ODESSA FAYE ST. JOHN

ODESSA FAYE ST. JOHN Odessa Faye St. John, age 89, of Durant, OK, passed away on September 11, 2025, with her daughter by her side. She was born on February 1, 1936, in Bokchito, OK, to Debs Grace Payne and Flaudelle Frazier Payne. Odessa grew up in Bokchito, OK, and graduated from high school in 1954. She then attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she earned her B.S. degree in education in January 1958. During her time in college, she worked several years for Woolworth Co. and T.G.&Y. stores. After college, she taught for four years in Gallup, New Mexico, and two years in Banning, California. She later returned to Bokchito, OK, where she taught for six years and was honored as Bryan County Teacher of the Year in 1967. During this time, she married Eudis St. John on July 26, 1963, in Durant, OK. Odessa retired from teaching shortly before the birth of her daughter, Gretchen Lynn St. John, on October 22, 1969. Odessa was proud of her Choctaw heritage and was an active and founding member of the Choctaw Senior Citizens, where she planned out many of their long trips over the years. She was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Durant, OK, where she served as a deacon for six years, worked with the youth, was on the committee for providing Christian educational sessions, and is a life-long honorary member of the Presbyterian Women. One of her greatest passions was gardening, and she took pride in creating and caring for a beautiful landscape of flowers and plants. She was a state life member of the Oklahoma Garden Clubs and an active member of the Rose Garden Club for 28 years, serving as President for six of those years. Other hobbies include taking care of her family and home, and spending time with her grandchildren. She valued cleanliness and order, often living by the motto, 'A place for everything and everything in its place.' She is preceded in death by her husband, Eudis St. John. She is survived by her daughter, Gretchen Tolbert, and son-in-law, Steve Tolbert, of McKinney, Texas; her granddaughters, Haley, Kylie, and Courtney Tolbert, who were her pride and joy; and her half-sisters, Brenda Horner of Bokchito, OK, and Dianne Clark of Celina, TX. A Celebration of Life will be held on September 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Durant, OK. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church, 501 N. 15th Ave., Durant, OK 74701. Services are under the care of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home, 121 North 5th Ave., Durant, Oklahoma 74701. www.holmescoffeymurray.com