Edith Jewell (Wilson) Soester
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Funeral services for Edith Jewell (Wilson) Soester, age 91 years, 8 months and 29 days, a respected citizen of Durant, formerly of Atoka, were held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, at Holmes ~ Coffey ~ Murray Funeral Home Chapel, in Durant, with Brother Darel Bunch officiating.
Interment was in Butler Cemetery, at Lane.
Services were under the direction of Holmes ~ Coffey ~ Murray Funeral Home, in Durant.
Soester stepped into eternity on Friday, October 2, 2020, in Denison, Texas.
She was born on January 4, 1929, to Noel and Starlia (Peeler) Wilson, at Lane.
Soester attended school in Atoka County.
She married Howard Henry Soester, Captain in the United States Navy, on May 30, 1958, at Oakland, California.
Soester work ethic was deep rooted in her depression era upbringing, coming from a large family, everyone had to pitch in, to keep food on the table. She claimed she could work harder and faster than most men and she carried that strength and strong will throughout her life.
She thrived on competition, whether it was bowling, golfing or playing bingo. Soester was a guardian angel to whomever she touched, through her philanthropic work with the Navy Wives Clubs of America, her volunteer hospital work at Navy hospitals, or helping her extended family during tough times.
After retirement Edith and Howard traveled the United States in a motor home and enjoyed every part of the country they so loved and served for 34 years.
Her daughter, Alice, often said, she was a walking miracle. She survived 14 hours of brain surgery at 63 years of age, but managed to push on and live a full life for another 28 years. Soester lived life to it’s fullest and did more and saw more, than most people can even dream of.
After her husbands death, Soester moved back to Durant, where she became an active member of the Friends of the Library. She was loved and respected by all the other members because of her charm. It was a life well lived.
Survivors include her daughter, Alice June Puente and husband, Victor (Buddy), of Fort Worth, Texas; stepsons, Keith Soester and wife, Sharon, of Telford, Pennsylvania; Barry Soester and wife, Karen, of Coral Springs, Florida; grandsons, Victor Puente, III of Fort Worth, Texas; Jay Soester and wife, Raynie, of Coral Springs, Florida; Matthew Walker of Coral Springs, Florida; granddaughters, Haley Puente of Grapevine, Texas; Victoria Puente and fiancé, Brock Peters, of Fort Worth, Texas; Andrea Puente of Fort Worth, Texas; great-granddaughter, Launa Puente of Colleyville, Texas; neice, Angie Mullen and her husband, Bill; Goddaughters, Chrissy Lawton and husband, Mike, of Chesapeake, Virginia; Starla Lee and husband, Zach, of Edmond; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Noel and Starlia Wilson; husband, Howard Soester (in 2007); stepdaughter, Randie Walker and husband, Bill; siblings, Eugene, Aubrey, Nadean, G. E., James, Ferman, Kenneth and Ruth.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully request that donations be made to the Friends of the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center and Library, 1515 West Main Street, Durant OK 74701.
