Rosehill Cemetery

Calera, Bryan County, Oklahoma

© Holmes Coffey Murray Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Dessie Lee McGeehee Luke

December 24, 1932 ~ October 17, 2021

Dessie Lee Luke joined her beloved Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, October 17, 2021, at the age of 88 in Calera, Oklahoma. She was born December 24, 1932, at Roberta, Oklahoma, to Roy Bibb McGehee and Winnie Ocie (Trammell) McGehee. Dessie married her sweetheart, F.B. Luke, on October 1, 1950, in Calera, Oklahoma. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Calera

Dessie was a life-long resident of Calera where she was a revolutionary businesswoman. She was changing the world for generations ahead as she and F.B. operated several businesses in their lifetime. Most notably they owned the local cafe in town for several years and founded Luke Bros Inc., in 1962. Dessie was instrumental to the success of the company until it closed in 2014. Her entrepreneurial spirit will be remembered as her family continues her legacy.

Dessie loved to help others. She always had a place for visiting missionaries or kids from the Baptist Children’s Home during the summer. Her favorite thing was to have all of her extended family gathered together at her house for holidays or any other occasion. For many years, there would be over 100 in attendance at Thanksgiving. She enjoyed a house filled with her family and friends. Everyone was always welcome in her home. She also loved her service to the church. Whether she was keeping toddlers or paying for the repairs of the building, her heart was in ministry.

Dessie was preceded in death by parents, Roy and Winnie McGehee, stepmother, Ruby McGehee, husband, F.B. Luke, brother, Troy McGehee, and sister, Margie Glenn.

Her living legacy includes her children, Eddie Luke and wife Debbie, Calera, Roger Luke and wife Fay, Calera, and Winnie DuPuis and husband Jim, Calera; her grandchildren Lance Luke and wife Kristie, Calera, Stephanie Luke, Calera, Frank Luke and wife Sandy, Knoxville, Iowa, Rebecca Luke-Allen, Calera, Erin Portman and husband Dustan, Perkins, Oklahoma, Brandon Buck and wife Tosha, Calera, and Chris Buck, Calera; her great grandchildren Evan and Kelsey Luke, Calera, Maddison Williams, Oklahoma City, Sydney Williams, Calera, Benjamin and Jonny Luke, Knoxville, Iowa, Luke Allen, Calera, Robert and Ryan Portman, Perkins, Oklahoma, Breauna, Tatum and Brayden Buck, Calera, and Emily, Coby, Timothy and Riley Buck, Calera; her siblings Willie Pennick, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Roy McGehee, Calera, Lenora Bills, Rogers, Arkansas, Ann Lloyd, Mesquite, Texas, Martha Goza and husband Glenn, Calera, Janie Pate, Calera, and Judy Yarbrough, Mansfield, Louisiana; her sister-in-law Elaine McGehee, Denison, Texas, and numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

Family hour will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 21, at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma. Services to celebrate Dessie’s life will be held Friday, October 22, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Calera with Michael Calhoun, Jacob Toews, and Jim Parrish officiating. Her final resting place will be at Rosehill Cemetery in Calera. Pallbearers will be Gary Weger, Bob Pennick, Ted Pass, Steve Glenn, David Goza, and Kenneth Pate. Honorary Pallbearers will be former employees of Luke Bros.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Rosehill Cemetery Association, PO Box 441, Calera, OK 74730.

Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, OK.