Jolene Shinn

Jolene Shinn, age 83, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Senior Village Nursing Center in Blanchard. Myra ‘Jolene’ Ernst was born April 17, 1942, in Cordell, Oklahoma, the elder of two daughters born to Alvin Ernst and Ina (Marshall) Ernst. She spent her early years growing up in Bessie, where she began school, later graduating from Clinton High School with the Red Tornadoes Class of 1960. She attended nursing school in Clinton and studied at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford. It was at SWOSU that she met Jerry Shinn. They were married at Peace Lutheran Church in Bessie and to this union two daughters, Jeralyn and Jaymi, were born. Jolene's friendly and compassionate nature served her well throughout her nursing career. She genuinely cared for people and was an excellent registered nurse. Early in her career she worked for Dr. Marshal Ingram in Hinton, and at Grady Memorial Hospital in Chickasha. The family later moved to Purcell, where Jolene worked at Purcell Municipal Hospital, Lexington Assessment and Reception Center (LARC), and Mid-America Technology Center, where she taught the Practical Nursing Program. In 1982, Jolene moved to Norman where she worked at Griffin Memorial Hospital as a training instructor. Later, she worked in the emergency room at Norman Regional Hospital, St. Anthony’s Hospital, and various other hospitals across Oklahoma City as a contract nurse. After her retirement in the early 2000s, she divided her time between her daughters in both Oklahoma and Michigan where she spent her days spoiling her grandchildren. Jolene was a gifted musician who delighted in singing and playing a variety of instruments, including the piano, organ, and accordion. An adventurous spirit, she enjoyed water skiing and pushing the limits in her Nissan 280ZX. Jolene was a lifelong animal lover and was rarely without a furry companion, most memorably her beloved Jazz cat. Above all, her heart was with her family, and she cherished being a mother and grandmother. She will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Ina Ernst, and her sister, Dorothy McCarty. Jolene is survived by her daughters, Jeralyn Woodall and husband Jeff of Tuttle, Oklahoma, and Jaymi Ratzlaff of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her pride and joy were her grandchildren: Jordyn Snow, Katlyn Ratzlaff, Broc Ratzlaff, and Aden Ratzlaff. Graveside funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Peace Lutheran Cemetery in Bessie, Oklahoma.

Jolene Shinn

April 17, 1942 - April 7, 2026