Thelma Jean Ingram

Mama Jean was born on November 9, 1930, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to John Garland and Nellie Mae Hampton Turnipseed. She attended Fort Smith High School and graduated in 1948. She married Allen Hugh Ingram on June 24, 1950. They raised five daughters and were married for almost 33 years until Allen passed away on March 13, 1983.

The two were avid square dancers, running the Beaver’s Bend Square Dance Camp in Broken Bow, Oklahoma for over 20 years. Mama Jean was an active member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, serving as chairman for the state convention for two years. She belonged to Temple Baptist Church, and frequently volunteered with many civic organizations. She was very involved in the lives of her daughters, working tirelessly to support them in all their endeavors—specifically, she was a Girl Scouts leader, PTA member, and a personal chauffer for all of her daughters’ countless cheer, gymnastics, softball, track, and piano events.

Mama Jean had a great sense of adventure and she traveled extensively, visiting all 50 states and numerous countries abroad. She was a fierce bargain hunter, and her happy place was a good garage sale—her favorite phrase was, “guess how much I paid for it.” She was a lifetime Arkansas Razorback fan and worked diligently to teach her grandchildren to call the Hogs while they were still in their highchairs. She delighted in decorating for Christmas and had a cherished collection of Santa Claus figurines and memorabilia. She appreciated the little things in life, such as root beer, chocolate, hummingbirds, warm weather, and sandy beaches.

The immense happiness that these things provided her could never compare to her greatest joy—spending time with her family. Her favorite pastimes included attending ballgames, concerts, dance recitals, baptisms, book fairs, grandparent day teas, and every sporting event or school function that she could fit on her calendar, even for her grandchildren who lived hours and hours away. Mama Jean was known to break a window or two playing baseball and could often be found baking a cake and encouraging a grandchild to lick the beater. Never one to miss out on an opportunity to make a memory, she was still riding rollercoasters at Six Flags and skiing the slopes of Winter Park, even at the age of 70. As much as these experiences filled her heart with happiness, most fulfilling of all to her was sharing an enduring love of Christ with her family. She found great peace and joy in knowing that her loved ones knew Christ, were dedicated to keeping Him at the center of their lives, and would, one day, all be together in Heaven for eternity.

Mama Jean was preceded in death by her mother and father Nellie Mae Hampton and John Garland Turnipseed, husband Allen Ingram, brother Bob Turnipseed, sister Dorothy Nilz, son-in-law Ed Oliver, grandson Benjamin Aaron Johnson, and nieces Judy Hathcoat and Donna Faye Hill. She is survived by her brother C.B. Turnipseed of Fort Smith, AR, and her five daughters: Donna Jean Oliver of Tulsa, OK, Marti Stark and husband Gary of Broken Arrow, OK, Patti Jolliff and husband Rob of Hot Springs, AR, Pam Means and husband Charley of Corsicana, TX, and Lori Allen and husband Kirk of Broken Arrow, OK. She is also survived by her fifteen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2:00pm Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Forest Park Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Pallbearers are her grandsons Chris Jolliff, Dan Jolliff, Brandon Johnson, Troy Oliver, Billy Stark, Evan Allen, Andey Means, and Conner Means. Honorary pallbearers are her beloved nephews Mike Turnipseed, Stan Turnipseed, John Nilz, and Ronnie McBride.