Jacqueline Cloninger
Funeral services for Jacqueline (Rightnowar) Cloninger, 50, at 2 p.m. former Clinton resident who was living in Hydro at the time of her death, Saturday in the First Methodist Church of Hydro.
She passed away Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, at Cancer Treatment Center in Tulsa.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Renee Cloninger was born Aug. 31, 1965, to Harley “Jack” and Katrina (Williams) Rightnowar in Clinton. She grew up in Clinton across the street from her grandparents and her Aunt Cheri, whom she loved like a sister. She attended school in Clinton and was a member of the Red Tornado jazz choir and Clinton Roundup Club, graduating in 1983.
Throughout high school and college, Jackie was an active member of the International Order of the Rainbow for girls as chaplain for the state of Oklahoma, and was ambassador to the Mississippi Rainbow chapter. She followed Rainbow with membership in the Order of the Eastern Star.
Mrs. Cloninger attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University, earning bachelor’s degrees in accounting and computer science in 1987, and began working on her Master of Science degree in computer science at Oklahoma State University in 1988.
In 1989 she married Eric Cloninger, at Clinton, and the couple made their home in Stillwater while they attended Oklahoma State University. Later they lived and worked in Denver, Colo., and Austin, Texas, before returning to Hydro in 2001.
She loved working in her community and helped start the Hydro Public Library with a group of volunteers, and operated it until 2004. She led the Hydro-Eakly 4-H program for years, leading a generation of students to dress reviews, demonstrations, and Share the Fun events. She also volunteered with Hydro Little League teams, the Hydro Free Fair, and teen bowling leagues. She served her community as trustee of the City of Hydro for several years until her death.
Cloninger found her spiritual home as a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hydro, where she was secretary for many years.
She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents, Don “Dude” and Vivian Williams.
Survivors include her husband; two children, Elijah, of Stillwater, and Ysabeau; her mother; a brother, Harley “Trey” Rightnowar, of Clinton; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces.
Memorials in Jackie’s name may be made to the Jackie Cloninger Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of Bank of Hydro, P.O. Box 7, Hydro, OK 73048.
Services will be officiated by Pastor Ted Uhlig and Pastor Brandon Blacksten. Interment will follow at Hydro Masonic Cemetery under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.