Service held for Merle V. Henderson

Funeral services for Merle V. (Ogle) Henderson, a longtime Atoka resident, were held Monday, August 17, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Brown’s Funeral Chapel in Atoka with Dennis Powell officiating. Burial was in Bethany Cemetery, Atoka, with Brown’s Funeral Service of Atoka in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Henderson was born April 17, 1934 to Arthur Baxter and Josie Ozella (Armbrister) Ogle at Chattanooga, OK and passed away August 13, 2020 at her home in Atoka at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 27 days. She attended Centrahoma School and got her beautician license in Oklahoma City. Merle was a hair dresser, landlady and rancher. She married Jerry Wayne Henderson May 31, 1952 at Durant, OK and they celebrated 65 years of marriage before his passing November 15, 2017. Merle was a member of the Church of the First Born and dedicated her life to the Lord in 1973. She was Atoka Farm Bureau President of the Women Committee and active member of Atoka Trail Riders. Merle enjoyed traveling everywhere, riding horses and loved spending time with family, especially with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include a son, Randy Henderson and wife Sandra of Atoka; daughter Sherrie Heatherly and husband Jim of Atoka; grandchildren, Jeremy Henderson and fiance’ Megan of Durant, Brendan Heatherly of Atoka, Josh Henderson of Portland, OR, Logan Heatherly and wife Lindsey of Lafayette, LA, Jacob Henderson and wife Taylor of Oklahoma City, and Jenny Heathery-Schroeder and husband Drew of Chicago, IL; great-grandchildren, John Eskue, Tyler Henderson, Jackson Heatherly, Ellie Heatherly Jordan Schroeder, Hutch Heatherly and Hudson Heatherly; sister, Betty English of Oklahoma City; brother, James Ogle and wife Elaine of Oklahoma City; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruth Keeler of Oklahoma City, Frank Henderson, Artie Powell, both of Atoka, Fred Henderson and wife Judy of Oklahoma City, Ted Henderson and wife Pat, Mary Jane Ables, all of Atoka; special caregivers, Brenda Eaves and Brenda Wells, along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; twin brother, Earl Ogle; and other siblings, Lucille Watkins, Myrtle Walkup, Gladys Coffee, Melvin Ogle, Claude Ogle, Clyde Ogle, Lewis Ogle, Faye Cook, Erma Lange and Dean Ennis; sister and brothers-in-law, Ester Fincher, Jim Henderson, John Henderson, Perry Henderson and Marvin Henderson.

Casketbearers were Steven Chaffin, Larry Keeler, Brent Ables, Carl Henderson, Kenneth Henderson and Teddy Henderson. Honorary bearers were Fred Henderson, Ted Henderson, Frank Henderson, Shorty Henderson and Gary Keeler.

Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: browns@atoka.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.