Dorothy Vema Cunningham

Dorothy Vema Cunningham, our beloved Mother, Grammie, GG, and Great-Great Grammie, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, July 21, 2017 in Oklahoma City at the age of 92. Dorothy was born to Otto Lester Parr and Eudora Pearl (Freeman) Parr on December 4, 1924 on Barnitz Creek in Arapaho, Oklahoma. Her attendance at Womble School near Arapaho ended after the eighth grade. Determined to complete her education and fulfill a dream, she received her GED in 1973 and then completed two years of college at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa. She and her sister went to Clinton one Friday night and a "smart aleck" guy drove by, honking and waving. That young man, Warren B. Cunningham, became her husband on Nov. 4, 1942. They left Arapaho 6 years later to buy a dairy farm in Pryor. They were blessed with a daughter, Connie Lynn, in 1949 and a son, Daryl Lester, in 1953. In 1957 they moved to a larger ranch and farm in Ponca City. Dorothy loved being a farmer's wife and rearing her children. She was an excellent cook and an accomplished seamstress. In 2007 she moved to Newcastle to be close to her daughter. Throughout her life, Dorothy was a faithful and active member of churches where ever she lived. She loved children and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She also enjoyed going to the public schools, reading to the children and dressing up to tell stories. While in Newcastle she had been a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church and later the Newcastle First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by: Parents, Otto and Pearl Parr; Husband, Warren Cunningham 11 brothers and sisters, Ray, Otis, J.R., Alvin, Elmer, Max and Lorin Parr, Vera Coulson, Verna Waltrip, Velma Wells and Gracie Hill. She is survived by: Daughter, Connie Nance and husband Jerry of Livingston, Texas, Son, Daryl Cunningham and wife Mary of Sulphur; OK. 6 Grandchildren, Scott Bogges and wife Meredith, Rebekah Jordon and husband Kenny, Jason Cunningham and wife Tara, Amy Kostecki and husband Curtis, Joy VanAuken and husband Jon, Geanna Huber and husband Richard. 19 great grandchildren, Brooke and Kayla Bogges, Alyssa and Cella Banks, Cydney, Tony and Shelby Fogle, Cade, Zane, Josiah and Grace Cunningham, Channing, Breana and Avery Kostecki, Page, Shannon and Hunter VanAuken, Kylie Huber and Tyler Huber; 7 great great grandchildren. Brooks and Bryton Buoy, Jayce, Jackson and Shanlie VanAuken, Emmit and Braxton; One sister-in-law; Wilma Parr of Arapaho; Many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday, July 24, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Newcastle. Burial will be at 3:00 PM at Arapaho Cemetery in Arapaho, OK. Arrangements are by Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Newcastle.

Dorothy Vema Cunningham

December 4, 1924 - July 21, 2017