In Loving Memory Of
Ernestine Rosalie
(Graham) Seikel
Ernestine Rosalie (Graham) Seikel died at the age
of 82 on February 16, 2004, of lung cancer. She was born on May 11, 1922
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Bonnie (Rose) and Ernest Graham. Ernestine's
early life was marked by tragedy and hardship that included the traumatic
death of her younger sister, Imogene (Gigi), the divorce of her parents,
living with her grandparents during the illness of her mother, her early
widowhood, and chronic depression. Ernestine overcame the challenges to
become a loved and respected member of a professional community, the
parent of four children, and the mentor to numerous novice social
workers. In 1944, she graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a
degree in Journalism and spent a year in Kansas City working as a reporter
for a construction trade newspaper. She married John Robert Seikel in
1946, and was blessed with four children (Stephen Joseph, John Anthony,
Patricia Ann [Butler], and Nancy Gail [Scoggin]). They resided in
Hennessey, Oklahoma until 1959 when they moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Following the death of her husband in 1967 she took three of her children
to San Miguel de Allende, GTO, Mexico to study art for nine months. She
returned to Oklahoma in 1969 to be near her mother and stepfather, Abram
Jacob Wiser, and began a long and successful career as Social Worker at
Enid State School for the Mentally Retarded. She ultimately served as
Director of Social Services at the State School, from whence she retired
in early 1980's. Her career at the school was characterized by
successfully nurturing social workers in their development, and she was a
strong and caring influence on the lives of innumerable young people. She
developed numerous life-long friends at the School with whom she remained
in contact up until the time of her death.
In 1999 she moved to Cotati, California to be with her son, Stephen and
his wife Margie. Prior to her death she became active in the Writer's Club
in Cotati. She enjoyed five years of health in Cotati where she pursued
her interest in painting and study of the philosophies of religion. She
loved art, people, all forms of animals, and music. She is survived by her
four children and five grandchildren (Theresa, Derek and Clay Butler, and
Brad and Kevin Scoggin). She will be greatly missed by her family and her
many friends across the country.
Memorial services for Mrs. Seikle will be held
at 1:00 p.m. on
Saturday, March 6, 2004 at the pavilion at Frisco Cemetery near Yukon (see
map to cemetery below). Dr. Joe Elam, Pastor of the First Baptist Church
in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, will officiate and special music will be
brought by Jeff , Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church in Pauls
Valley, Oklahoma. Burial will be at the Frisco Cemetery.
The family has chosen The Arrangement, a florist in
Yukon, to arrange family family flowers for the services at Frisco
Cemetery. Their phone number is (405) 354-0040. In
lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be sent to a local
Hospice in your area.
Following the services there will a time for fellowship
and visitation at the Hampton Inn at the N. E. intersection of I-40
and Garth Brooks Blvd and 11th Street off of Andrew Drive in Yukon,
Oklahoma (see map below).
