Obituary for Bennie Jo Westerman

Bennie Jo Westerman

October 9, 1927 – February 28, 2021

Bennie Jo (Waits Westerman) left this earthly life to join her Heavenly Father on Sunday, February 28, 2021, at Rolling Hills Care Center in Catoosa, Oklahoma. She was 93 years young. A rosary service will be held on Friday, March 5, 2021, at Trout Funeral Home, 505 West Grand Ave, in Ponca City, Oklahoma at 6:00 p.m., with Deacon Dick Robinson of St. Mary’s Catholic Church officiating.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 408 South 7th Street, in Ponca City, Oklahoma with the Rev. Carson Krittenbrink as celebrant. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Face masks are required. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 9:45 AM. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Bennie Jo was born October 9, 1927, in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was the daughter and only child of Bennet Escridge Waits and Nita Idelle Palmer. Bennie Jo attended elementary and high school in Shreveport, LA before moving to Washington D.C. to join R.O.T.C 2nd Battalion, Co. H, in 1943-1944. She was proud of being asked to give a speech at graduation. Its title was “The Quiet Faith of Courage”.

Bennie Jo met her future husband Emilie Leo Westerman when she was 15 years of age. They were married in Oklahoma City on May 18, 1945, when he returned from the Army Air Force from World War II; she was 17 years of age. They were married for close to 65 years and of this marriage, 13 children were born. They raised their children in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Bennie Jo was a housewife, mother, caregiver, and volunteer. She was a voter registrar in Kay County until she and Emil moved to Osage County. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, she joined the “Mission Movement of Prayer” group, belonged to the “Power House of Prayer Circle”, was the Secretary for the St. Helena Guild, and a member of St. Mary’s Funeral Choir. She and her husband loved to travel. They belonged to the Oklahoma Sooner Dreamer Camping Club, Oklahoma National Campers & Hikers Association, Jetsetter Campers, and Conestoga Campers of Ponca City. Bennie Jo was a likable person who had a big heart and took care of her parents, as well as, other family and friends she came to know. Bennie loved to volunteer at the Osage County Senior Citizens. She greeted the elderly who came in for lunch, and served them their drinks and helped clean up afterwards. In her words “she couldn’t wait to go to work each day and have fun putting smiles on everyone’s face”.

Bennie is survived by 12 of her children, Chris and wife Debbie Westerman of Andover, KS, Theresa Clark of Oklahoma City, Elise and husband Bob Jimison of Muskogee, OK, Greg and wife Pat Westerman of Broken Arrow, OK, Cecilia Payne of Plano, TX, Emilie Chandler of Ponca City, OK, Marty and wife Diana Westerman of Murphy, TX, David and wife Suzette Westerman of Ponca City, OK, Marilyn and husband John Turvey of Ponca City, OK, Mike and wife Gena Westerman of Owasso, OK, Stephen and wife Melony Westerman of Collinsville, OK, Melissa and husband Steve Lucas of Wheatland, WY. Bennie Jo is also survived by 32 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Bennie was preceded in death by her parents, Bennet E. Waits, John and Nita Palmer Logan, her husband, Emil Leo Westerman, her infant daughter, Constance Mary Westerman, daughter-in-law, Teri Westerman, son-in-law Pat Chandler, grandsons, J.R. White, Daniel White, and Jeremy Westerman and great-great-granddaughter, Lailani Chandler.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the “Bennie Jo Westerman Remembered’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Team” at the following page “http//act.alz.org/goto/BennieJoWesterman” would be greatly appreciated.

Source: Trout Funeral Home