Naveda Ely

Celebrating the life of Naveda Lee Ely, 89, of Okarche, a graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at Red Rock Cemetery in Red Rock.

The Rev. Josh Bell, pastor, will officiate. The arrangements are under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home, El Reno.

Naveda Ely was born Nov. 13, 1936, in Drumright to Lee Jacob Wise and Willie Mae (Todd) Wise.

She attended school in Seminole until the second semester of eighth grade before moving to Perry where she attended high school and helped raise her four younger siblings.

This is where her deep fondness for family and faith comes from.

In 1954, she married Harvey Carl Ely in the First Christian Church of Perry.

Naveda was multi-talented and community involved as a licensed insurance agent, a real estate sales associate and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She and Harvey were married 66 years and seven months. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Dee Ann and Linda Lee.

The couple lived on the Bar-Lo Ranch, raised Hereford and Charolais cattle and farmed wheat for 26 years.

Due to turbulent economic times, her life pivoted and, in 1988, Naveda enrolled at Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond with her beloved Harvey.

Naveda often spoke of how fun and exciting the opportunity to attend school was. Although this was a difficult time, their trust in the Lord was their guiding light.

Because Naveda and Harvey were older than their classmates (51 and 56 at the time) and inseparable, the younger crowd affectionately called them “Barbie and Ken,” a badge of honor to them both.

Harvey earned his funeral director–embalmer license in 1989 while Naveda earned her funeral director– embalmer license in 1991.

The couple moved to Laverne in 1990 where they managed Seeger Funeral Homes in Laverne and Buffalo.

In 1992, they purchased Hills Funeral Home in Medford.

While Harvey cared for the technical work of funeral service, Naveda was not only the business manager, but the heart.

She greeted families with love and compassion, listened with patience and offered comfort when it was needed most. She had a gift for making people feel seen and cared for and her presence brought calm and reassurance to countless families during their most difficult moments.

They enjoyed being a part of the Medford community and the First Christian Church family.

They operated Hills-Ely Funeral Home until 2011 and worked part-time until they retired in 2013 and moved to Okarche.

Their time in Okarche was characterized by peace, relaxation and plenty of family time.

Even at 89, she was as sharp as ever. She continued to manage family holdings, coordinate various events and, most impressively, she conquered the digital world.

Naveda effortlessly navigated her iPhone, Apple Watch, streaming TV and playlists on Spotify (country music, Andrea Bocelli and Phil Collins were amongst her most often-listened to music).

She believed in meeting the world with beauty and poise; she was always camera- ready for every visitor, even on her last day.

Naveda was the true matriarch of her family. She loved cooking for others with every large family gathering marked by a meal she lovingly prepared so everyone could sit together and visit.

She was the center of family life, the one who stayed in touch, coordinated visits, kept relationships strong and ensured no one was forgotten.

Her home, her table and her heart were always open. Family was her greatest joy and she was the steady thread that held everyone together.

Naveda’s life was rooted in a deep and unwavering faith. She loved the Lord with all her heart and her faith was her constant source of strength and comfort throughout every season of her life.

It carried her through times of great joy and profound loss - when the family farm was sold, when they stepped into the calling of funeral service and the heartbreaking loss of her beloved husband, her oldest daughter, siblings and many other family and friends.

Through it all, Naveda trusted the Lord completely and lived with a grace that touched everyone who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey, and her daughter, Dee Ann.

Left to mourn her passing is her daughter Linda Lee (Joey) Pyeatt. Also her grandchildrenRyan(Karyn) McIlvain and Will (Kara) Kraus of Okarche; Andy (Ryan) Canady of Oklahoma City; Mike, Lauren (Shenouda), Christina and Joe El-Dabaghi all of Dallas; and nine great-grandchildren, Abigail, Henry, William, Daniel and Caroline McIlvain, Matthew and Addlyn Kraus, Jenna Canady, and Isabella Sedra; eight nieces, Reta (Ron) Norton, Teresa (Tom) Sayre, Anne (Paul) Piccirillo, GiGi (Ray) Webb, Jennifer Gammill, Lynn Russell, Amanda (Roy) Harris, Gayla (Edward) Thompson; three nephews, Scott and Chad Wise, Justus Hyatt; cousins, other relatives and many friends.

In memory of Naveda, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to City Rescue Mission, 800 W. California Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73106