Jessie Kauk

Funeral services for Jessie Fern Kauk, 91, longtime Butler, Hammon and Leedey resident,  will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel.
She died Tuesday, Aug. 30, in the Corn Heritage Village at Corn.   
Jessie Fern (Payne) Higgins-Kauk was born Feb. 26, 1925, to Fred H. “Jack” Payne and Ruby (Edwards) Payne in Butler. She was raised in Butler and attended Pie Flat Country School.
She married Elmo Higgins Aug. 7, 1940, in Wheeler, Texas. They made their homes in Butler and Hammon where they farmed. She also owned and operated a café in Hammon as well as working at the Hammon School as a teacher’s assistant.  
She later married Delbert Kauk Dec. 13, 1969, in Elk City and in the 1980’s they made their home in Leedey.
She was a resident of Angelwood Assisted Living Center and Methodist Health Care Center before going to Corn.
She was a member of the Leedey Church of Christ, she enjoyed quilting, ceramics, and enjoyed long walks and spending time with her grandchildren.    
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Delbert Kauk, in January of 2014; her son, Jackie Higgins; granddaughter, Amy Switzer Jones; two sisters, Muriel Higgins and Beverly George; and an infant brother, Billy Payne.
She is survived by her daughter, Connie Gass, of Hammon; son, Gary Higgins and wife, Deborah, of Elk City; three step-daughters, Deanna Harris and husband, Don, of Weatherford, Rhonda Kauk of Lubbock, Texas, and Janet Switzer and husband, Gary, of Leedey; a sister, Elaine Bailey of Clinton; 12 grandchildren, Ricky Higgins, Bobby Higgins, Kelli Leverett, Debbie Spikes, Heath Higgins, John Paul Gass, Kimbre Danielson, Darin Higgins, Dena Bass, Dana Bradford, Darrell Switzer and Amber Mayes; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.  
Services will be officiated by Tom Harguess. Burial will conclude in the Butler Cemetery under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.