Geneva M. Falling

Geneva Mae (Samples) Falling, 87-year-old Vinita resident, passed away Sunday, August 3, 2025, surrounded by loving family. She was born on March 14, 1938, in Parsons, Kansas to Roy Buford Samples and Hazel May (Williams) Samples. While working at Eastern State Hospital in the Laundry Department she met the love of her life George Washington Falling and they were married on November 3, 1962. They moved to a farm in the Centralia area where she became a housewife and stay at home mom while her and George together raised six children. They later sold the farm and moved to Tahlequah where she attended college at Northeastern State University and graduated with a double major in Criminal Justice after which they moved back to Vinita and the Grand Lake area so she could be near her children and grandchildren. Geneva was known for her nurturing personality taking care of everyone. She treasured spending time with her family creating lasting memories that are now cherished by those she leaves behind. She was a woman of many interests and passion who excelled at everything she did. Geneva enjoyed so many activities throughout her life and had many talents. She was a gifted oil painter leaving behind her painting that will be treasured by those she loved. She loved sewing and was an avid quilter, member of several quilting club along with giving quilting lessons, those quilts that she gifted will become treasured heirlooms. She served on the board at Fairland Senior Citizens Center and delivered meals on wheels in the Vinita area. She especially loved to dance but most of all she loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, always making sure family members knew they were loved beyond measure and taught us all the values of care, kindness, and the importance of family. She was member of Bernice Baptist Church.
Preceding her in death includes her parents, husband George Washington Falling in 2009, siblings Tommy Samples in 1986, William Vernon "Bill" Samples in 2013, Roy Lee Samples in 2003, Wilma Lee Barger in 2002, son Bobby Lee Falling in 2021, grandson Toby Lee Falling in 1999 and great-great-grandchild, Harper Rose Briar.
The family includes her children, daughters' Debbie Dean Stanley of Vinita and SharonKay Champlin and husband John of Muskogee, sons, George Glen Falling and wife Debbie of Moore, Marty Louis Falling and wife Teresa of Riverton, Kansas and Fred Ray Falling and wife Kim of Vinita: grandchildren Brandi Carpenter, Courtney Young, Bronwyn Phillips, Attalie Czarnecki, Jennifer Briar, Tabitha Schwenk, Jake Falling, Jacqueline Smith, Misty Falling, Robert Falling, Tracey Falling and Robbie Falling, twenty great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren (with two on the way).
The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at Burckhalter-Highsmith Chapel in Vinita.
The celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Bernice Baptist Church, Pastor Dean Williams will officiate. Interment will follow at Timpson Chapel Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Richard Capenter, Jerry "Peanut" Young, Zack Phillips, Jake Falling, Ty Young, Cooper Gibson, Zane Young, and Ky Young.
Online condolences may be made at www.highsmithfh.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of the Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral and Cremation Services of Vinita. "Vinita's only locally family owned and operated funeral home."