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John Ray & Tessie Faye "Tess" (Sanders) Gwaltney
Tombstone Photo
Dewey Cemetery
Dewey, Washington Co. OK

© Dennis Wilson

Obit for Tessie posted by Ann Weber
Sep 1, 1932 - Jan 20, 2021

STUMPFF FUNERAL HOME
BARTLESVILLE, WASHINGTON CO, OK
(permission granted)

Tessie Faye Gwaltney, 88, of Dewey, stepped from this earth into her heavenly home on January 20, 2021, at the Journey Home in Bartlesville.

Tessie was born to James Charney "Bruce" Sanders and Floy Mae Shackelford Sanders on September 1, 1932 in Gans, Oklahoma. In 1957, she married the love of her life, John Ray Gwaltney of Checotah, Oklahoma. They first lived in Bartlesville, then moved to the home they built on their acreage in Dewey, where they lived from 1968. Altogether, they shared nearly 56 years of marriage before he died in April 2013.

Tessie was also predeceased by her parents: two brothers, Hubert Sanders and Charles Sanders, her sisters Lorene Sanders Shelton, and LaRue Sanders Moore, and a niece to whom she was very close, Mary Shelton Hardt.

She is survived by her two, younger sisters, Joyce Sanders Butler of Austin, Texas and Bobbie Sanders Beil of Denver, Colorado. Tessie is survived by her children Debbie and her husband Tom Loafman of Bartlesville, Gary and his wife Debbie Gwaltney of Olathe, Kansas. She is survived by 5 grandchildren whom she loved wholeheartedly and knew for certain were near to perfect: Thomas Loafman and his wife Ashten, Travis Loafman, Laura Legg and her husband Matt, Kyle Gwaltney, and Cody Gwaltney and his wife Sawyer. She was also blessed with 6 great grandchildren who were the joy of her later years: Hadleigh Elizabeth and Camden Kate Legg, Ezra Jaymes and Brooks Thomas Loafman, Madison Nicole Gwaltney and a soon to be born baby boy Jack David Legg. Other family include a much-loved brother-in-law, many nieces, and nephews, as well as her friends, former students, and their parents.

Tessie grew up in Sequoyah County and graduated from Stigler High School. She then graduated from Conners State College and received her bachelor’s degree in education from Northeastern Oklahoma State in 1954. She taught school for over 30 years. The bulk of her career was spent teaching 2nd grade at Will Rogers Elementary in Bartlesville. She was a funny and kindhearted teacher. She truly loved children and received special joy in seeing them learn to read. Tessie was a member of First Baptist Church of Bartlesville for over 60 years. She loved the Lord. Her main ministry was remembering and encouraging others by sending cards with a personal note and a scripture she chose and printed out in her perfect 2nd grade teacher penmanship. From the time her grandchildren graduated high school until just recently, she sent each of them a personal note weekly to let them know she prayed for them and was thinking of them. This amounted to literally thousands of notes over the past 20 years.

The family will receive friends at Stumpff Funeral Home in Bartlesville on Thursday, January 28 from 5 to 7 pm. Services will be held at Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, January 29 at 11 am with a private burial to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to the Journey Home of Bartlesville or the Oklahoma Baptist Home for Children.