Mercer-Adams Funeral Service
Bethany, OK
(permission granted)

Willa Dean (Brakefield) was born on October 23, 1932 near Yukon, in Canadian County, Oklahoma, and passed on July 5, 2023, at her home in Moore, Oklahoma.

“Dean,” as she was known to friends, was raised on a dairy farm near the West Point Church and graduated from Yukon High School in 1951 as the class Valedictorian and captain of the girl’s basketball team. She married Harvey J. Wilson on September 13, 1952, a marriage and love that lasted until his death in 2008.  Dean was a lionhearted woman, daring to follow her husband to the oil fields of Libya, Mozambique, and Saudi Arabia with their three children beginning in the 1950s. The Wilsons went to Saudi Arabia in 1972 where Harvey was a drilling foreman for Aramco and Dean worked as a secretary for the drilling department until their retirement in 1987. She was a member of Community Christian Church in Moore and the Order of the Eastern Star.  Dean was the glue that held her family together. She was a reliable source of delicious meals, wanted things put away just so, and loved joyous festivity. She was a strong advocate for the education of her children and grandchildren, always ensuring they got the best education available, even if unusual. Her fantastic banana ice cream and chicken fried steak will be remembered and longed for by many for years to come. Remember her with love as you pass out candy to Trick or Treaters on her favorite holiday, Halloween. 

Dean is survived by her children, Joe and LuAnn Wilson of Jenks, OK, Diana and Denny Fenlon of Grove, OK and Penny Wilson Newton of Moore, OK.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sarah and Jose Salcedo, her children Leila and Ian Briscoe, Victoria and David Matthews; Daniel and Vesper Wilson and their daughter Thea; David Wilson; Sam and Katie Wilson; Rachael and Jeff Johnson and their son Finn; Michael Fenlon; John and Emily Newton; and Lara Newton.

Visitation will be Monday, July 10, 10am-8pm with family present from 5-7pm.

Funeral services will be 2:00pm, Tuesday, July 11 at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service Chapel.