Dessie Lee Luke joined her beloved Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, at the age of 88 in Calera, Okla. She was born Dec. 24, 1932, at Roberta, Okla., to Roy Bibb McGehee and Winnie Ocie (Trammell) McGehee.
Dessie married her sweetheart, F.B. Luke, on Oct. 1, 1950, in Calera, Okla. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Calera.
Dessie was a life-long resident of Calera where she was a revolutionary businesswoman. She was changing the world for generations ahead as she and F.B. operated several businesses in their lifetime. Most notably, they owned the local cafe in town for several years and founded Luke Bros Inc., in 1962. Dessie was instrumental to the success of the company until it closed in 2014. Her entrepreneurial spirit will be remembered as her family continues her legacy.
Dessie loved to help others. She always had a place for visiting missionaries or kids from the Baptist Children’s Home during the summer. Her favorite thing was to have all of her extended family gathered together at her house for holidays or any other occasion. For many years, there would be more than 100 in attendance at Thanksgiving. She enjoyed a house filled with her family and friends. Everyone was always welcome in her home. She also loved her service to the church. Whether she was keeping toddlers or paying for the repairs of the building, her heart was in ministry.
Dessie was preceded in death by parents, Roy and Winnie McGehee; stepmother, Ruby McGehee; husband, F.B. Luke; brother, Troy McGehee and sister, Margie Glenn.
Her living legacy includes her children: Eddie Luke and wife Debbie of Calera, Okla., Roger Luke and wife Fay of Calera, Okla. and Winnie DuPuis and husband Jim of Calera, Okla.; her grandchildren: Lance Luke and wife Kristie of Calera, Okla., Stephanie Luke of Calera, Okla., Frank Luke and wife Sandy of Knoxville, Iowa, Rebecca Luke-Allen of Calera, Okla., Erin Portman and husband Dustan of Perkins, Okla., Brandon Buck and wife Tosha of Calera, Okla. and Chris Buck of Calera, Okla.; her great grandchildren: Evan and Kelsey Luke of Calera, Okla., Maddison Williams of Oklahoma City, Okla., Sydney Williams of Calera, Okla., Benjamin and Jonny Luke of Knoxville, Iowa, Luke Allen of Calera, Okla., Robert and Ryan Portman of Perkins, Okla., Breauna, Tatum and Brayden Buck of Calera, Okla. and Emily, Coby, Timothy and Riley Buck of Calera, Okla.; her siblings: Willie Pennick of Siloam Springs, Ark., Roy McGehee of Calera, Okla., Lenora Bills of Rogers, Ark., Ann Lloyd of Mesquite, Texas, Martha Goza and husband Glenn of Calera, Okla., Janie Pate of Calera, Okla. and Judy Yarbrough of Mansfield, La.; her sister-in-law, Elaine McGehee of Denison, Texas, and numerous nieces, nephews and other family.
Family hour will be from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.
Services to celebrate Dessie’s life will be held Friday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Calera with Michael Calhoun, Jacob Toews, and Jim Parrish officiating. Her final resting place will be at Rosehill Cemetery in Calera. Pallbearers will be Gary Weger, Bob Pennick, Ted Pass, Steve Glenn, David Goza, and Kenneth Pate. Honorary Pallbearers will be former employees of Luke Bros.
Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.
