Funeral services for Cora LaVerne Smithheisler Selvey, 95, longtime resident of Tonkawa,, will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 in the First Baptist Church of Tonkawa with Pastor Chris Short officiating. Committal prayers and interment will follow in Resthaven Cemetery, Ponca City, under the kind guidance of the Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service. Visitation with the family will be held from 4 to 7pm on Monday, June 6th at First Baptist Church in Tonkawa.
Cora LaVerne Smithheisler Selvey passed from this life on May 21, 2022, after having briefly resided at the Ponca City Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born East of Danville, Kansas on June 22, 1926, the daughter of Robert Michael Smithheisler and Grace Russell Smithheisler. Cora attended schools in Danville, Kansas, Anthony, Kansas and Marland, Oklahoma, graduating from Marland High School with the class of 1944. Upon graduation, Cora lived and worked in Wichita, Kansas for a brief period before marrying her high school sweetheart , Wayne A. Selvey in Wellington, Kansas on July 27, 1945. They made their home west of Marland where Wayne had begun farming. A year later, they added to this union, the first of their four children. Cora remained a homemaker, raising her children and tutoring them through school, 4-H, FFA, sports, college, and life. She babysat for friends and family throughout her life. She always made herself available to assist friends, family, church and community in times of need. Cora loved dancing, card playing, traveling, and camping; especially dancing. Wayne and Cora went dancing at every opportunity (Sometimes 2 or 3 times per week) until Wayne’s passing in 2013.
Cora is survived by her four children, Sharon Yost of Dallas, Texas, Jean Vasek and husband John or Perry, Oklahoma, Donald Selvey and wife Sharon of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Roberta Schneeberger and husband Daniel of Blackwell, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren; twenty-five great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Cora was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Selvey; brothers, Jim Smithheisler and John Wilfred Smithheisler; and sister, Virginia (Smithheisler) Thompson.
Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.
*Her family has requested that any memorial donations wished to be made in her honor be made online at donors@st.jude.org and highlight honor donations tab when making donation.
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