Effie Helen Lenard, a longtime resident of Collinsville, Oklahoma, passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at her home. She was born October 4, 1931, in Inola, Oklahoma, to Irvine and Edna Kilpatrick.In her teen years the family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she graduated with Webster High School Class of 1950. While attending Evangelistic Temple in Tulsa, Pastor Pringle challenged her to become an ordained minister, which she did. She pastored a little rock church in Oologah, Oklahoma, from 1951 to 1956.
In 1954, she met Claud Lenard and they were married on January 27, 1956, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She followed Claud to El Paso, Texas while he was in the service, and worked for the Assembly of God church. In 1963, they returned to Collinsville, which was her home until her death.
Effie wore many hats during her lifetime, several of those in Collinsville. She and her mother had a ceramic store on Main Street, carrying the latest craze in arts and crafts….. remember fake fur flowers? She loved doing creative things. And for 35 years she made many brides very happy, helping to plan their wedding, making their bouquets, servicing the reception, and photographing the day. She was a professional photographer, capturing many beautiful memories. You could always count on her to have her camera handy, attached to her shoulder so she could take your picture. We are sure if she knew you, she has a picture of you. She is probably most famous for her wonderful peanut brittle. Many people, from all over Oklahoma and Texas, can attest to how wonderful it was. Her slogan was, “it is good as long as it lasts”.
She is survived by her husband, Claud Lenard, of the home; son, Randal Lenard and his wife Donna, of Corpus Christi, Texas; daughter, Sandi Lenard, of Collinsville, Oklahoma; and stepdaughter, Phyllis Chambers, of Skiatook, Oklahoma. Granddaughters, Angela Jackson and her husband Bragg, and Mindy Lenard, all of Corpus Christi, Texas; Detra Hollie, of Tulsa, and grandson Travis Nicholson and wife Ericka, of Woodland, Texas. Eight great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren. Two sisters, Edith Hearn and husband Jerry, of Chouteau, Oklahoma, and Evelyn Fifer and husband Charles, of Collinsville, Oklahoma. Sisters-in-law, Corene Johnson and husband Don, of Claremore, Oklahoma, and Mary Chew and husband Lee of Ramona, Oklahoma. And a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Edna and Roy Stewart, and father, Irvine Kilpatrick. Also, a brother, Leslie Butch Kilpatrick, and nephew, Jeff Kilpatrick, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2022, at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at the Mowery Funeral Service Chapel in Owasso with Pastor David Payne and Norbert Laengrich officiating. Serving as casket bearers will be Charles Wall, Dennis Lovett, Jason Kilpatrick, Mike Branen, Russell Mason, and Kenny Wilson. Honorary casket bearers will be Robert Blackwell, Mike Stucks, Carl Ward, B.F. Sadler, Gary Butler, Bill Breese, and Bill Bauman. Committal service and interment will follow at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Collinsville, Oklahoma. The family requests memorial contributions be made in Effie’s memory to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 1022, Owasso, Oklahoma, 74055-1022. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.
