklahoma and graduated from Calvin High School in 1948 where she was a star basketball player. She moved to Calvin after marrying the love of her life Melvin “Mel” Lindley on May 29, 1948. Melvin and Deloris enjoyed 50 years together before his death in June, 1998. Deloris was also a long time member of the First Baptist Church, Calvin, OK.

Deloris was a wonderful teacher and perfect role model for students. After graduating college, Deloris taught elementary school at Yeager for four years and then continued her teaching career at Calvin High School for another 26 years. She was a senior sponsor and hosted spaghetti dinners, car washes, gospel group concerts (The Cathedrals, and The Imperials among her favorites) and anything else it took to fund trips to places like Winter Park in Colorado, Nashville, Tennessee, and a Florida beach, so her seniors were able to experience life outside of Calvin. She absolutely LOVED all these experiences with her students and they knew it.

Deloris was a kind, generous, humble, and compassionate woman who always had a passion for others and never sought attention for herself. She loved her family and there was always a BIG meal on the table for family and frequently extended guests including the preacher, friends, and many others. She loved entertaining and did so effortlessly. In addition she quilted, sewed, crafted, crocheted, danced and listened to real country music, and absolutely knew how to fold a fitted sheet. She also loved her bunko family and game day at the Senior Center in Calvin.

Her love of sports continued throughout her life as evidenced by enthusiastically embracing all of her children’s many sport competitions and watching numerous Saint Louis Cardinal baseball and OKC Thunder basketball games.

Deloris was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Mel; beloved daughter Paula Lindley Sharp; and son-inlaw Kay Sharp.

She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Mike Schornick of Norman and Cheryl and Fred Tawes of Norman; a son Paul Lindley and Kim Crow of Calvin; two sisters, Ordis Kight and Sue Nall, both of Holdenville; sister-in-law Linda Lindley Ransom of Enid; brothers-in-law Elmer Collins of Norman and Marlin Elliott of Prescott, Arizona; grandchildren Nanette Tawes, Justin and Erin Schornick, Gary and Kayla Sharp, Lance Sharp, Lexie Lindley, Paul Lindley, Desiree Lindley, and Jessica Lindley; great-grandchildren Jae and Sam Sharp, and Loralei Schornick; plus many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In consideration of the corona virus pandemic, a private immediate family only service was held at the Calvin Cemetery, led by Reverend Walter Kuhlman with solo music by Mrs. Regina Hightower.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the “Carlton Family Fund” (c/o First Baptist Church P.O. Box 37, Calvin, OK, 74531) to aid in medical expenses for Deloris’s great-nephew Jordan Carlton who remains in critical condition at the Parkland Hospital Burn Unit in Dallas, Texas as a result of a horrific automobile accident which occurred in June 2019.