Arla Joy Ash

Memorial services for Arla Joy Ash, 76, of Yukon, formerly of Hammon, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Community Fellowship Church in Hammon, with Dolan Ivey officiating.

Mrs. Ash died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City. She was the daughter of Carl Albert and Ada Lee (Hart) Dean.

She graduated from Hammon High School and received her teaching certificate from Oklahoma State University before going on to teach at Littleton, Colo. and Cheyenne.

She met Charles “Chuck” Ray Ash while she was working at Honeywell in California, and they married in Hammon on July 9, 1965 at her childhood home.

Two years later in 1967, they moved to Hammon, where they farmed and raised Brangus cattle, exotic birds and lamas.

In 2002, her husband wanted to go back to Missouri. They bought a farm close to Verona, Mo. near where Chuck grew up. He preceded her in death on April 12, 2013. She moved to Yukon in November of 2013.

Survivors include one brother-in-law, Ron Yoxsimer, of Oklahoma City; seven nieces, Jo Marilyn Anderson, of California, Greta Goolsby, of Weatherford, Texas, Theresa Smith, of Yukon, Tonda Duncan, of Goodland, Kan., Cindy Hofacer and Margo Maberry, both of Oklahoma City, and Sherry Walker, of South Carolina; and nine nephews, Rick Dean and Andy Dean, both of Edmond, Jerry Dean, Gary Dean and Mike Dean, all of Hammon, Steve Yoxsimer, of North Carolina, Grey Yoxsimer, of Midland, Texas, Roger Yoxsimer, of Florida and Joe Walker, of Annapolis, Md.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Chuck Ray Ash; her parents, Carl and Ada Dean; two sisters, Opal Walker and Naomi Yoxsimer; four brothers, Ted Dean, Junior Dean, Pete Dean and Melvin Dean; and one niece, Carlene Dean Wooley.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Red Star Cemetery Association in care of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home, 600 W. Country Club Blvd., Elk City, OK 73644.
Interment will be at Red Star Cemetery in Leedey.