Laura May (White) Brakefield passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at the age of 92. She was born in Oklahoma City on March 15, 1927 to Louisa May (Bielenberg) White and Jesse Clinton White.
The family moved to the farm at Reno & Morgan Road in the Yukon area when Laura was a small child. While growing up she loved to sing, play guitar and drive the tractor while helping her Daddy with farm chores. She attended Yukon schools, graduating high school in 1945.
On June 10, 1945 she married the love of her life Chester Brakefield. They moved to Miami, OK while Chet served as an aircraft mechanic in the Army Air Corp. They moved back to the Yukon area near the end of the war where they started a family. To this marriage two children were born, Pamela and Alan.
Chet and Laura moved to Haskell, OK then Sapulpa, OK after Chet sold his plumbing business and joined the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Laura began selling Avon cosmetics while they lived in Sapulpa. They were eventually transferred back to Yukon by the OHP.
Laura worked in retail cosmetic sales for many years, first for John A. Brown’s and later for Dillard’s, retiring in 1992. Following retirement, Laura and Chet enjoyed traveling in their motorhome and spending winters in South Texas. On June 10, 1995 they renewed their wedding vows in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Will Rogers Park, OKC to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Laura was a long time member of First Baptist Church, Yukon, OK where she taught Sunday school and initiated the banner ministry. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, often traveling to Washington State to be with Pam and her family.
Laura set a wonderful example for her family to follow by being an amazing Christian, wife and mother. She was preceded in death by her parents, May and Clint White and husband, Chet.
Her survivors include daughter, Pamela and husband Edward De Persio of Wenatchee, WA; son, Alan and wife Kathie of Washington, OK; four grandchildren, Danielle Bailey, Cashmere, WA, David De Persio of Bend, OR. Christine Brakefield of MWC, OK, and Alana Peery of Washington, OK; five great-grandchildren, Kenzie, Halle and Kyler Bailey of Cashmere, WA, and Evan and Julia Peery of Washington, OK, and one sister, Jane Richardson of Tallahassee, FL.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at First Baptist Church, 15 S. 6th St., Yukon, OK, with interment following at the Yukon Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to First Baptist Church Yukon.
Online condolences may be signed at http://www.yandafuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Yukon, OK.
