Karel R. Putman

Emma Karel was born at Stroud, Oklahoma on August 6, 1939 to Floyd and Emma (Sontag) Rainwater and sister Nellie May. The family moved to a farm near Stillwater in 1942. Karel attended a one-room school for the first seven years. Then the family moved to Midwest City and she graduated from Midwest City High School in 1957. Having wanted to be a nurse all her life she enrolled in St. Anthony School of Nursing and attained her RN in 1960. She enjoyed nursing in the Recovery Room, Surgery. Hemodialysis and Open Heart. She was a charter member of the PACU and CCRN nursing organizations here in Oklahoma. She achieved a BS from Oklahoma City University and a BA from Newman University. She retired from the Oklahoma State Health Department (Long Term Care) in 2001 after 41 years of nursing. In 1992 she married Neal Putnam.

She is preceded in death by her spouse, parents, sister and brother-in-law Nell and WD Beaman, two nephews David Mark and Philip Beaman and niece Cynthia Beaman.

Karel is survived by two nieces Mary Hall (Don) and Therese Schuster, two nephews Bill Beaman (Karla) and Paul Beaman (Anita.) She is also survived by step children Lisa Whipple and Jeremy Putman; step grandchildren Jessica McCauley, Ryan Whipple and Lexi Putman; niece-in-law Cheryl Beaman; great nieces and nephews: Erin, Mark, Ashley, Billy, Amanda, Brian, David, Steven, Charles, Alex, Molly, Beau as well as many great great nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church, 7336 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73132.