Cloretta Lucille (Brown) Laster

Cloretta Lucille Brown Laster of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was born to Carl Herman Brown and Clara Gardner Harmon at their home in the Moody, Oklahoma area, with the help of her Granny Brown, on May 18, 1938.

Cloretta was 83 years old when she passed from this life, in the early morning of October 9, 2021. She is preceded in death by her father, mother, two brothers, Donnie Brown and Calvin Brown, one sister, Carol Brown Winsett and one daughter, Darla Laster.

She is survived by her husband Vernon Laster, two brothers, Carlos Brown and Coy Brown, one sister, Clova Brown Berry, three sons, Rickey Laster, his wife Alberta Laster, Curtis Laster and Jeffery Todd Laster and one daughter Jeanette Laster, ten grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, she loved as her own.

Cloretta always liked telling the story about how she got her middle name. When she was born, Lucille, a cousin of Clara’s, came in the room and asked “has she been named yet?”, Clara replied, “Yes, Lucille…”. Lucille thought she was named after her and replied with a big, “Thank You!”. However, even though she had already given her a first name, Clara hadn’t decided on a middle name, until that moment.

Cloretta was a very hard-working woman, starting at the age of around 8 years old, she helped her Granny Brown take care of her five younger siblings, while her parents worked. She worked at various jobs throughout her life including owning her own daycare centers. She started the first one in Owasso, Oklahoma and the second one in Bedford, Texas, when her and family moved there. Only she could handle fourteen to fifteen children ranging from ages newborn, to 12 or 13 years old, without any help!

Later in her life Cloretta became a housekeeper and caretaker for a number of families in the Tahlequah area. As a young girl she lived in Tahlequah for many years with her mother, father, and siblings, so it was home to her. She was always busy doing something, if she wasn’t working at her job, she was working at home. She believed in getting things done! Cloretta worked until her little body just wouldn’t let her anymore, around the age of 70.

Cloretta’s children and grandchildren were her life, she couldn’t get enough of all of her babies, and their babies. The last couple of years of her life, she missed them, and her brothers and sisters all so much.

While all the children and grandchildren were growing up, if they had friends over very often, they called her Mom or Granny, as well. Everyone loved the ornery silly little remarks she made; she was often referred to as our cute little Granny.

Cloretta will be missed by so many friends and family, she was a delightful person to everyone she knew, and was a stranger to no one. Until we are with her again, she will be a bright shiny star, still looking after us all, as she always has. Our Sister, Momma, Granny, Aunt, and Friend.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Laster family.