Martha Maylene Keester

Martha Maylene Keester passed away peacefully on November 16, 2025, surrounded by her family. Maylene was born on July 25, 1935 in her parent’s home in Shawnee, OK. Maylene was the second of five children born to Sidney Paul Childers and Dorothy Beatrice Breedlove Childers. She attended Oklahoma City Public Schools and graduated in 1952 from the Pentecostal Faith High School. Maylene began working in 1949 as a Sales Clerk for Green’s Department Store and in 1952 she was an assistant to Dr. Lockhard, DDS. In 1953, she became a long distance telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Oklahoma City. She transferred to the Pacific Bell Telephone Company in San Bernardino, CA, in 1955 and transferred back to Southwestern Bell in Oklahoma City in 1956. Maylene met the love of her life, William “Bill” Ross Keester in 1954, and they eloped to Shawnee, OK, on June 29, 1956. Bill and Maylene were married 69 years prior to Bill’s passing in 2025. They had three sons, William Dale Keester, Clifford James Keester and Jeffrey Ross Keester. In 1965 she became a full-time mother until her sons were grown. Maylene purchased Vogue Flowers & Gifts in 1979 and expanded her business in 1986 when she opened the first Las Vegas style wedding chapel in Oklahoma City area. She continued to operate both businesses until she retired in 1993. After retirement, Maylene returned to her true calling of caring for her husband, sons and family. She and Bill traveled all of North America, the Caribbean, some of South America and Europe. Maylene’s hobbies were rocking each of her grandchildren, making porcelain dolls and quilting. She was a magnificent woman who always cared for others, always gave, an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be truly missed by everyone she touched in life.

Maylene was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents, Paul and Dorothy Childers, her sisters Doris Darlene Wistinghausen, Billie Jean Lynch, Nancy Jeanette Newman, her grandparents John Thomas and Martha McCain Childers and Earl and Mary “May” Harper Breedlove.

She is survived by her children, William “Dale” Keester and wife Laura, Clifford James “Jim” Keester and wife Jessie, Jeffrey Ross “Jeff” Keester and wife Beverly; grandchildren David R. Keester and wife Rebekah, Lena Marie Keester Levine and husband Ben, Jared D. Keester and wife Lauren, Dylan L. Keester and wife Alexis, Luke P. Keester, Addilyn M. Gaulden-Keester, Kelli D. Keester, Amy L. Keester Burke and husband Dustin; great grandchildren Ryan D. Keester, Lillian J. Keester, London A. Levine, Lydia M. Levine, Jude L. Keester, Harvey M. Keester, Nicholas K. Burke, Sylas C. Keester, Grady J. Keester; her brother Gerald P. Childers and wife Carolyn, and many other family and friends.

Visitation will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper, located at 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK, 73116, on November 24, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service will take place at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper on November 25, 2025, starting at 11:00 am. The committal service will occur at Rose Hill Burial Park, 6001 NW Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK, 73118, on November 25, 2025.