Dortha Christene Carey

Dortha Christene (Jackson) Carey, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away on May 2, 2020 in Norman, Oklahoma at the age of 87. She was born July 7, 1932, the only child of Albion and Dovie Jackson. Dortha was born and raised in Atoka County, Oklahoma surrounded by extended family. She attended school in Caney, Oklahoma. There was no school nearby her parents’ farm, so her daddy took her to her grandmother’s house every week in a wagon and back home every weekend so that she could attend. She graduated high school in 1950 as the valedictorian of her class. Two years later, she married her sweetheart, Joe Kenneth Carey, whom she had known for as long as she could remember.

During her married life, Dortha settled into being a wife, and then a mother in the Oklahoma City area. She and Joe would go on to have 3 children, Leonard, Michael and Lori. If asked, she would tell you that raising her children and being a loving, caring wife were her greatest accomplishments. She was an expert on home and kitchen, a natural homemaker who loved nothing more than taking care of her family.

Dortha was an avid quilter, often winning awards for her beautiful quilts which she gifted to everyone she loved. She also enjoyed embroidery and sewing. She was a member of the Blue Lakes Baptist Church and Pleasant Valley OHCE for many years after having moved to Norman, Oklahoma in 2004 where she lived with her son and daughter-in-law, Leonard and Diane, for 16 years. Dortha wanted to make everyone around her happy and greeted everyone with a smile. She was a caregiver at heart, was loved by all who knew her, and she truly made friends everywhere she went.

Dortha was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Joe, to whom she was married 54 years. She is survived by son Leonard and daughter-in-law, Diane, their children and grandchildren (and future great-grandchild) of Norman, Oklahoma; son Michael (Mike) Carey and his family of Del City, OK, and daughter Lori Baran and husband Mike of Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Her graveside service will be on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 2301 E. Indian Hills Rd., Norman, OK at 2:00 pm. Social distancing guidelines must be maintained.