Velma Anson

Funeral services for Velma Louise (Ivey) Anson are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, May 17, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Seminole.

Rev. Joseph P. Schwarz will officiate. Burial will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens, Seminole, under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home.

Visitation is planned for 6 p.m. Sunday at Swearingen Chapel, followed by a rosary at 7 p.m.

Mrs. Anson died Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at her home, east of Seminole, with her family around her, at the age of 98.

She was born June 6, 1922, in Tulsa to Robert Clifton and Katie Lee (Smith) Ivey. She was one of 13 children and graduated from Seminole High School. She lived most of her life in the Seminole area.

She married Joseph William Anson, the love of her life, on Oct. 25, 1942. Together they had 18 children. They were married more than 66 years before his death, March 28, 2009.

They were founding members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, which Mrs. Anson attended as long as she was able.

She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, spending her entire life in the service of her family.

She was the patient and loving matriarch of a family that eventually numbered in the hundreds, and she was an inspiration to each and every one.

Her gentle love passed from heart to heart, not only through her family, but through everyone who ever met her.

Because of her legacy of love, passed on and on, the world will always be a better place.

Mrs. Anson was also preceded in death by two granddaughters, Jennifer Diane Gillespie and Tina Marie Conatser; one grandson, Richard Paul Heard; sons-in-law, Billy Gillespie and Buddy Heard; by her parents; five sisters, Evelyn, Mildred, Margaret, Anita and Helen; and six brothers, Bill, Bob, Leon, George, Fred and Ray.

She is survived by all 18 of her children and many of their spouses: Joseph Jr. and Rebecca Anson, Kathleen Heard, Patty and Tommy Moore, Chris and Teresa Anson, Jerry and Karen Anson, Mary Black, Teresa Dice, Annie Gillespie, Robert and Terri Anson, Eddie Anson, Priscilla Freeman, Lisa and Pat Lee, and Dan and Kim Anson, all of Seminole County; Linda and Ross Donnelly of Apex, N.C.; Doris and Loyd Perry, Pink; Sue and Tom Wolf, Newkirk; David Anson, Wetumka; Pam and Jim Browning, Irving, Texas; 54 grandchildren, 94 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Jean and James Keener, Roseville, CA.

Pallbearers will include her grandsons, Jason and Scott Dice, Paul and Marcus Freeman, Ryan Anson and Joshua Black.

The rest of her grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorial donations may be made to the Seminole Free Medical Clinic, PO Box 854, Seminole, OK 74818.