Wanda Maurine Haney

Wanda Maurine McAllister was born on Monday, April 18, 1927, to Sena Ashby McAllister and Henry McAllister. She entered this world in a small farmhouse outside of Burns Flat Oklahoma, where she would live until graduating from high school.

Wanda was the third of six children in the McAllister home. Theirs was an active, strict but loving family. Everyone pitched in to keep the farm going during the Depression and through World War II. Wanda often mentioned that they didn’t have many material things but they were fortunate to always have plenty to eat.

At the age of seven, Wanda barely survived a bout with pneumonia, an event that shaped her young life. In the hospital, after she was out of grave danger, she did what any normal kid would do and was ready to roll her wheelchair down the ramp between floors before a very stern nurse told her in no uncertain terms to get back in bed and stay there. She proved to be a fighter and surprised the family at breakfast by taking her first steps alone on Easter morning after recovering for several months. The faith nurtured in her through the Burns Flat Church of Christ was a big part of her strength growing up, and later at the Dill City congregation as an adult.

The McAllister kids went to Burns Flat schools. Her parents were protective of her health after her childhood illness and her dad had been reluctant to allow her to play sports. He thought he was safe by telling her that she could if the esteemed Dr. Alex examined her and said it was okay. To dad’s surprise, Dr. Alex said, “Henry, I think it would be the best thing for her!” Being on the championship girls’ basketball team with her friends was a proud memory for her. It gave her a positive outlet for her competitive spirit.

After high school, she moved to the big city, Cordell. She had no car, so she walked from her little boardinghouse room to work at the telegraph office, and around the square for fun. It was on one of those jaunts that a cute guy with white teeth and a white t-shirt caught her eye. He drove his stripped-down Model A slowly at first and did his best to impress her – which he did, although she had to pretend she didn’t notice. She went on to marry that guy, Johnny Haney, in 1946.

Their life together started in Burns Flat and then they moved to Oklahoma City. Before long, little Joleta was born. She was the first child and the first grandchild, so she was especially loved and cared for. It soon became evident that she was extremely intelligent and they nurtured that, encouraging her to believe that she could achieve whatever she wanted. Wanda was a strong personality and wanted the same for her daughters.

Wanda was a hard worker and tackled whatever opportunity came her way. When Johnny convinced her to move back to the farm, she sold eggs and did whatever else she could. Her keen business sense landed her a job in the billing office of Kiwash Electric, where she worked happily for several years. Rhonda was born during that time. Jody and Rhonda were inspired to be interested in a career by visiting mom at work. Rhonda remembers how glamorous she looked, wearing high heels and tailored dresses. Wanda had a flair for fashion and made clothes from advanced Vogue patterns – although they always looked like they were straight from an expensive department store.

Johnny and Wanda made a great team, especially when it came to building a beautiful home together. She would envision and he would develop a plan for making it happen. They built their home in Dill City almost from scratch. Then, when they were transferred to the Air Force base in Tucson, they took a tract home and remade it into a showplace that was featured in the Tucson newspaper. Wanda had always been an outstanding seamstress, tailoring clothes for her girls and Johnny as well as herself, but in Tucson she took it to a new level, sewing professional-quality draperies for their large windows. Johnny did the figuring and she did the stitching.

Through all of this, just as with Jody, she encouraged Rhonda in her pursuits and was always there to cheer her on. The whole family was involved in activities at the Palo Verde Church of Christ.

Wanda loved working outdoors in the garden. She had a talent for growing beautiful roses, in addition to many other plants. She loved beauty and worked to bring it to every place she could.

In Tucson, Wanda began crafting stained glass pieces in the 1980s. Soon, Johnny had built a small workshop for her in the back yard and was helping her with her budding business by building frames and teaching her to solder.

After Johnny’s death in 1992, Wanda stayed in Tucson five more years. The support of friends and neighbors carried her through, but she was longing for more time with family. In 1997, she moved to Plano, where she made her home for almost 20 years. She was active in the Pitman Creek Church of Christ, and the Plano Senior Center, where she loved to play 42 – and win. That was where she met Leonard Eitel. In 2002, she and Leonard married and started another chapter in their lives. They enjoyed each other’s company and were a blessing to each other. They had several years together before he died.

Again, thanks to a strong network of friends and family, she gathered herself together. But, in her 80s, it was harder. The death of beloved Jody in 2012 was a blow she never recovered from. She had more health issues and her ability to drive her beautiful red car became limited. She stayed somewhat active in the McDermott Road Church of Christ and the Senior Center almost entirely because of the support of those around her. She accepted an opportunity to be one of the first three residents at the brand new Christian Care assisted living facility in Allen. Sadly, she lived there just a month when she was hospitalized for pneumonia and spent the next two months in care facilities to recover. She slipped away peacefully on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 – just a little more than four weeks from her 90th birthday.

She has come full circle and is being buried next to Johnny at North Burns cemetery, approximately a mile from the farmhouse where she was born and raised.

Wanda was a dynamic personality with a flair for doing things her way. She will be missed. She is survived by her daughter Rhonda Ledbetter; sisters Melba Strobel and Reva June Webb, and brother Vernon McAllister; her daughter Jody’s children Gil Ek, Cindy Ek and Cheri Rizer, and their children, who call her Grandma Wanda; 10 nieces and nephews and their families; cousins; and a host of friends.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Benevolent Care Fund at Christian Care Senior Living, 900 Wiggins Parkway, Mesquite Texas. She also was a believer in the mission of the Westview Boys Home, 120 West Broadway, Hollis Oklahoma.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 17, 2017 from 6-8pm at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 11am in the funeral home with Mark Bryson officiating. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 2pm in North Burns Cemetery, Burns Flat, Oklahoma.