Mable Duerksen
A chapel service for Mable Duerksen, 87, Corn resident, will be held at 10 a.m. today (Tuesday), in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel at Clinton.
Mrs. Duerksen died Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, in the Methodist Health Care Center in Clinton.
She was born Jan. 4, 1928, to John C. Vogt and Lena (Penner) Vogt in Corn.
She was raised in Corn, where she attended Corn High School and was the salutatorian of the 1946 graduating class. She continued her schooling at Corn Bible Academy and graduated in 1947. She was married to Rev. Vernon R. Duerksen on March 28, 1948, in Corn. He pastored in the Mennonite Brethren Churches and they made their homes in California, Arkansas and South Dakota before settling at Corn in 1970.
Mrs. Duerksen was preceded in death by her husband in August of 1970.
She continued her education at Southwestern State College in Weatherford and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972.
She became a resident of the Methodist Health Care Center in 2008. While at the retirement center, she became a book buddy to the pre-kindergarteners who attend their classes there.
She was a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church and spent time reading religious material. She was an active member of the Home Improvement Club of Extension Homemakers in Corn. Mable was also active in preserving and studying the history of Washita County. She enjoyed writing for the Children’s Missionary Conferences Christian Magazines, as well as the Washita County Enterprise. She liked to cook and was considered a champion cake maker.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, John Cary Vogt; a daughter, Sharon Flaming; and a sister, Lela Mae Huebert.
Survivors include a daughter, Debbie Carlisle and husband, Kenny, of Clinton; two sons, Tim Duerksen and wife, Cristy, of Pryor, and John Duerksen and wife, Cora, of Oklahoma City; son-in-law, Dwayne Flaming, of Durango, Colo.; and two sisters, Sara Flaming and husband, Ken, of Piedmont, and Martha Chappell and husband, Richard, of Houston, Texas.
She is also survived by nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be officiated by Brother Tim Duerksen. Interment will be in the Corn Cemetery, under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.