Ellen Jane Havener

A funeral ceremony honoring and remembering Ellen Jane Havener will be held 10 AM Thursday, December 2, 2021 at the Leonard First Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Bixby Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 PM Wednesday at Bixby-South Tulsa Funeral Service. Jane passed away Monday, November 29, 2021 in Tulsa. She was 89.

Born September 14, 1932 in Spadra, Arkansas, Jane was the daughter of John and Dessie (Harden) Harkey. Though she came from extremely humble beginnings, Jane loved her parents, as well as her five brothers, ever so dearly. Jane cherished her time with her father when he was at home. As a coal miner, her father spent long periods of time away from home. Jane was beautiful both on the inside and out. The girls at school always marveled over her hair and loved to dress her up like their very own China doll.

While working as a waitress in a café, Jane met Louis Havener, a young man that was love stricken by her beauty at first sight! The couple married in Clarendon, Arkansas May 28, 1948 and spent 64 wonderful years of marriage together.

Jane and Louis co-pastored Baptist churches throughout the state of Arkansas, and eventually Oklahoma. She worked hard in the ministry while serving in the nurseries and teaching Sunday school. Their Christ-centered ministry was always devoted to “loving on people” and putting the people FIRST! Jane and Louis moved to Northeastern Oklahoma in 1969 from Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

A fantastic seamstress, Jane regularly sewed beautiful clothing for her children. She also enjoyed cooking for her family, making the best pie crusts around. Jane always had a beautiful garden, loved her roses, and pink was absolutely her favorite color. Later in life, she began painting the most beautiful pastel and oil paintings. Her work was award winning - and she generously shared her paintings with family and friends. She will be remembered as a loving wife and protector of her children. Jane was one of the most giving people you could ever meet, always putting other's first.

Surviving family include her children, Maggie Plyler and her husband, Dennis of Bluff City, Arkansas, Butch (Robert) Havener and his wife, Mary Lou of Stonebluff, Carol Edmonson and her husband, Mike of Leonard, James “Jim” Havener of Leonard, and Mary Case and her husband, Jeffrey of Tulsa; brother, Glen R. Harkey and wife, Mackie of Bethel Acres; her grandchildren, Deborah Jane, Jerri Lynn, Amy, Jeremy, Johnathan, Jessica, Wesley, Brandy, Amanda, Melissa, Earl, and Tanya; great grandchildren, Amber, Kristal, Emily, Clayton, Jackson, Jacob, Evan, Stryker, Lilli Jane, Lilli Patton, Vance, Lexie, Thaddeus, Sadie Grace, Clara, and Layla; great-great grandchildren, Raigen Penn, Decklan, Everett, Gannon, Brayden, Owen; and many other beloved family and friends.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brothers, Floyd, Ivan, Mace, and Sylvia.

 

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