Edith Mae Ishmael

Mrs. Ishmael passed away on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, at her home in Apache, Okla.

Edith was born on March 20, 1949, in Parma, Mo., to Howard and Lula Carpenter. Edith's mother later married William Vaughn. The family lived in and around the Dexter area of Missouri. Edith graduated from Richland High School in Essex, Mo., in 1967. After graduating from high school Edith joined the U.S. Army where she received training to become a licensed practical nurse. She served her country proudly during the Vietnam era for two years and returned to Missouri after her time in the Army. Edith continued her education at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in nursing. She remained in Missouri, then relocated to Lawton, Okla., in 1988. She continued her career as a registered nurse, working at Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Southwestern Hospital and Reynolds Army Hospital. Edith married Melvin "Joe" Ishmael in Lawton on July 29, 1989. Edith was a member of the Eastern Star, the Vietnam Veterans Association, and American Legion Post 306 in Fletcher, Okla. She had numerous hobbies: Edith enjoyed gardening, painting, picking pecans, cooking, and canning; however what she enjoyed the most was spending time with her family. She was an animal lover and enjoyed donating to the A.S.P.C.A. to help needy animals.

She is survived by her husband: Joe of the home; her daughters: Jennifer and her husband Dan Jeffrey of Elgin, Okla., April and her husband Pete Bullock of Oklahoma City and Lisa Ishmael of Phoenix; her sisters: Millie Spore of Ruby, Mich., Ruth Matney of Dexter and Vicki Stevenson of Arlington, Texas; her grandchildren: Edmond Booker of Apache, Kimberly Stanley and her husband Gary of Phoenix, Tyler Jeffrey of Denver, Corina Davis of Apache, Zak McKay of Oklahoma City, Zachary Jeffrey and his wife Kaela of Westminster, Colo., Dylan Rouse of Edmond, Okla., Jessica Bullock of Oklahoma City and Ryan Bullock of Oklahoma City; her great-grandchildren: Marilyn Stanley, Josie Stanley and Aiden Jeffrey.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents; her father, Howard Carpenter; her stepfather, William Vaughn, her mother, Lula Vaughn, and 10 siblings.