Laurnell Lenz

Laurnell Eleice (Meyer) Lenz was born Nov. 29, 1930, and went to be with the Lord on Dec. 9, 2025.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother and sister and friend to many. She grew up on a farm two miles east and one-quarter south of Okarche.

Laurnell was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church.

She was baptized by Rev. T.C. Otte on Dec. 2, 1930, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche. She also was confirmed at St. John’s in April 1944.

Laurnell attended St. John’s Parochial School through eighth grade then attended Okarche High School. She participated in basketball and softball.

Growing up on the family farm required the usual chores of feeding chickens and milking cows and later running the tractor and combine. When the self-propelled combines became part of the farm, she was adept at running one while her dad was on the other.

Laurnell met George Lenz, also of Okarche. After a few years of courtship they were married Aug. 10, 1950, at St. John’s.

They made their home in Oklahoma City.

George was employed at Tinker Air Force Base and later overseas in France, while traveling extensively to nearby countries. Laurnell and George spent four years in Europe.

In 1958, they welcomed a son, Steve.

When returning to the states, the couple were active in church.

Laurnell taught Sunday School while George did various jobs around the church.

They joined card clubs, especially bridge.

They welcomed a daughter, Karen.

Laurnell was a stay-athome mom until the children entered school.

Later when George retired, they moved to Okarche, refurbishing their current home.

Laurnell was employed at the First Bank of Okarche, where she worked until retirement.

Upon retirement, they bought a travel trailer, spending months at a time traveling the United States.

When George passed, Laurnell became involved in quilting, making beautiful quilts which she shared with her family.

She enjoyed spending countless hours with friends and family helping with their quilts. It was something she loved doing.

She also loved to travel and went on many bus tours, making friends and memories. She was a member of a bridge club in Kingfi sher and Surrey Hills, at which she made lifelong friends.

Laurnell was active in her church from being a Sunday School teacher to later becoming a charter member of Lamplighters LWML at St. John’s.

She and her sister Florene attended 12 national conventions throughout the U.S. while active with Lamplighters and holding offices. She served as president for a number of years.

Laurnell also volunteered to be director of the church funeral committee for 10 years. She was a strong woman of faith who was devoted to church.

While enjoying her activities, her most cherished moments were the ones spent with family. Laurnell loved spending time with her grandchildren and especially her great-grandchildren.

She was lovingly known as grandma and Gigi. She enjoyed fussing over and spoiling them. You never left grandma’s house hungry.

Laurnell had recently celebrated her 95th birthday where her many family and friends made her day a special one.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, son Steven, sister Verilea Gleichman and her husband Gerald, sister Lonna Bruner and brothers-in-law Leonard Cox, Russell Dunham and Kenneth Tipton.

Laurnell is survived by daughter Karen Norton and husband Art; grandchildren Kara Norton, Alicia Ortega and husband Omar, Ashley Landeros and husband Mario; brother Paul and Luz Bunnell and son Cody; brothers Joe Dummitt and Tony Bunnell; sister Florene Tipton; and also many nieces and nephews who thought the world of their Aunt Nell; great-grandchildren Bowen and Amelia Soto, Damein Ortega, Hannah Landeros, Kambria Landeros, Kimberlyn Landeros and Emery and Paisley Landeros.

A life that touches others goes on forever.

A funeral service to honor the life of Laurnell was Friday, Dec. 12, at the Saint John’s Lutheran Church with burial following in the Saint John’s Cemetery.

Services were under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home, Kingfisher.