Vesta Gayle VanTrease's Obituary
Vesta Gayle VanTrease, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away at age 87 on August 1, 2025. She was born March 29, 1938, in Spokane, Washington, to William Nolan Simanton and Louphelia LeNoir Simanton; to her immediate family she was lovingly known as “Toody”. She graduated from Washington State University with a major in elementary education. She pledged Gamma Phi Beta and remained an active alumna throughout her life. On December 24, 1960, she married Dean VanTrease of Clarkston, Washington.
Vesta taught second grade in Seattle and Moses Lake, Washington, until an opportunity arose for Dean to help launch a community college in Dallas, Texas, where he also completed his PhD in education. Yet another position arose in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to assist in starting Tulsa Junior College. So off to Tulsa they went, where Dean eventually became president of Tulsa Community College.
Vesta and Dean welcomed two children, Gayle in 1970, and little brother Philip in 1972. When it became evident that Gayle was born profoundly deaf, Vesta, in her typically pragmatic fashion, immersed herself and her family in all that would be needed to accommodate a deaf child. She found early intervention programs for Gayle at the Tulsa Speech and Hearing Association, and accompanied Gayle throughout all the deaf education programs available in Tulsa. Vesta then took graduate studies at the University of Tulsa, served as an adjunct faculty in the interpreter training program at TCC, and did all she could to enrich the deaf community in Tulsa. She and Dean both served as board members of TSHA, and supported schools like Happy Hands, a Christian school for children with hearing loss in Broken Arrow.
Vesta’s devotion to her daughter and the deaf community piqued the interest of Dean’s beloved niece, Melinda, who came from Washington state to attend the University of Tulsa’s deaf education program. She lived with the VanTreases for several years, and is like a second daughter to them.
Throughout her life, Vesta continued to foster a love of the arts: a devotee of music from childhood, she played both piano and violin. She served as president of the Tulsa Children’s Chorus, and encouraged Phil in many musical pursuits. She worked tirelessly with her husband to assist in launching the Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College, which to this day is a premier orchestra in residence at the college. She loved to watch her grandchildren perform in piano and symphony recitals.
Vesta was also known throughout the city for her talented quiltmaking. She has been recognized as an award winning Green Country quilter, and her vibrant quilts were featured in Oklahoma magazine. Her quilts featured prominently in her home decor.
Funeral services will be Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel
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