Memorial Services for Winifred LaVerne Metcalf, 88, of Fairview, will be held at a later date.  Arrangements by the Fairview Funeral Home Inc.

LaVerne Metcalf was born in Newport, Arkansas, on January 25 1935, to Earl and Vesta Marie (Willis) Baxter and passed away peacefully at the Okeene Hospital in Okeene, Oklahoma on September 5, 2023.  .LaVerne started school in Arkansas, then she attended school in Douglas, Arizona,  and finished school in Tulsa after moving back from Arizona with her parents.  She got married when she was 16. She met Earl Metcalf when she was 15 and he was 17.  They met at church.  Earl said he was at a revival and this really pretty girl was a few seats in front of him.  She turned around and he caught her eye, then she'd turn around and smiled periodically.

Earl joined the United States Navy and after basic training and being assigned to San Diego, California, he returned home and LaVerne and Earl were married October 14, 1952 at the young age of 16 & 18.  Crazy kids!  They were truly smitten with each other and remained smitten until his dying day. They really were crazy about each other.

While Earl served in the Philippines during the Korean War, LaVerne and the family remained in San Diego.  Earl was honorably discharged from the Navy on 15 December, 1955, and a short time later, LaVerne and Earl moved to Fayetteville Arkansas where Earl obtained his BS degree from the University of Arkansas.  LaVerne, Earl and their family moved to Massachusetts, then Illinois, Iowa, Utah, then to Ft Smith, Arkansas.  Earl then started working as the Curator of Sequoyah's Home, near Sallisaw. Oklahoma and they moved to Curator's home in Akins, Oklahoma, and they soon moved to Cleo Springs and then Fairview, when he transferred and become the Curator at the Sod House.  Earl was named Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, and Earl moved to Oklahoma City while LaVerne stayed in Fairview so the children could finish school.  LaVerne moved to OKC with him after Dave graduated high school.  After retiring from Oklahoma Historical Society, they moved back to Fairview.  LaVerne took the Administrator job at the nursing home in Waynoka.  After LaVerne began to exhibit signs of Alzheimer's, she went into the Okeene Nursing Home in 2017.

LaVerne Metcalf is survived by daughter LaGreta Metcalf, his son David Metcalf and wife Beverly, five grandchildren, Abby Gaisford, Joshua Dow and wife Danna, Justin Dow and wife Kim, Chad Metcalf and wife Kelley, and Jennifer Metcalf; and seven great grandchildren, Xyler and Liliana Toohey, Aydan and Hadlea Dow, Jaden, Ian, and Phoebe Dow.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Earl, and son James Everett Metcalf.

Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com.