Orila Marchant

 Orila Marchant, lifelong Okmulgee area resident, died Monday, January 5, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.  She was 85 years of age.  Mrs. Marchant was born May 14, 1923 in Nuyaka to Hiram and Ludie Mae (Morrow) Chasteen.  She graduated from Nuyaka High School and later married Mancel Marchant on September 28, 1946 in Okmulgee.  Mrs. Marchant played basketball for the Okmulgee Cardinals when she was young, and always enjoyed gardening, quilting and sewing, and cherished her time taking care of her grandchildren.  She worked at Newberrys and Okmulgee Day Care and owned and operated Marchant’s General Store.  She was a member of the First National Bank Prioity Club and a very active member of the Southside Baptist Church for 58 years.

Mrs. Marchant was preceded in death by her parents, husband Mancel Marchant, Sr. in July 2006, a son, Mancel Marchant, Jr. in December 1998, a son-in-law, Allen Craddock, a granddaughter, Tanee Turner, a grandson, Daniel Martin, and her siblings, Melvin Evans, Frank Evans, Alvie Mills, Ennis Chasteen, Richard Chasteen, Leora Long and an infant brother.  Survivors include her daughters, Brenda Turner and husband Bob of Nuyaka, Pat Cindle and husband Bill of Pearce, Judy Bivin and husband Gary of Muskogee and Beverly Martin and husband Dan of Tulsa, sixteen grandchildren, twenty seven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, and very special nieces and nephews.  Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, January 8, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Okmulgee with Pastors Larry Schoonover and Thom Duncan officiating.  Interment will follow in the Okmulgee Cemetery.  Casketbearers will be Bob Turner, Bill Cindle, Gary Bivin, Dan Martin, Bobby Turner and Shane Bivin.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southside Baptist Church.  Arrangements are under the direction of the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee.