JoLeta Dines

She was born on August 4, 1941, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Jack Tyrus Randel and Maxine Rose (Utter) Randel. JoLeta graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1959. Shortly thereafter, she married her high school sweetheart, David Roger Dines, on June 4, 1960. Together they shared 65 years of marriage and had three children: Sherri, Dianna, and Richard.

JoLeta spent her early years in the Oklahoma City area. After she and David married, they lived in several small spaces before settling in Bethany while raising their young children. Around 1988, they moved to the Windsor Hills area, where their daughters attended school from elementary through high school. In 1990, the family relocated to Yukon so they could live closer to Sherri and Rick and spend more time with their grandchildren.

During this time, JoLeta and David designed and built their dream home together in Sulphur through many “do-it-yourself” projects, truly building it from the ground up. In 2000, they moved there full-time where they enjoyed many happy years. When both needed additional support, they relocated to Edmond in May 2025.

JoLeta loved music, especially Barbara Streisand, instrumental jazz, and other gentle, easy-listening styles. She preferred music that was soft and soothing and was known to bring earplugs along to louder events. Her favorite colors were shades of green and turquoise.

Some of her happiest days were spent walking through the Arbuckle Mountains, especially visiting her favorite spot on Bromide Hill when the weather was calm and pleasant. She found laughter watching her family have fun and spend time together.

JoLeta had a special gift for bringing people together. She believed in celebrating life’s joyful moments and supporting one another during difficult times. Through her example, she showed that a strong and lasting marriage is built on love, patience, kindness, and ending each day with warm words and a hug.

Family meant everything to JoLeta. She loved hosting gatherings in her home and creating opportunities for her family to experience new places together. She planned memorable trips for loved ones, including cruises to Hawaii and Alaska, and even organized a special Disney trip for her great-grandchildren. Wherever there was a gathering, JoLeta was often among the first to arrive and the first to lend a helping hand.

She enjoyed collecting turtles of all shapes and sizes and often wore clothing or accessories featuring turtles. After moving from Sulphur to the Tealridge community in Edmond last June, she quickly made new friends and left a lasting impression on those who met her despite the short time they shared.

JoLeta was proud of her 65-year marriage and the life she built with David. She expressed her creativity in many ways such as recovering furniture, sewing clothing, and making adaptive items. Helping others brought her great joy.

Throughout the years, JoLeta supported her brother Jack in operating the muffler shop started by their father, offering assistance with accounting and overall operations. When her children were young, she served as a Girl Scout troop leader, worked as a Mary Kay Consultant, and did temporary work with Genie Girls. While living in Sulphur, she helped organize a senior exercise group that met three times a week.

JoLeta was preceded in death by her beloved husband, David Dines, and her son, Ricky Dines.

She is survived by her daughters, Sherri Craig and her husband Richard Craig of Yukon, Oklahoma, Dianna Persun of Edmond, Oklahoma, grandchildren, James Craig, Ben (Nicole) Craig, Conal Persun, and Liam (Allie) Persun; and great-grandchildren, Peter, Killian, Westley, Moria, Elizabeth, and Noah.

JoLeta will be remembered for her kindness, creativity, generosity, and the deep love she shared with her family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bill Merritt Funeral Service, 6201 Northwest 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008, US, on March 19, 2026, at 10:00 am.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Craig, James Craig, Conal Persun, and Liam Persun.