Ms. Alice Irene Dejear, in her 91st Season, Peacefully Transitioned to Rest with her loving family near on the evening of Monday October 26, 2020.

Alice Irene DeJear was born on June 3, 1929 in Nuyaka, Oklahoma to the late Taylor and Alice F. Jordan Ross.  She was the youngest of seven children:  Leonard Casteel, Clifton Casteel, James Ross, Alvin Ross, Joshua Ross, and Helen Ross Higgins (her only surviving sibling who resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

Irene attended elementary school in Nuyaka before the family relocated to the Beggs area and she started attending Wheatley schools and graduated from high school there in 1946.  She loved Wheatley and continued to be an active member of the Wheatley Schools Reunion Organization for many years.

On November 25, 1947, she married the love of her life, Marshall Leo DeJear.  They were married 71+ years until Marshall's death in February 2019.  To this union, there were five children:  Marvin, Helen, Dwight, Kenneth, and David who died at the age of 44 in 2001.

Irene was an intricate part of the family's farming operations hiring and managing the workers until 1965 when she began her working career with Community Action as a guidance counselor.  She then went to Tri-County Tech working for several years as a Job Placement Counselor.   Irene was responsible for helping many students pursue successful opportunities in occupations such as Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Welding, Machinist, Cosmetology, and Business, just to name a few.

She was inspired to begin her formal education at Bacone College in Muskogee and later attended Rogers State College in Claremore, Oklahoma and graduated with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in 1974.  She was instrumental in the achievements of many.  In addition, she helped high school students in summer work study programs.

Irene loved cooking and having family and friends in her home for Sunday dinner.  Regardless of who and how many showed up, there was always plenty to eat.  She enjoyed fishing and having fish frys.  In addition, she enjoyed quilting, gardening, canning and making homemade jelly which her children and grandchildren were always excited to receive a jar or two.

Irene, Marshall, and family were faithful members of St. Therese Catholic Church in Beggs until it closed.  The family joined Uganda Martyrs Catholic Church in Okmulgee.  Irene also served as an active member of the St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court #55.

Cherishing her loving memory, she leaves three sons:  Marvin and wife Pauline of San Antonio, Texas, Dwight and his dear friend Roberta, Kenneth and wife Linda, and her only daughter Helen and husband James; eight grandchildren: Melanie (Floyd), Alecia, D'Andre (Shawna), Marvin Jr., (Deidre), Marshall II (Tamyra), Bryan (Tierra), Kendra, and Ryan (Macayla); 15 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson.

**The Services will be streamed via Facebook Live on Biglow Funerals**  The Family is Asking for friends to please stream the service to prevent a large crowd gathering, and please attend the Sunday visitation instead.

Burial will take place at Beggs City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday November 1, 2020 from 2PM until 4PM in The Okmulgee Chapel.