Helen Joe Codding

Helen Joe Codding died peacefully on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, the day before her 83rd birthday. Born on April 21, 1927, in Sayre, Oklahoma to Roy T. Shotwell and Josie Agnes (Dunlop) Shotwell, she was a child of the Dust Bowl of Western Oklahoma and the Depression. A graduate of New Liberty High School near Sayre, her father died when she was 19. She graduated in 3 ½ years from Oklahoma A & M College (OSU) Stillwater, with a degree in Home Economics. At OSU she belonged to Kappa Phi, Omicron Nu and Kappa Delta Phi, honorary fraternities and the Orange and Black Quill. After graduation, she served as Assistant Home Demonstration Agent for Stephens County headquartered in Duncan, Oklahoma. On April 29, 1949, she married Don Knight Codding of Foraker, Oklahoma, in the Methodist parsonage in Duncan. The couple moved to his family's ranch home at Rock Hill Ranch, near Foraker. During the Foraker ranch years, Helen Joe taught school at Pearsonia, worked as a Ranch secretary, played bridge, taught children's music at Foraker Methodist Church, and raised the couple's three children, Catherine, Julian and Christine. Helen Joe was an over 50-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, belonging to Chapter CS of Shidler and Chapter DN of Oklahoma City, serving as President and Recording Secretary. In 1976 she and Don moved to Oklahoma City. Helen Joe was a Million-Dollar Selling Realtor for Abide Realty, later worked at Street's Department Store and belonged briefly to The Ladies Music Club. Though she was raised Presbyterian, raised her children in the Methodist Church, in her later years, she became a Catholic and enjoyed attending church with her Oklahoma City children/grandchildren. At her death she was a member of Our Lady's. Raised in the country Helen Joe lived a life of "projects." Cooking, playing the piano, reading biographies, sewing Vogue pattern clothes for her daughters, smocking dresses for her granddaughters, knitting Christmas stockings, raising/breeding cats, creating needlepoint masterpieces for her family, and planting a large flower garden, all brought her much enjoyment. She needle pointed until the last few weeks of her life. Helen Joe is survived by her daughter Catherine Coke and husband Mark of Altus, Oklahoma, son Julian and wife Anne of Edmond, daughter Dr. Christine Codding and husband John Jewell of Oklahoma City; 8 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren: Don and wife Sydney Codding of Pakistan, Amanda Abel and husband Mark of Jones; Christopher Codding and Nicholas Codding of Edmond; Troy Coke and fiancé Michelle McDonald of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, Barbara Coke and fiancé John Reid of Norman; Michael Jewell and William Jewell of Oklahoma City, Elizabeth Jewell Middaugh and husband Jeff of Yukon, and Caroline Jewell of Chicago; great-grandchildren, Chloe Abel and Gracie Abel, and Mason Middaugh. She also is survived by brother-in-law, Charles Codding and wife Norma of Stillwater and nieces and nephews, Lilla, C.H., Harold and their families. Helen Joe was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Roy T. Shotwell, Jr., her husband, Don shortly before their 50th Wedding Anniversary, her great grandson, Andrew Abel, and many friends.