Alma Esther Sears

Alma E. Sears was ahead of her time as a spirited and successful working wife and mother. Alma was born July 29, 1927 in Oklahoma City and passed away peacefully on November 6, 2017. After graduating from Central High School in Oklahoma City, she began working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, where she caught the eye of the man who would become the love of her life through nearly 70 years of marriage, husband, Charles "C.R" "Bob" Sears. Along the way, Alma and Bob welcomed their only child, Malinda, into their close knit family they called "the three musketeers". Alma advanced from telephone operator to management positions - but even with the demands of a full-time career, she always found time for her family and friends. She was a great cook, avid reader and a superior fashion-forward seamstress -who made many clothes and outfits for herself and Malinda, many of which her granddaughter now wears today. She was an accomplished bridge player who loved a good laugh and she had a quick wit. Over the years Alma and Bob enjoyed attending OU football games, sharing their interest in golf, hosting parties, spending time and even sharing vacations with their many, many life-long friends. Summers always included time at the lake where Alma would surprise many with her skill for slalom water skiing. Upon retiring from Southwestern Bell after 35 years of service in 1981, Alma began what she considered her most important career - grandmother "Me-Ma" to her grandchildren, Jeff, Andy and Molly Malloy. She was ever present in their lives, babysitting, having them bake and cook alongside of her and when necessary - dishing out a bit of "discipline with a smile" along with her "house rules". Weekends and summers at the family lake house would always include Alma's famous fish fry - a recipe that has yet to be duplicated by any family member. Alma's time with her grandchildren also included carefully planned "culture trips" - cross country driving tours to places like Carlsbad Caverns - waking the grandchildren at dawn to see the bats fly and equally memorable out of the way sights like The Button Museum. She and her husband Bob were always present at their grandchildren's school activities, sports events and attended every graduation through college and graduate school. As her grandchildren entered adulthood and the working world, their "Me-Ma" became even more of an inspiration to each of them as they came to better understand and value her life history as a successful, respected and beloved working woman, working wife and a working mom. Her long and wonderful life also included getting to meet and spend time with her three great grandchildren, Gavin, Henrik and Mason Malloy. Alma always said hers was a great life- one that was framed by the love of her husband, daughter and close knit family in the early years and the love of her extended family later in life. Alma was preceded in death by her brother, Glen Mobley, mother Allene Sterbenz and husband Charles R. "Bob" Sears. She is survived by daughter Malinda, and son-in-law, Bill Malloy, Wilmette, IL, grandson Jeff and wife Kristen, Terre Haute, IN, grandson Andy and wife Emma, Chicago, IL, granddaughter Molly Malloy, Brooklyn NY; and three great-grandchildren, Gavin and Mason Malloy Terre Haute IN and Henrik Malloy, Chicago IL. In lieu of flowers- donations may be made to the Alma E. Sears Memorial Fund c/o Christ the King Church, 8005 Dorset Drive, Oklahoma City OK 73120.