Connie Jayne Walker's Obituary
Connie Jayne Rhoades “Mimi” was born on January 6, 1944, to Connie Leon Rhoades and Lois L Fuller Rhoades. For 80 years she made her impact felt one day at a time.
Connie grew up in Holdenville, Oklahoma, with her parents and three siblings, Vaughan, Scottie, and Phil. She was born as she lived - fearless, independent, strong, and full of love. These core traits of hers only grew and strengthened with time.
Upon leaving Holdenville as an adult, she made her way to Oklahoma City, where she met and married her first husband, John Salisbury in 1965. During their marriage of 12 years they had two children that she loved deeply, Kristi and Michael.
When Connie met Butch Walker, it was love at first sight for the both of them. In 1980 they were married. Together they embarked on a new, wonderful life together. With a lot of hard work, and unconditional love, these two headstrong personalities began blending families, creating adventures together others can only dream of, and starting their own company. Just as they vowed to each other, this love they shared never faulted. Through the best of times and the most difficult of times, they stood together. Upon the sale of their company, this city girl and her husband set up home base at their ranch where horses were bred and shown, cattle was raised, countless dogs were rescued, and gardens were planted that gave her one of her biggest joys: that of canning countless cases of tomatoes, salsa, okra, and jalapenos every summer. When she wasn’t canning, she was an avid reader with over 1800 books on her kindle alone. They continued their adventures of traveling around the world with several trips overseas, 15 African Safaris, and most recently, 15 years of vacationing throughout the Bahamas with her very dear friends and family on her yacht appropriately named “Musbe Dreamin.”
Her proudest accomplishment was that of being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her most cherished times were those spent surrounded by her family, just listening to them laugh and watching the family she built bond. She loved all of her family fiercely and unconditionally, and was proud to be given the title “Head of the Gene Pool.”
She was beautiful. Not in a fleeting, superficial sense, but in the way that lasts, that remains indefinitely with all those she shared it with. Her beauty was deeply embedded in who she was, how she gave with abandon, how she loved without strings. She was beautiful in this very full, very robust nature that is hard to put into words. Beautiful in a way that drew people in, that changed them. She never met a stranger, and she formed relationships everywhere she went.
She was funny. Wildly, contagiously, and sometimes very inappropriately funny. If you were around her, you were laughing and having a good time. She was in it for the shock value, she wanted you to be thrown and she knew how to do it. To be close to her in the slightest meant intimately knowing the experience of sitting around one of her tables for sometimes hours past meals sharing stories and laughing until you had tears streaming down your face.
She was generous. Her generosity knew no bounds or conditions, it didn’t come with strings or the expectation of gratitude or praise in return. She gave time and money and love to others because she really believed in them. She saw a need and she filled it without questions asked. She sent children to college, helped bring countless back to light in their darkest hours, and always brought supplies to those in need when traveling.
To know her was to know her fiery, fierce nature. She was so many things, but all of her core traits were fueled by this ferocity and passionate disposition that made her such a force. You could only hope that you were on the right side of things when her zealous nature kicked in. One thing is for certain, when your back was against a wall, Connie Jayne is who you wanted in your corner.
She taught us to be honest to a fault, how not to hide, how to stand up for ourselves and our family, even if we were standing up to her. She taught us that saying how you feel matters, good or bad. She taught us that whatever you have you should give and you should enjoy. She didn’t just teach us those things, she showed us. That is how she lived.
She loved deeply and was deeply loved. This larger than life woman will live on in us always. We grieve her loss but will remember her with the smiles and laughter, and the limitless love she brought to life.
She is preceded in death by her loving parents, as well as her son Lance Walker and her daughter in law Deborah Walker. She leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter to be cherished by her husband Butch Walker; her children Kristi Coker and Marty Crowe, Michael Salisbury and his wife, Stacey, Jennifer Walker Anderson and her husband, Ron Shimkus; her grandchildren Ryan, Hannah and Drew Coker, Emily and Meghan Salisbury, Jack Anderson and his wife, Sophie, Claire Anderson, Stephanie Goad and her husband, John; two great grandchildren, Caden and Brianna Goad; along with many loving family members and friends.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Owasso First Methodist Church in Owasso, Oklahoma. There will be a continuation of the celebration of Connie's life following the services with the opportunity to share many memories at The Patriot in Owasso, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to the Oklahoma Cancer Specialists Cares Fund: https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=renxt&formId=53d8536a-402f-45c6-b223-b77e37779125&envid=p-20vqwtMY7EKm0ANk4-MCIQ&zone=usa or a charitable organization that is special to you.
What’s your fondest memory of Connie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Connie?
Share a story where Connie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Connie you’ll never forget.
How did Connie make you smile?