Barbara Jean (Turner) Cottle

Barbara Jean (Turner) Cottle of Blackwell, Oklahoma passed away surrounded by loved ones Sunday, October 12, 2025. She was 73 years old. Services will be held Friday, October 17th, 2025, at Bethesda Church in Blackwell, OK at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at the Blackwell Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Amy Stittsworth Funeral Home in Enid, Oklahoma.

Barbara was born to Velma (Barrows) and Murl Turner in Blackwell, Oklahoma on December 8, 1951. She attended Blackwell public schools where a counselor told her she would not make a good teacher after she said that’s what she wanted to be when she grew up (bet that counselor feels bad now, huh?). Nonetheless, she went on to graduate from Blackwell High School in 1970. At Blackwell High School she met the boy who would become the man of her dreams, Albert Cottle. He somehow won her over by lying about being a non-smoker and throwing his shoes from the balcony in the Poncan Theatre on their first date. They married on August 8, 1970.

Barbara and Albert had their first son, Albert Cottle, Jr. on October 1st, 1974. Barbara followed Albert Sr. to Germany in 1975 where the three of them lived for one year. While in Germany, she gave birth to a second son, Dyle Cottle on February 28, 1976. Barbara loved her time in Germany and often reminisced about making a trip back for more chocolate and bread.

After moving back to the States, Barbara worked various jobs to make ends meet, her longest stint of employment being at Knickerson Farms. She gave birth to her daughter, Melisa Cottle, on October 16, 1981. Ultimately, Barbara decided to dedicate her life to being a full-time homemaker, which was where she excelled. She spent her time doting on her children, bragging on her children, and grossing out her children by smooching with their dad in the living room where everyone could see.

She loved old movies and old movie stars, the music of The Beatles and Elvis, telling stories, playing bingo with her mom, watching game shows and soap operas, playing penny poker with her brothers and parents, and stuffing children with junk food. She had an imagination that was unmatched, a moral compass that pointed straight north and a fervor for life that frankly, her body could not meet the needs of. She was a Camp Fire Troop Leader, a mom who insisted on vacations to Oklahoma City every year no matter what the budget was, and a best bud to any kid within a five-mile radius. She was the mom who would wake kids up in the middle of the night to catch them up on a tv series, the aunt who would defend her nephews or nieces even if she saw them do something wrong, and the grandmother who made secret calls at 2 am asking grandkids to sneak in and get some candy. Maybe she wasn’t meant to be a teacher, but she was the best mom, aunt or grandma a kid could ask for. (Evidently, she was a pretty good wife, too, hence the smooching.)

She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Albert and Mandi Cottle of Owasso, Oklahoma, Dyle and Kaelynn Cottle of McCord, Oklahoma and Melisa Cottle-Rains and Jacob Rains of Blackwell, Oklahoma. Two sister in laws, Carla Turner and Beverly Turner, both of Blackwell, Oklahoma and a brother-in-law and wife, Alan and Anita Barber in Midlothian, Tx. Multiple grandchildren, Nicole Cottle, Sarah Cottle, Edison Cottle, Susan Cottle, Zack Cottle, Tyler Cottle, Kara Stinson, Emily Stinson, Ambrosha Ellis, Meyah Mooring, Matthue Mooring, Andrew Rains, Kara Rains, Zackary Rains and Rush Rains. She is also survived by two great grandchildren, Aria Cottle and Aries Bobbitt, and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews that she adored.

She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, and her brothers Benny Turner, Henry Turner, Jimmy Turner and her nephew Casey Turner.

Pall Bearers will be Albert Cottle, Dyle Cottle, Jacob Rains, Zack Cottle, Edison Cottle and Matthue Mooring.

Honorary Pall Bearers are Tyler Cottle, Leanna Cavanaugh, Lisa Toon, Sprig Turner, Jason Turner, Jeannie Turner and Gene Turner.

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