Leola Crissie (Hawkey) Jurrens was born in rural Avon, SD to Lester George and Pearl Anne (Davis) Hawkey on May 1, 1925. She was the oldest of 4 daughters -Leola, Leona, Leora, and Alyce Caryl.  After graduating from Avon HS, she attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD and taught in a one room rural school for two years. She then married Lawrence Donald Jurrens, also from Avon, SD. They moved to Bartlesville, OK where Lawrence worked for Phillips Petroleum Co. and they were very active in the 1st Baptist Church. Leola cared for and loved on babies in the church nursery for over 40 years.

After caring for neighborhood children while their mothers shopped for groceries, etc. she turned this love of children into a full-time business - Bo Peep Nursery. She earned one of the first certified childcare licenses in the state of Oklahoma, raising three generations of children.

She enjoyed Bridge, Square and Round dancing, Women's Missions, traveling the world with her husband, and being with family and friends. She had a robust card ministry and kept up with many families. She was a blessing to all. She moved to Trinity Woods Senior Living in Tulsa, OK in 2005 and after her husband passed away, began ministry of visiting those without family in the Health Center.

Leola is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lawrence, sisters Leona Shea (Conley) and Leora Walsh (Lawrence), and brother-in-law George Burma and nephew Doyle Burma.

Remaining to cherish her memory are her two daughters Cheryl Tewell (Dennis) of Colleyville, TX, Rhonda Hicks (Edward) of Tulsa, OK, granddaughters Crissie Fortmeyer (Erik) of Colleyville, TX, and Lorrie Tewell, Euless, TX and grandsons Geoffrey Hicks of NYC, and Andrew Hicks (Veinia) of NYC, and three great grandsons (Spencer, Noah and Ethan), her sister Alyce Caryl Burma of Claremore, OK and many nieces and nephews.

Leola's goal was to reach 100 years old and we celebrated her 100th birthday in May 2025 with a huge party at Trinity Woods with over 100 family and friends in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Leola's Memory to:

Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children - Owasso Campus

300 Johnny Bench Drive - Suit 450

Oklahoma City , OK 73104

Private Family Services will be held.