Emma Lee Bennett

Emma Lee was born in Tuttle on March 27, 1922. She was the fourth child of Edward Reeder Coward and Bessie (Crouch) Coward. She attended primary and secondary schools at Tuttle, Bethany and Waukomis, Oklahoma. Because her formative years took place during the Great Depression, jobs were scarce. Thus, the Coward family moved several times as her parents carved out a living where they could - raising sheep, selling Watkins products, and managing the books for a service station. From the time Emma Lee was able, she began helping the family make ends meet. Once she turned 15, she spent summers doing housework, cooking, and childcare for a dentist's family in Bethany. Emma Lee graduated from Tuttle High School in 1940, and married Quentin Bomgardner on June 29 of the same year upon his return from duty within the 45th National Guard unit. She and Quentin were resourceful; they sharecropped, raised chickens to sell eggs, and sold milk from their cows. Her first son, Kenneth Wayne (Kenny), was born in July of 1941 and her second, Charles Teral (Terry) was born in June of 1943. Emma Lee writes of this time in her life: "We never had much money, but we loved our two boys. We always at least tried to have a good Christmas, and vacation each year." Quentin Bomgardner died suddenly in November of 1956. Her "resourceful" family theme was helpful during this time; she purchased a "fixer-upper" home, attended college in the morning, and worked at the Tuttle Post Office in the afternoons. Her post office job eventually grew to full time and she retired on April 2, 1982 at the age of 60. Emma Lee married Frank Bennett in November of 1959, and always appreciated how he loved his two stepsons as his own. They moved into his parent's home where they lived and farmed for many years. They then built a home together in 1984. Emma Lee lived there until a few years after Frank's death in February of 2009. Her final years were spent living in a Tuttle neighborhood across the street from her lifetime friend, Billie Lou Hinkle-Bobier. Emma Lee died on April 30, 2015 at the age of 93. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Quentin Bomgardner and Frank Bennett, brothers, Ashton, John (J.C.), Charles and Robert Coward, and her sisters Willa May Wallace and Mary Elizabeth Ferguson. She is survived by her 96 year-old sister, Catherine McLees, of Alexandria, VA, and by her sons, Kenny Bomgardner and wife, Gwendolyn of Tuttle, and Terry Bomgardner and wife, Marie of Burleson, TX; five grandchildren, Kelly Roberts and husband, Mick of Edmond, OK, Quentin Bomgardner of Norman, Oklahoma, Dale Bomgardner and wife, Kim, of Justin, Texas, Angie Ledbetter and Husband, Cody of Cleburne, TX, and, Tim Bomgardner and wife, Suzy of Johnson City, TN; eleven great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends. Emma Lee was known as a matriarch of the Tuttle community and the Tuttle Christian Church. When paying homage to her life, family and friends mention her beautiful needle and quilt work. The kitchen was her second home; loved ones mention her ginger snaps, coconut pies, and the way she cooks for so many. She worked continuously, supporting church and youth group functions, the homeless population, and charitable needs. Emma Lee's loving and giving spirit is her legacy to those who knew her, and her family feels blessed to have spent so many years with Emma Lee in their lives. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Emma Lee may make a donation to the Tuttle Christian Church, Youth Building Fund, P.O. Box 86, Tuttle, OK 73089. Other giving options may be found at http://www.tuttlechristianchurch.org/giving/ .