Obituary for Jean Curran

Jean Curran

September 14, 1928 – April 10, 2023

Long-time former Ponca City, Oklahoma resident Jean A Rutledge Curran, forever young at 94 years of age, passed away on April 10, 2023 in Cedar Park, Texas. Viewing will be between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, Friday, April 28, 2023, at Trout Funeral Home. Her life will be remembered and celebrated with a Rosary at Trout Funeral Home in Ponca City at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church in Ponca City at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 29th. She will be laid to rest at a graveside service at the Catholic Cemetery in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Ponca City.

Jean was born to Homer C and Bernice J (Delaney) Rutledge on September 14, 1928 in Fayetteville, Arkansas where Homer owned a Piggly Wiggly store. Her parents soon moved back to their former hometown of Ponca City where Jean attended elementary, junior high and high school. With her Mother working for the war effort in Norman, Jean transferred briefly to Harding High School in 1942 (Oklahoma City) and then Monte Cassino Catholic Girls Boarding & High School from December 1942-April 1944 (Tulsa), where her great love for history and poetry was born and fostered. Jean returned to Ponca City High School, graduating in May 1945 before beginning studies at the University of Ohio in Athens in September 1945 where she completed one year.

At the beginning of the Spring Semester of 1946, Jean saw a handsome young man from the window of her dorm room and told her roommates, “Hands off girls; that one’s mine!”. After a short courtship, she married that handsome sailor, Thomas Joseph (Bud) Curran, Jr. on June 8, 1946.

Jean worked briefly for the Ohio University Veterans’ Office in Athens until their first child, Catherine (Kay), was born, after which she and Bud moved to Long Beach, California where he completed his Active Naval Reserve duty. The couple moved back to Ohio in the fall of 1948, where Bud resumed his studies at Ohio University and their second child, Linda, was born. Bud transferred to the new Franciscan College of Steubenville in the Fall of 1949, and he and Jean served as house parents until he graduated in May 1951. After the sudden loss of their unborn child, Richard, in March 1950, Bud and Jean were blessed with their fourth child, Mary, who was born in 1951. Soon after Mary’s birth, the couple moved to Ponca City, where Bud accepted a position at Conoco Oil Company.

Over the following 9 years, Jean and Bud had 7 more children, six of whom survived: Dana (1953), Elizabeth (Betty) (1954), Thomas (Tommy) (1955), Kelley (1957), Patricia (Pat) (1958), and Nancy (1960). Tommy’s twin, Michael (1955), did not survive birth. Bud started a real estate and insurance practice in 1960, and Jean began working at the local tag agency in 1963. She continued there until she accepted a position at Modern Supply Oil & Gas Company in 1969, working through 1974. In 1978, Jean accepted her most-loved post as Ponca City School Board Clerk, where she retired after 10 years of service in September 1988.

After nearly 58 years of marriage, Jean lost Bud, the love of her life, on April 30, 2004. She then moved to Broken Arrow where two of the couple’s children resided. Jean remained in Broken Arrow until March 2022, and, with family relocating as well, Jean moved to Grand Living, an assisted living center in Georgetown, Texas, where three of her children, a grandson, a niece and their families lived nearby. Although it was short, Jean relished her time at Grand Living, continuing her mantra of “living life to the fullest”. Jean’s positive attitude helped her to enjoy many of the social activities at Grand Living, from Chair Yoga to Friday Happy Hours to lunch and dinner with new friends. She loved to read, write poetry for special occasions, learn new things, sing, and keep up with current events. Jean would debate with anyone present who was willing, making sure that they knew that she might not agree with them, but she’d never hold their opinions against them, expecting that same gracious attitude from them.

But beyond her social interactions with friends, and much-cherished family gatherings, Jean had a penchant for sports, dancing and travel, passions that she and Bud shared throughout their marriage and that Jean continued to relish throughout her remaining years. Jean could challenge any sports fan’s trivia knowledge and loved to open conversations with discussions of the current season’s top scores and competitions for “her” teams. Jean was an inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to know her and a bit of a legend to those who had not yet met her but knew of her positive attitude, deep faith and honest reputation. And, as Jean always said when she signed off a phone call: “Hugs and kisses all around!”

Loved ones whom Jean will follow in passing are her brother William H (Bill) Rutledge, her mother Bernice Rutledge, her father and step-mother Homer and Greta Rutledge, her grandson Daniel Powell, daughters Mary Kassen and Kay Cox, grandson-in-law Jayson Carter and her son Tommy Curran. She was also preceded in death by many dear friends as well as Bud’s parents, siblings, cousins and their spouses, all of whom she loved dearly.

Surviving Jean are six daughters & spouses: Linda & Mike Couvillion of Fredericksburg, TX; Dana & Joe Chouteau, Georgetown, TX; Betty & Paul Powell, Northfield, MN; Kelley & Sid Fitter, St Augustine, FL; Pat & Doug Blake, Cedar Rapids, IA; and Nancy & John Riggins, Sugar Loaf Key, FL; Son-in-law & wife, Mike & Delene Kassen, Glenpool, OK; 13 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and spouses as follows: Michael, Maggie & George Flood, Atlantic Beach, FL; Stephen, Brittney, Madden, Marin, & Maisie Flood, Clovis, NM; Christina (Kassen) & Claire Carter, Tulsa, OK; Missy Kassen, Sand Springs, OK; Ben, May, Joseph, Luke & Bella Chouteau, Leander, TX; Jennifer (Chouteau), Olivia, Isaiah, Elijah, Victoria & Lydia O’Daniel, Edmond, OK; Siera O’Daniel & Robby Allen, Alexandria VA; Ann-Marie (Powell), Toby, Aiden, Sophie & Jack Begnaud, Inver Grove Heights, MN; Zach Fitter, Adele Wright & Eleanor Wright Fitter, Newport Essex UK; Dana (Blake), Ryan, Blake & Delaney Blum, Centennial, CO; Allie Blake, Cedar Rapids, IA; Leia (Riggins), Ryan, Tommy, & Patrick Barrett, Pipersville, PA; Jon-Ryan Riggins, Kylie Bunbury & Rumi Riggins, Santa Fe, NM ; Josh Bellmard, Jess & Miki Aldeghi, Arcata, CA. Jean is also survived by 6 “Zimmer” nephews and nieces, their spouses and their families, all of whom brought her such joy with their phone calls and visits, especially when she lived alone.

While Jean loved all flowers, especially Geraniums, she always believed in supporting the Opportunity Center in Ponca City for which she had such a personal affinity. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be sent to them at 3007 N Union St, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home