Ellen Oxford- Hearon

Ellen Hearon was born April 10, 1921 to Margaret Grace Norton and Obie Dair Norton at Countyline, Oklahoma. She left this earth to be with her savior Monday, October 26, 2015 at Hilltop Lodge in Beloit, Kansas at the age of 94 years.

Ellen was the oldest of eight children. She and her siblings grew up without most luxuries, but thrived with the love of a large, extended family. Throughout her life, family connections were a source of joy and strength. Family Reunions were the best celebrations. Ellen married James Lawrence Oxford Thanksgiving of 1939. This union was blessed with two children, Jimmy Lee and Margaret Ann.

Ellen worked as a telephone operator for Alma Telephone Company for many years. When phone service was modernized and operators were phased out, Ellen began work at Stromburg-Carlson where she manufactured telephone parts.

The outdoors was where Ellen preferred to spend her time. A large garden, along with fruit trees were sources of produce and canned goods that she shared with friends and family. Fishing was a favorite past-time that she shared with her daughter and grandkids. When she was 92 she was still out-fishing the rest of her family by catching the largest catfish.

When the weather wouldn’t let her enjoy the outdoors, Ellen would turn to reading books, playing dominoes, and working crossword puzzles. She loved playing Skipbo and dominoes with her friends at Sunny Slope and later Bingo at Hill Top Lodge. When macular degeneration robbed her eyesight, she began listening to books on tape.

After her first husband’s death, Ellen married Charles Hearon and continued to live in the country near Velma, Oklahoma. In 2007 an accident left her unable to care for her home. Ellen moved to Beloit, KS to live with her daughter and son-in-law until she became strong enough to live alone. Ellen liked her little Beloit apartment with the view of a field out her window and felt like she was in the country again. Following a time in the hospital, Ellen moved to Hilltop Lodge in May of this year where she came to love her time in the garden area feeding the peacocks by hand.

Ellen loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Countyline Baptist Church and then Velma Baptist Church where she taught an adult Sunday school class for many years. Though she gave up teaching when she moved to Beloit, she attended the Sunday school class at the United Methodist Church and the Metallic Bible study at the Christian Church. She never grew tired of studying and learning new things from the Bible studies.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Leslie, Obie Gene, and Vance Norton; sisters Eileen Spencer, Joyce Tivis, Camilla Lindsey, and Laura Lee Bost; husbands James Oxford and Charles Hearon; and son Jimmy Oxford. She is survived by daughter Margaret (Richard) Montgomery of Beloit, KS; grandchildren Greg Oxford, Marla Trecek, and Ross Montgomery; Great-grandchildren Danyelle Minton, Tiffani Shepherd, Aaron & Christopher Oxford, Dylen & Tyler Trecek, Aria & Kohen Montgomery; one great-great grandson Luke Shepherd; her daughter-in-law Lorene Baughn & her children Michele Matthews, Lisa Cary, and Kevin Myers. She also leaves behind her many loved nieces and nephews, caretakers, and friends.

(Kansas) Honorary Bearers: Deb Treaster; Marie Roberts; Shirley Wichers; Debbie Abram; Karen Stortz, Barbara Lomax

(Oklahoma) Casket Bearers: David Norton, Emmitt Ray Lindsey, Jerry Don Tivis, Joe Bob Norton, Jon Norton, Roger Norton, Ronnie Norton, Steve Norton