Gloria Etta Criswell

Gloria Criswell, 87, of Wilburton, Oklahoma passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
Viewing will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025 at the Jones Harkins Funeral Home.
The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 4, 2025 at the Jones Harkins Funeral Home Chapel with Garnet Parks officiating. The burial will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Wilburton, Oklahoma.
Pallbearers will be Quint Hinson, Stephen Cecka, Brandon Deela, James Deela, Cory Wells, and Scotty Jones.
Gloria was born on February 21, 1938 in Earth, Texas to Willie Bob Jones and Lulu Oleta (Stanton) Jones. She married O.J. Criswell on September 24, 1955 in Terrell, Texas.
Gloria was the oldest of five kids. When she was very young, she helped take care of her brothers and sister. On Sundays, she would get them dressed and fed, then walk them to Church. She loved God and her church family.
She was a many faceted and talented woman. She enjoyed cooking. Her favorite times of year were Thanksgiving and Christmas; cooking for several days and spending time with grand kids and family.
When she had time in her younger years, she took art classes and painted numerous pictures. She and O.J. traveled across country to Alaska and other states.
She owned several businesses during her life in Wilburton and McAlester including: Yogurt N More, Vito's Restaurant, and Centennial Restaurant.
She loved and trusted God most of all. She looked forward to quiet mornings spending time reading the Bible and with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She loved to tell her family, friends, and anyone she was around about Jesus Christ, His Word, and the miracles He did in her life.
One of Gloria's favorite bible verses was John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughters: Cheryll Cecka and husband, Larry, and Brenda Deela and husband, Dennis; grandchildren: Stephen Cecka and Kristina, Kaylea Cecka, Brandon Deela and Christina, Sonja Donoley and J.R., Joshua Criswell, Joshua Riley, Harley Criswell, and T.J. Criswell; great-grandchildren: Preston, Lucas, Chrisdon, James, Cody, Chet, and Hayleigh; nephews and nieces: Quint Hinson, Danna Power and Corey, Kathy Jones and John, Scotty Jones and Liz; Carla Jones, and Tricia Jones; and other family and friends.
Gloria is preceded in death by her husband, O. J. Criswell; sons: Oliver Ray Criswell, and Timothy Dale Criswell; parents: Willie Bob Jones and Lulu Oleta (Stanton) Jones; brothers: Johnny Jones, Carl Bruce Jones, and Billy Jones; sister, Darlene Hinson; and nieces: Johnna Stamper, and Kimberley Vaughn.