Jessie LaRaye Damme's Obituary
LaRaye Damme, beloved mother, and grandmother took flight to her heavenly father, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. On January 16, 1936, in Haskell, OK, Jess and Larona Jenkins celebrated the birth of a girl they named Jessie LaRaye. She was their second child, having lost a boy, Jerry Jay, in 1934. At an early age (1947) LaRaye accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior, while attending Bible school.
She was a life-long member of Haskell First Baptist Church and played the piano and organ there since 1950's and sang with the JIL trio (Jan Stone, Ila Drake) since 1981. LaRaye was reared at Stone Bluff, OK and attended elementary grades in Stone Bluff School. She graduated from Haskell High School in 1953 and later from NSU with a Master's degree in Education. She taught at Haskell Schools for 22 years.
LaRaye met Frank Polk, while working at Douglas Aircraft and they were married in March of 1956. During this union they reared four children: Mike, Rannah, Jalae, and Jonathan. After the death of Frank in 1986, LaRaye married a school chum, Wayne Damme and they traveled extensively until Wayne's demise in July of 2005.
Those who remain to celebrate her home going include her three children, nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grand children.
What’s your fondest memory of Jessie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jessie?
Share a story where Jessie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jessie you’ll never forget.
How did Jessie make you smile?