Merle Dean Gilbert

Merle Dean Gilbert, our precious “Deanie”, 92, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, passed away on November 13, 2023, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, into the arms of her Lord and Savior. She was born in Nowata, Oklahoma, to Lesley Brown and Gertrude (Scoggins) Brown, as the middle daughter.

Deanie grew up in the Nowata area and graduated from Nowata High School. She married the love of her life; Clarence Elwane Gilbert, on November 19, 1950. About a year after the couple were married, Elwane joined the Army and the couple relocated and traveled during Elwane’s two-year term. They moved back to Nowata and purchased the local shoe store where Elwane once worked and reopened the store as Gilbert Shoes, where they proudly served their community and put them in shoes for over 24 years.

Merle was a member of the First Baptist Church in Nowata for many years. At the church, she was the organist for 40 years and taught Sunday school to the 3-year-olds at the church. She enjoyed quilting and loved to give her work to her friends and family.

Deanie’s sweet spirit of being gracious and thankful reflected her everyday life. She will be missed by all who knew her. 

Merle is preceded in death by her parents: Les and Gertrude Brown; her husband: Clarence Elwane Gilbert; and her sisters: Myrtle Crawford and Lois Hickson.

Those left to cherish Merle’s memory include her nieces and nephews: Debbie Denson of Gilmer, Texas, Sheri Hampton of Bozeman, Montana, and Mike Hickson of Longview, Texas and several great nieces and nephews, her church family, and friends.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 2:00 pm at the Nowata Re-Located Cemetery with Wayne Clayton officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Merle’s name to the Baptist Children’s Home 12700 E 76^th St N Owasso, OK 74055. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemoriesnowata.com.