Obituary for Ernestine Henrichs

Ernestine Mae Henrichs of Medford, Oklahoma, died Sunday, February 8, 2015, in the Servant Living Center in Medford at the age of 85 years.

Ernestine Mae Henrichs was born on May 26, 1929, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, to Walter Helmuth and Geneva Mary (Barnhart) Rahlf. She grew up in Blackwell and attended Blackwell Public Schools. Following her education she married Oliver Joe Brown in 1946 and they settled in various states where his work took them. She later attended nursing school in Winfield, Kansas. She married Leo Charles Henrichs on May 31, 1974, in Blackwell and they settled in Wichita,Kansas. They later moved to Newkirk, Oklahoma, where she operated a doll shop and taught doll making classes in Ponca City. She has donated three hundred dolls that are displayed in the Top of Oklahoma Historical Museum in Blackwell. She also worked for the Newkirk Nursing Home and other various jobs. In the early 1980’s they moved to Deer Creek, Oklahoma, to make their home. Her husband preceded her in death on July 18, 2001, and she continued living in Deer Creek before moving to Medford in 2010. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She also held membership in the National China Painters Association and the National Doll Makers Association. She enjoyed oil painting, collecting arrowheads, dancing, playing various games and loved being a rock hound.

She is survived by two daughters, Renee McNamara of Enid, Oklahoma, and Vernadine Shouse of Lake Charles, Louisiana; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

She was also preceded in death by three sons, Jody Brown, Walter Kirk Brown and Russell Wayne Brown; two brothers, Bob and Herbert Rahlf; and a sister, Bernadine Goddard.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 11th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel with President Bryant Hardy of Ponca City officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Jason Jones, Chris Jones, Chad McNamara, Tyler McNamara, Kirk Brown and Brett Mudgett.

A memorial has been established in her honor with the Top of Oklahoma Historical Museum in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.