A viewing for Valera Jean Southwell, 89, of Chickasha will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 3, 2021 at Ferguson Funeral Home with cremation to follow.

Valera Jean Southwell was born December 6, 1932 in Thomas, Oklahoma to Fred Calkins and Mona (Littleton) Calkins. She died December 21, 2021 in Oklahoma City surrounded by her loved ones.

Valera graduated from Thomas Schools. She married George Cox and to this union her son Stephen was born. Shortly thereafter they divorced and she married Virgil Southwell who adopted Stephen as his own and they then had Eugene, known as Yogi.

She worked as a nurse’s aide at Cherokee Municipal Hospital and then Grady Memorial Hospital until her retirement. She and her friend Mabel volunteered at the hospital for a couple years as candy-stripers.

Valera enjoyed baking, cooking, and sewing. She loved fishing and camping.

She was preceded in death by both parents and her husband of 36 years, Virgil Southwell.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law Eugene “Yogi” and Echo Southwell of Chickasha; son and daughter-in-law Stephen and Annie Southwell of Eufala; sister Shirley Calvert of Edmond; aunt Claudine Livingood of Del City; grandchildren Derick and Jerica Southwell, Hunter and Brittani Southwell, Shannon and Bronson Morgan, Tapatha and Kevin Ayers, and Melody and Francisco Serraeo; great-grandchildren Logan, Konner, Kegin, Kali, Kaden, Kason, Alexis, Holly, Stephen and Shanna; four great-great grandchildren and other extended family and friends.

The cremation arrangements and a private burial of cremains at a later date, held in Fairlawn Cemetery, are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.