Utona Ola Jewell

Utona was born on June 14th, 1928 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Edwin Tucker Nix and Izora Real Nix. She passed away on September 22nd, 2013 at her home after a short illness at the age of 85. Utona grew up as a child during the Great Depression on the south side of Oklahoma City near the downtown area. She and her brothers and sisters attended Little Flower Catholic School. At the age of eight, her mother passed away during child birth. She and her siblings were assisted in their upbringing with the help of her aunts and the Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph's Orphanage. Utona attended St. Joseph's High School in Oklahoma City and graduated in 1946. She began her working career in Oklahoma City at a movie advertising company down on film row. During a night out in July of 1947 at Kotches Dance Club she met and fell in love with William C. (Bill) Jewell. Their engagements became official in November of 1948 and were married at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Oklahoma City February 19th, 1949. They resided in Oklahoma City and had their first child in 1950. In 1951 Bill was called back into the service during the Korean War. They then spent a year in Honolulu, Hawaii. They returned to Oklahoma City in 1952 residing on Classen Blvd. During that time two more children were born. Utona was consumed with rasing her children during this time and tending to the domestic needs of the family while Bill was providing through his stone mason work. Over the next several years two more children arrived and the family was complete. As the years passed and the children grew she decided to go to work to supplement the family income. She took a job with General Electric Credit and worked there for 20 years until their closing of the Oklahoma City office. She then obtained employment in the Water Department at the City of Oklahoma City and was a devoted employee for 6 years. Later in life and after retirement Utona and Bill were constant companions and enjoyed numerous trips to Laughlin, Nevada together to visit with friends and relatives that lived in that area. Utona was a devout Catholic throughout her life. It was only illness that stopped her from attending Mass. She was a long time member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral. All of her children graduated from catholic schools. They all also graduated from major colleges and became professionals. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill in 2008, her brother Paul Nix, sisters Anne Parks and Marie Nix (Sr. Cecile Therese, LSP). She is survived by her sister Helen McGee of Ontario, CA and brother Edwin (Duke) Nix of Oklahoma City, children Cary Jewell and wife Leah of Eugene, Oregon, David Jewell of Park City, Utah, John Jewell and wife Chris of Oklahoma City, Ann Tobin and husband Mike of Norman, Oklahoma and Tona Lou Jewell of Oklahoma city. She has thirteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.