Lillian Hulbert's Obituary
Lillian Louise (Parker) Hulbert was born November 15, 1928 to parents, Wesley and Ina Parker. Her birth was on the family farm just outside of El Reno, OK. Lillian was the youngest of five children. Her oldest sister (Thelma) was 13 years older and allowed to stay home from school and witness her birth. All the other siblings were shocked to come home from school and find a new baby sister. Lillian was born at the start of the Great Depression.
Lillian’s parents earned a living off the farm – growing wheat, raising chickens, selling eggs, milking cows and always growing a large garden. With the garden, chickens, and cows they were never in need of food and always had canned vegetables, fried chicken, milk, butter, cream, and eggs.
Lillian attended a country school named Mennonville and there were only three students in the entire class, all girls. She loved playing outside and would use her imagination to build her own playhouse by using string to tie trees together to make bedrooms. At the end of her school day she would help bring the cows to the barn, do her homework, and play in the barn with her one doll and kittens. Lillian loved school and learning. She enjoyed riding the bus, running in track meets, and playing on the basketball team. Later in life she took golf, tennis and swimming lessons, unfortunately she never learned to swim - couldn’t even float. She loved driving her dad’s tractor, especially when she was allowed to drive on the dirt road to visit her married sister (Thelma) and her two children.
Lillian’s love of music began with her mother and grandmother. Her grandparents sold a cow so they could buy a piano for her mother. Her mother had piano lessons and played the piano/organ at the country Mt. Zion church. With Lillian being the youngest, there was not enough money for her to have piano lessons, but she taught herself to play by ear. It was important to Lillian that her three daughters had piano lessons. She and Charles would throw their extra change in a bottle to pay for piano lessons and by the end of the month God provided. Lillian and Charles were blessed to have all three girls serve as church pianist at one time or another.
Lillian’s mother sewed her children’s clothes, doll clothes, and neighbor’s clothes. Lillian was an excellent seamstress. When her children were young she made all their clothes and even made their prom dresses.
At the age of 16, Lillian transferred from the country school and rode the bus to El Reno - that is when she met the love of her life. As fate would have, a young man named Charles (Charlie) Hulbert just happened to ride the same bus. Charles already knew there were young girls who lived at the Parker homestead and when the bus pulled up to the house the first day his eyes zoned in on Lillian Louise Parker – the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Charles quickly sat by Lillian; however, when his current girlfriend got on the bus he quickly moved. Lillian and Charles did not date until after she graduated from high school and he returned from World War II.
After high school Lillian moved from the farm to the town of El Reno. She and some girlfriends shared an apartment and she worked at Southwestern Bell as an operator. She was nervous at first being away from home, but her parents taught her to save her money and never buy anything on credit. She was raised in a Christian home and was surprised at some of the girls drinking and smoking.
After Charles returned from World War II he attended El Reno Junior College and spotted Lillian downtown. Their first date was to a high school play and then walking to the local ice cream parlor – from there it was history. They were married August 20th, 1949 and moved to Stillwater so Charles could attend OSU and Lillian continued to work for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. After Charles graduated they moved to Elk City, OK where he was employed by Shell Oil and Lillian continued working for Southwestern Bell until after the birth of their first child. When their oldest daughter was a junior in high school, Lillian began working as a teacher’s assistant in the Elk City school system to help with college tuition. In 1975, Charles was transferred to Traverse City, MI and at that point she became a full-time homemaker.
Due to Charles work, Lillian lived in Elk City, OK, Seiling, OK, Traverse City, MI, Brandon, MS and their final home in Broken Arrow, OK. They joined First Baptist Church, BA and were involved in many areas of service. Lillian was involved in the Joy Singers (Adult Choir) and Triple L. She loved organizing and decorating for their adult functions. They made several trips overseas and mission trips to Belize and Ecuador. In Belize they helped build a missionary home and in Ecuador they drilled a water well. Lillian and Charles were always involved in church and made sure their daughters knew what a Christian home should be like. They were Falls Creek sponsors, Youth Choir trip sponsors, volunteered to help with school activities and always attended any activity the girls were involved with (music, theatre, sports, cheerleading).
Lillian is survived by daughters, Debra and husband Larry Dickerson of Tahlequah, Melody Simmons of Sand Springs, Tammy and husband Jeff Chaffin of Broken Arrow, and a very special niece, Dianna Cooper, who Lillian and Charles always called their “#4 daughter”. Grandchildren include Kylee and Rocky Battenfield, Courtney Dickerson, Justin and Casey Simmons, Michael Simmons, Brooklyn and Charlie Chaffin. Great grandchildren are J Kelly, Sydni Battenfield, Carson and Layla Simmons and Kynlee Simmons. Several other nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of many friends are a part of Lillian’s family. Lillian and Charles were married for 66 years. Lillian is preceded in death by her husband Charles, parents Wesley and Ina Parker, brother Lester Parker and sisters Mary Alice Parker, Thelma Heckes, Donna Yowell and Almira Shaw.
Funeral Service will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 14, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow. Interment will be at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens. Family will greet friends from 3:00-6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 13, 2021 at the Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow.
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