Eunice Hightower

Luginbuel Funeral Home of Vinita, 918-256-5555, The family of Eunice (Swift) Hightower are rejoicing in her home-going after she moved to heaven early Wednesday morning, March 30th, 2016. She had just celebrated her 98th birthday. Eunice Sarah Swift was born at Narcissa, OK, near Bluejacket on Feb 26th, 1918 to Ela T. and Gertie F. (Taylor) Swift, the fourth child of eight. She was raised north of Vinita in Kelso community on a farm still in the family. She attended Jones Spur School and then Kelso School where she finished 8th Grade. Eunice was born again and baptized as a young teenager, and said all her family knew to do was go to school, go to church, and work in the hayfields. Her father "Poppie" had a hay-baling crew with his children and they baled hay all around the community. Her first jobs were caring for the sick and taking care of children. She moved to Vinita in about 1938 and worked as a nurse's aide at the old Craig County Hospital, then as housekeeper for several prominent families, such as Lula Kelley who she called Mother Kelley and Mrs. Lois Miller, whose son Clay Miller was her special charge. She married her Vinita sweetheart Roscoe E. Hightower in 1943 while he was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, where she worked on base in the laundry. She was so good at her job of ironing that she was assigned to iron officers' uniforms. She took in ironings when her children were small, then went to work in 1960 at the Vinita Public Schools cafeteria, first at Will Rogers Elementary and then at Hall Halsell Elementary as the cafeteria manager where she worked until she retired in 1982. She loved all her "school kids" and used to frequently ask people if they were one of her little kids who ate at her cafeteria. Eunice was well known as the school cook who made the best peanut butter cookies, hot rolls, and cinnamon rolls in town. She was also well known as a woman of prayer and a woman of love. Eunice was past president of American Legion Auxiliary and past president of Business and Professional Women's group (BPW.) She also was a member of Women's Aglow. She attended Fourth Street Pentecostal Church for many years, then attended Emmanuel Church and later Green Country Christian Church with her daughters. Eunice was preceded in death by parents, her baby son, Roscoe Jr., her husband Roscoe E. Hightower, her son Ross E. Hightower, her four brothers, Harvey Swift, Lonnie Swift, Otis Swift, and Cecil Swift, and two sisters Leona McCoy and Myrtie Curtis. She is survived by her children Eddene Thompson of Inola, OK, Lavon Lewis and husband Michael, and Frances Peetoom and husband Jess of Vinita as well as her sister Rosa Mae Brown of Norco, Ca. and step-sister Betty Snyder of Miami, Ok daughter in-law Donna Hightower Kramer of Oklahoma City. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren: John Thompson, and David Thompson and wife Kathleen of Broken Arrow, Ok., Janet Roe and husband Tim, and Debra Thompson and husband Bobby of Inola, Ok; John Johnson Jr. and wife Cindy, and Jeremiah Johnson and wife Barbara Jo of Chetopa, Ks., Joseph Johnson and wife Angela of Langley, Ok., Joshua Johnson of Vinita, Ok.; Jason Coleman and wife Sandra of Afton, and Sara Bailey and husband Tom of Vinita; Shana Hartley and husband Travis of Vinita, and Brett Hightower and wife Amy of Oklahoma City. She is also survived by 24 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren, and many step great-grandchildren and many others who called her Granny or Mama Hightower. Also many nieces and nephews and cousins survive her. She also left behind her health care providers of Compassus Hospice especially Mike Hankins RN, Crystal Krauser RN, Lisa Bailey LPN and Jackie Evans CNA, who provided such loving care to her in her last few years. Her two Senior Companions Deborah Sutton and Virginia Selman also spent many wonderful hours with her, as well as her special friend and caregiver, Kary Charles. Officiating the funeral will be Rev. Joe Dockery, Rev. Allen Byrd, and Compassus Hospice chaplain David Talle. Serving as pall bearers will be her eight grandsons. The family visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday evening at Luginbuel's Funeral Home. The home going celebration will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2016. Burial will be at Bluejacket Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Luginbuel Funeral Home of Vinita. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com.

Visitation Details

Friday, April 1st, 2016 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home Vinita

Service Details

Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 3:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home

Interment Details

Bluejacket Cemetery