Bernice Baisden

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Bernice Baisden Obituary (2024) - Pryor, Oklahoma (gather.app)

Bernice Olga Baisden of Pryor, Oklahoma was born on July 24, 1925, in Bixby, Oklahoma and passed away peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2024, with her loved ones surrounding her in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 98. Bernice was blessed to be named after her Aunt Olga, but by her choice decided to go by her middle name instead. 

Bernice was born to Earl & Emma (Keith) True; she attended White Oak & Pryor grade schools until her family settled into the Cole Community where she attended until 8^th grade, later graduating from Salina High school in 1944. After graduating, she received a teaching certificate where she began teaching in a little country school in Lone Chapel for a year. She spent most of her life in the Cole Community with her mom, dad and six brothers milking cows, gardening, and farming. In 1945 after starting her teaching career, she met the love of her life Enslow “Bill” Baisden while he was stationed in the Army as a guard at the Prisoner of War camp outside of Pryor. They began their life together on March 7, 1945, and of this union, came five children. After he was discharged from the Army, they were expecting their first child, David and they made their way by train to Harts, West Virginia to meet the in-laws for the first time. After returning to Oklahoma, they rented a farm east of Pryor where they milked cows and farmed the land. While pregnant with her second son Jackie, she picked cotton while pulling her first son in a burlap sack. While residing on the farm, their three oldest children were born. Bill then took a job at National Gypsum and they bought a house in Pryor on Mayes Street where the two younger children were born. In 1978, after her mom passed away suddenly, they sold and moved out to the family farm to help take care of her father Earl until his death in 1982. After her husband retired, they made their way to Harts, West Virginia, where they built a log cabin and lived for 10 years. In 1992, after the tragic loss of her brother, John True, they decided to come back home to Pryor, where she lived the remaining years of her life. 

She was a very compassionate, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and friend to all she met. She never met a person that she wouldn’t give her last dime to or the shirt off her back. She loved spending every weekend with her big family cooking chocolate gravy, biscuits, bacon, hamburger casserole, and hockey puck hamburger, just to list a few. Even though times were hard, there was always enough food and love to last a lifetime. She enjoyed quilting, embroidering, and painting with her family. She always enjoyed the yearly True Family reunion. After health issues, she resided in the Claremore Nursing home for the last 13 years, where she was an avid Bingo player, and she would definitely let you know if she didn’t black out at least once. She was also loved by all the workers and made friends while living there. 

Bernice will be deeply missed by all that knew her. She is survived by her children, David (Phaisee) Baisden of Mountain Home, Idaho, Joyce Dean of Claremore, Doug (Tammie) Baisden of Adair, and Robin Lujan of Claremore; grandchildren, Jeff Dean, Willie (Shannon) Baisden, Jeremy (Charity) Dean, Cristal (Bryan) Buchfink, Amber (Gordon) Woods, Ashley Chapman, Emmalee (Tanner) Shriver, Enslow (Cindy) Baisden, Lisa (Chris) Wofford, Nathan Baisden, Edward Shannon, Justin (Jennifer) Baisden, Lenvil (Tina) Baisden, Elore (Chance) Capansky, Alesha (Davin) Blake, Tiffany Rose, Stephanie Byers, and Peggy Hubbard; great-grandchildren, Levi Dean, Dylan (Brecklynn) Dean, Skylier (Roper) Rulo, Lane (Bailey) Buchfink, Sierrah (Floyd) Ratcliff, Gage Dean, Nash Dean of Meridian, Idaho, Madison (David) Vega, Kolton Dean, Bryar Dean, Owen Dean, Adeline McComb, Jayden (Julee) Baisden, JC Baisden, Jacob Baisden, Joey (Cara) Dilbeck, Danika (Mike) Dilbeck, Marshal Dilbeck, Dakota Baisden, Katelyn Baisden, Robert Maltby, Damion, Isabella & Quinton Wofford, Jackie Baisden, Morgan & Tanner Baisden, Elydia & Jacoby Shriver, Dryton, Isaiah, Atticus, Kailynn & Finley Baisden, Blayne, Bryleigh, Blayze, Kaylor Parmley, Bliss, Cohen & Mannie Capansky, Cheyenne, Shelby & Elwyn Blake, Abby, Emma, Sarah & Maverick Byers, Dawnte, Cortana, Coraline Rose, Branden (Kirstie) Woods, Loren (Josh) Kenser, Megan Woods, Alice & Seth Francis, Carmen & Destiny Reese & Chris Stockfleth, Preston & Madison Hubbard; great-great grandchildren, Ky Vann, Hazen and Gloria Rulo, Maple and Juniper Dean, Kyra, Stella and Lil Tex Buchfink, Oliver Dilbeck, Ezra Wheatley, Vanessa and Lil Michael Ratcliff, Preston Baisden, Elizabeth Fisher, Koa Vega, Altus Maltby, Carsen, Jaxen and Easton Woods, Kayden and Paisley Kenser, and Austin and Sehra Francis, as well as one on the way, Sutton Dean Buchfink; her last living brother, LW (Steveanna) True of Pryor, Oklahoma; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Emma True; her loving husband of 52 years, Enslow “Bill” Baisden; son Jackie Dale, sons-in-law, Tex Dean and Michael Lujan; daughter-in-law Mimi Baisden; brothers and sisters-in-laws, Ed (Delois) True, Boyd (Nina) True, Lawton (Sue) True, Dennis (Louise), John (Carol) True, Nora Baisden, Kate Baisden, Ann Adams, Stella Mullins, and Liza McKenzie; brothers-in-law, Cas Baisden, and Byrd Baisden; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Funeral services for Bernice will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 29, 2024, in the Shipman's Funeral Home Chapel in Pryor with Pastor John Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Graham Memorial Cemetery in Pryor with Enslow Baisden, Justin Baisden, Lenvil Baisden, Jeremy Dean, Dylan Dean, and Lane Buchfink serving as casket bearers. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at Shipman's Funeral Home. To leave her family a message, please visit her guestbook at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service of Pryor.