Obituary for Grace Myrtle Dempsey
Grace Myrtle Dempsey, 107, Altus, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Magnolia Creek Skill Nursing and Therapy.
Grace Myrtle Dempsey was born on May 18, 1919, in Duke, Oklahoma to Joseph "Loyd" and Mamie Jeff (Davis) Williamson. She was the oldest of six children. The family moved to the panhandle where Grace would grow up and attend school. She attended Plainview Consolidated School in Cimarron County. She graduated from Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma with her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and a minor in Elementary Education, where she met George Dempsey.
Her and George were married in Altus, Oklahoma in December of 1941. She held a Life Teaching Certificate plus a master's degree in teaching from Southwestern State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Grace spent 39 years in teaching and taught at Ron Consolidated School in Harmon County, Plainview Consolidated School in Cimarron County, Wilson Elementary in Altus, and for 30 years at Eugene Field Elementary School in Altus. She also was a bookkeeper for her husband's insurance and real estate business. Grace and George always worked as a team, whether building fences or teaching a children's Sunday school class. She tutored English as a Second Language at the Altus Public Library until she was 99 years old. For her work at the library, she received the Pioneer Volunteer of the Year award in 2019.
Grace was a charter member of the Tamarack Road Church of Christ and a member of the Altus American Legion Auxiliary. She was also a member of state and national teacher's organizations, the Altus Business Women's Association, and after her retirement, the Western Prairie Chapter of the Good Sam's. She enjoyed her line dancing group, the Silver Belles, and was a hardcore Oklahoma City Thunder fan. The family would like to thank all the staff at Magnolia Creek and CompleteOK Hospice for their care and love for Grace and her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; and five siblings, Mary Folkers, Barbara Hawkins, Gladys Ragar, Newell Williamson, and J.B. Williamson.
Survivors include two children, Carla Taylor and husband, Bobby, and Elaine Hill and husband, Dave; four grandchildren, Kyle Eshleman, Todd Eshleman, Joyce Gastineau and husband, Russel, and Marsha Alexander and husband, Robert "Chip", four great grandchildren, Justin Gastineau and wife, Cassie, R.J. Gastineau and wife, Marissa, Elizabeth Smith and husband, Kevin, and Emily Crowder and husband, Jordan; four great great grandchildren, Miranda and Brayden McDonald, and Hunter and Ryker Gastineau; many other family members and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 2:00 PM Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Tamarack Road Church of Christ. A funeral service will begin at 2:00 PM at the Tamarack Road Church of Christ with Adam Matthews officiating. Burial will follow in the Altus City Cemetery under the care of the Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Grace's name may be made to the Tamarack Road Church of Christ Food Pantry, 1000 E. Tamarack Road, Altus, OK 73521.
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Grace Myrtle Dempsey was born on May 18, 1919, in Duke, Oklahoma to Joseph "Loyd" and Mamie Jeff (Davis) Williamson. She was the oldest of six children. The family moved to the panhandle where Grace would grow up and attend school. She attended Plainview Consolidated School in Cimarron County. She graduated from Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma with her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and a minor in Elementary Education, where she met George Dempsey.
Her and George were married in Altus, Oklahoma in December of 1941. She held a Life Teaching Certificate plus a master's degree in teaching from Southwestern State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Grace spent 39 years in teaching and taught at Ron Consolidated School in Harmon County, Plainview Consolidated School in Cimarron County, Wilson Elementary in Altus, and for 30 years at Eugene Field Elementary School in Altus. She also was a bookkeeper for her husband's insurance and real estate business. Grace and George always worked as a team, whether building fences or teaching a children's Sunday school class. She tutored English as a Second Language at the Altus Public Library until she was 99 years old. For her work at the library, she received the Pioneer Volunteer of the Year award in 2019.
Grace was a charter member of the Tamarack Road Church of Christ and a member of the Altus American Legion Auxiliary. She was also a member of state and national teacher's organizations, the Altus Business Women's Association, and after her retirement, the Western Prairie Chapter of the Good Sam's. She enjoyed her line dancing group, the Silver Belles, and was a hardcore Oklahoma City Thunder fan. The family would like to thank all the staff at Magnolia Creek and CompleteOK Hospice for their care and love for Grace and her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George; and five siblings, Mary Folkers, Barbara Hawkins, Gladys Ragar, Newell Williamson, and J.B. Williamson.
Survivors include two children, Carla Taylor and husband, Bobby, and Elaine Hill and husband, Dave; four grandchildren, Kyle Eshleman, Todd Eshleman, Joyce Gastineau and husband, Russel, and Marsha Alexander and husband, Robert "Chip", four great grandchildren, Justin Gastineau and wife, Cassie, R.J. Gastineau and wife, Marissa, Elizabeth Smith and husband, Kevin, and Emily Crowder and husband, Jordan; four great great grandchildren, Miranda and Brayden McDonald, and Hunter and Ryker Gastineau; many other family members and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 - 2:00 PM Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Tamarack Road Church of Christ. A funeral service will begin at 2:00 PM at the Tamarack Road Church of Christ with Adam Matthews officiating. Burial will follow in the Altus City Cemetery under the care of the Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Grace's name may be made to the Tamarack Road Church of Christ Food Pantry, 1000 E. Tamarack Road, Altus, OK 73521.
To view the livestream of the service, please copy the link below to your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/@tamarackroadchurchofchrist1936
To send flowers in memory of Grace Myrtle Dempsey, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
30
Jun
1:00 PM
- 2:00 PM
Tamarack Road Church of Christ
1000 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, OK 73521
Funeral
Tuesday
30
Jun
2:00 PM
Tamarack Road Church of Christ
1000 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, OK 73521
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