Jewel Lee Henderson

Jewel Lee (Landtroop) Henderson, 95, of Alex, passed away peacefully in her home on January 23, 2026. Jewel was born on November 27, 1930 to Letha Mae (Howard) Landtroop and Eddie Lee Landtroop in Petersburg, Texas.

Jewel’s parents farmed in the Morton, Texas area and she attended the local elementary school. When it was time for high school Jewel was in the inaugural class of Three-Way High School at Maple, TX. Jewel’s class chose the Eagles as school mascot as well as school colors, green and gold. Jewel was a cheerleader and played basketball while at Three-Way HS and graduated as Valedictorian in 1948.

After high school, Jewel moved to Bethany, Oklahoma where she attended Bethany Peniel College. While there she met the love of her life, Willard Noel Henderson. They married on October 27, 1950 and were married almost 63 years when Willard passed away in 2013. Jewel continued to reside in Bethany until 2020 when she moved to live with her older daughter and son-in-law on their small farm between Blanchard and Alex.

Jewel worked as a cashier and accounting clerk for a few years at Rothschilds and Evans Furniture. She later worked for General Electric Credit Corporation until the company moved their offices out of Oklahoma City. GE had a softball team and Jewel, always a gamer, found time to play catcher on the team. After GE, Jewel went to work at Chrysler Credit Corporation where she worked until her retirement. Jewel always enjoyed getting together with friends she made at GE and Chrysler.

Jewel liked to stay active and try different things. She and Willard belonged to several square dance clubs and often traveled to dances outside of the OKC area. More than once, she packed her petticoats in the saddle bags of Willard’s Honda Gold Wing and off they went to a dance somewhere.

Jewel’s hobbies included beading and gourd weaving. Her beading was beautiful and very intricate. She only stopped beading when her wrists and hands couldn’t keep up with her ideas. Jewel saw some pictures of gourds that had been decorated with painting and weaving. She decided to give it a try and did some very good work. She even attended classes with a recognized gourd artist at the Plains museum in Lawton. Jewel enjoyed gardening and decorating her huge backyard with giant bright flowers, a koi pond and different bird feeders. She loved sitting outside on her patio enjoying God’s great outdoors. She enjoyed watching Rangers and Astros baseball, Thunder basketball, OU and OSU football and basketball, tennis, The Voice and Wheel of Fortune.

Most of all, Jewel loved her family. She loved having the family over not only on holidays, but anytime. Dropping in was fine with her and if a meal was in the works, she made sure there was enough for everyone and if not a meal, then at least coffee and some type of snack. Jewel and Willard always had their door open to nephews and nieces who came to Bethany to attend college. Jewel attended sports and other activities of her children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren when she could.

Jewel and Willard had three children. Cynthia Ann, Willard Noel Jr. and Terrie Lee. Jewel is preceded in death by her husband, Willard Noel Henderson; grandsons Eddie Frank James and Chad Allen Reed; great great granddaughter Raven Storm; parents, Eddie and Letha Mae Landtroop; brothers, James Landtroop and Maurice Landtroop; sisters Ruth Perry, Esther Graham, and Doyce Janes.

Jewel is survived by her children, Cynthia Ann (Henderson) James and husband Alfred Dail, Willard Noel Henderson, Jr. and wife Sarah, Terrie Lee (Henderson) Hardin and husband Don; grandsons, Dail James, Brent, Chris, Jacob, and Jon Hardin, Jeremy, Josh, Adam, and Seth Henderson; granddaughters, McKenzie James, Rebecca Henderson, Rachel Gourley, Shelle Hardin, and Gennifer Baier; 16 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren as well as numerous nephews, nieces and friends. Jewel was also partial to a tiny calico kitten that she named Mystic. Mystic still goes to her room looking for ‘Grandma’.

Jewel was a member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Bethany. After moving from Bethany, she attended the Methodist Church of Blanchard until she could no longer get out. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Jewel and Willard tried to be good examples of Christian principles and were generous not only with family and friends but strangers too.

Visitation will be 1pm-4pm Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Bill Merritt Funeral Service.

Services will be 2pm Monday, February 2, 2026 at Bill Merritt Funeral Service with burial to follow at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.