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TAHLEQUAH - Glenda Raedean Lefors Bear Ridenhour was born Sept. 3, 1934, in Siloam Springs, Ark. to Neill Lefors and Dorien (Howerton) Lefors. She passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 in Tahlequah at 74 years, 2 months and 29 days of age, after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was an only child.
She attended grades 1-12 at Checotah. She graduated from Checotah High School in 1952. She married Turner Bear Jr. in Aug. 1952. They divorced in 1979, but remained good friends.
Raedean and Turner had four children: James Gerry Bear and wife, Becki, of Broken Arrow, Neill L. Bear, of Tulsa, Sara Jane (Bear) Lamb, of Hulbert, and Alan Scott Bear, of Tahlequah.
Raedean was also married to Don Ridenhour in 1991, and they divorced in 1997.
Raedean retired from the State of Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Division of State Parks in January 2000 after 21 years of service as an administrative assistant. Previously, she was employed by Tahlequah Public Schools at Tahlequah Junior High as a registrar, and the OSU Extension office in Tahlequah as a secretary.
Raedean enjoyed traveling to Miami, Fla. to spend time with her family and friends. She loved watching NASCAR races, Jimmie Johnson being her favorite driver. NBA basketball was another of her passions, as well as Dog the Bounty Hunter and Gene Simmons’s Family Jewels.
She was preceded in death by her parents; aunts, Grace Denton of Miami, Fla., and Chloe Pitts, of Tulsa.
She leaves behind four children: James Gerry Bear and wife, Becki, of Broken Arrow, Neill L. Bear, of Tulsa, Sara Jane (Bear) Lamb, of Hulbert, and Alan Scott Bear, of Tahlequah; three grandchildren: Brett Alan Bear, of Hulbert, Ashley Nicole Bear, of Broken Arrow and Stillwater, and John Lefors Lamb, of Hulbert; aunt, Donice Jones, of Grove; cousins: Bonnell Denton and wife, Nancy, of Miami, Fla., Gary Denton, of Miami, Fla., Janet Stansell and husband, Joe, of Colcord, Joey Jones, of Bentonville, Ark., Lavine Pitts, of Broken Arrow, and Lee Ivan Pitts and wife, Barbara, of Grove; her Yorkie, Little Bear; and cat, Callie Ann. She is also survived by very special friends, Edward Rogers, Ella Mae Bear and Emma Martin.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the scholarship fund established at Checotah High School in the name of Neill Lefors, a Vo-Ag teacher at Checotah High School at the time of his death. The scholarship is given each year to an outstanding FFA student, one boy and one girl for use toward the student’s college fund.
Very special thanks to the staff at Grace Living Center, in Tahlequah, on Cherrie Street, Carter Hospice, and Dr. Donna Schneider for their wonderful care of our mother during her last days.
Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 in the Reed-Culver Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Nukus Bear officiating.
Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 W. Delaware, 456-2551.
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