Submitted by
Louise Willison

Cleo Marie Wagers

Cleo Marie Wagers, longtime Newkirk resident, died Sunday, July 30, 2006, in the Ponca City Nursing Center. She was 79.

Funeral services have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, in Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel with Bishop Lawton Wood, minister of the Ponca City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints officiating. Burial will follow in Newkirk Cemetery. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

The family will meet at the Clint Summitt residence, 108 South Walnut, Newkirk. The body will lie in state at the funeral home Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Cleo Marie Carson was born Aug. 12, 1926, on the family farm east of Newkirk, the daughter of David "D" Dunn Carson and Alpha Retta Ramsey Carson. She grew up in the rural Newkirk area, attending several rural schools and Newkirk High School. When she finished her education she was employed by the cleaners in Newkirk.

On Nov. 26, 1941, Cleo and Woodrow Kent were married in Newkirk. They made their home in a pole tent behind his grandparents' house on Indian land south of Ponca City. When the weather turned cold, they moved in with his grandparents.

Cleo married George Elmer Anderson Dec. 7, 1946, in Winfield. They established their first home on a farm east of Newkirk. They moved to California for a short time, returning to Kay County.

On April 13, 1951, she and Billy Dean Baugus were married in Newkirk. They made their home in Blackwell, moving later to Newkirk and then Great Bend, Kan. where he worked in the oil fields.

Harold Glenn "Teen" Wagers and Cleo were married June 16, 1966, in Forsyth, Mo. They made their first home in Ponca City, later moving to Arkansas City where they lived for five years. In 1973 they moved to a farm east of Newkirk where they resided the rest of their married life. Mr. Wagers died Oct. 23, 1984.

Her work history included working for Ballard Cleaners of Ponca City; Troy Cleaners of Ponca City as a professional silk finisher; Premere Corp. of Arkansas City; Quick Stop in Newkirk; Pinkerton Security at Conoco; and Greenfield Nursery in Newkirk.

Cleo was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She enjoyed raising her children. Having the personality of early pioneers, she sewed for her family and crocheted. She was endowed with a green thumb and shared her knowledge with others. She enjoyed traveling and visiting family.

Her survivors include three sons, Boyd Leon Anderson and his wife Nina of Denver, Billy Pryor Baugus of Ponca City and James of Broken Arrow; one brother, Dale Leon Carson of Poolville, Texas; one sister, Wanda Jeannean Wanko of Ponca City; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband Teen Wagers, she was preceded in death by six children, Babe Kent, Loretta Sue Kent Summitt, Dora Luella Kent, Connie Marie Baugus and stillborn twins. She was also preceded by her parents; two brothers, Richard Carson and Paul D. "Bud" Carson; one sister, Eva Lee Huffman; and two grandchildren, Harold Ray Anderson and David J. Kent.

Those serving as casket bearers will be Kevin Huddleston, Bud Lewman, Freddy Lewman, John Free, Ron Dobson and Charles Romine. Honorary casket bearers are Guy Brown, Sequoia Brown, Charles Brown, J.B. Ramsey, Ron Ramsey and Bob Ramsey.