Beckye Quackenbush

Beckye Quackenbush, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend,passed away on May 12, 2025, at the age of 81.

Preceded in death by her parents, Ralph D Jones and Wilma Jones and her great grandson Johnny Hunter Lindsey.

Beckye is survived by-

Her husband of 34 years, Barry Quackenbush of Okmulgee, OK

Her sister Karolyn Jones Davenport and her husband Larry Davenport of Fayetteville, AR.

Her daughter Felicia Wilson and husband Lyle Wilson of Fayetteville, AR.

Her son Trevor Sammons and his wife Rebekah Sammons of Tulsa, OK.

Her step-daughter Debbie Quackenbush and her wife Tina Bjarnskov of Copenhagen, Denmark

Her step-daughter Pam Quackenbush and her husband Brian Wittenbrook of Austin, TX

Her step-daughter Melissa Quackenbush of Austin, TX

Her grandchildren-

Flannery Wilson Laitamaki and her husband Alex Laitamaki, Zeb Wilson and his fiancé Mackenzie Martin, Allie Hill and her husband Corey Hill, Liz Maddox and her husband Mitch Maddox, Lydia Lester and her husband Derek Lester, Hunter Lindsey and his wife Allie Lindsey, Katherine Lovell and her husband Zane Lovell, Pony Richards and his wife Melissa Richards, Rion Quackenbush, Seth Wittenbrook

Her great grandchildren- Kaley Lester, Lucy Lester, Everly Lindsey, Wylie Lindsay, Callahan Hill

Born to Ralph and Wilma Jones in Prairie Grove AR April 19 th, 1944, Beckye grew up in Fayetteville, AR with her older sister Karolyn Jones Davenport. Beckye attended historic Washington Elementary, Fayetteville Junior High, and graduated as a fire baton twirling purple Bulldog from Fayetteville High School in the class of 1962.

Beckye and her former husband, Lynn Sammons, had their daughter, Felicia Sammons Wilson, and son Trevor Sammons. Beckye was a devoted wife and committed mother, raising both kids in Fayetteville. During this time, Beckye was known for her continual support of the kids and encouraged their constant involvement in various activities.

Mom never missed an opportunity to involve the kids in unique activities. i.e. the Huck Finn Festival, Trevor won the turtle race, and Felicia won the Becky Thatcher Costume contest (both wearing custom costumes sewn by Mom), kite flying contests, watching the Fayetteville courthouse steeple raising, driving who knows where to watch the USA bicentennial processional as it toured the country in 1976.

A lifelong bowler, Beckye became the Junior Bowling Coach at Ozark Lanes. She coached Felicia and Trevor, along with all the other junior bowlers for multiple years. She loved bowling and competed in many local, state, and national tournaments. She and her mom, Wilma, bowled together in many tournaments.

As the kids grew, Mom was always hauling kids everywhere in "Old Brown" (her wood paneled country squire station wagon). Everyone was welcome in "Old Brown" when it was time to go out-of-town for basketball and football games. Bring $1 for gas and hop in. Rain, snow, or sleet didn't hold her back, there were games to be played, cheering to be done, and adventures to pursue. Miraculously, Mom always steered everyone to safety with a Dr Pepper and cigarette to help her steady the wheel.

Anyone within earshot (a very long distance for Mom), knew Beckye had rules, and they weren't simply "general guidelines." Wood paddlings at school were fully endorsed (if Trevor had earned them), curfews were real, punishments were appropriate, and everyone knew that Momma Bear Beckye would protect and fiercely defend her family if needed.

1984 and the following years brought a move to Tulsa, the end to some chapters and beginning of new ones. With the kids off at college and beyond, Beckye found herself back in school, earning her associate's degree from TCC in 1992. Her excellent performance resulted in an invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa.

During the single years, Beckye was known for teaching western dancing, being a dedicated Cast Member at the Disney Store, and participating in the Tulsa Tip Toppers Tall Club. Beckye was eventually "stalked" and courted by fellow Tip Topper, Barry Quackenbush. The two were married under their backyard gazebo in Tulsa in 1993.

1993 also brought the addition of the BDQ Ranch to the family. Beckye and Barry spent many nights camping on the shore of their lake in the early years, before adding a mobile home, then a trailer, and eventually the ranch house.

For some time, Beckye continued working at the Disney Store, partially to expand her Disney memorabilia collection and partially to help put smiles on the faces of all the kids roaming through the store daily. Eventually the collection would fill "Camp Quackenbush" (the 6 bunkbed Disney room at the BDQ).

As a great homemaker, Beckye loved entertaining, and the house was always ready to receive drop-ins. Their backyard and pool were the perfect setting for so many summer pool parties. Beckye's soft kind heart shown during the holiday meals when we might see new faces at the table. These were folks who would otherwise be alone for the holidays.

The 90's also saw Beckye increase her monikers from Mom, Wife, Friend, to that of a Grandma Q. Eventually she would take on the role of "Grandma Q" to 10 grandkids and 6 great grandkids (with more on the way)! Grandma Q was known to drive great distances to cheer her "grands" in plays, games, graduations, tournaments, etc. No different than she did for Felicia and Trevor.

Traveling great distances wasn't just for cheering on kids and grands. Beckye and Barry traveled the world. Their trips took them around the globe, from the Jordan River to the inner passage of Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii, Europe, South America, an unknown number of cruises, and even a 7-day raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon! That one ended with Beckye falling on rocks near the end, injuring her back and having to be airlifted after they were through... This demonstrated that she was truly a "beast" and tough as nails!

Around 15 years ago, Beckye and Barry moved into their dream home overlooking the BDQ lake! Barry designed it and had it built, and Beckye made it a home! Since that time, the BDQ has entertained up to 160 folks at a time for around 22 years of fishing and shooting tournaments, countless impromptu porch and swimming parties, years of Zeb's pre-K club birthday parties, a Jenks vocal music gathering, 2 weddings, Hunter's pontoon boat engagement, 4th of July shrimp boils, New Years Eve shindigs, etc. It became a gathering hub for family and friends from near and far, with Beckye always neck deep in the mix! Just don't turn the music up too loud... Rebekah!

Another example of Beckye's "beast mode", was her taking three teenage granddaughters (Allie, Lizzie, and Katherine) to New York City for a visit to see their cousin Flannery... Some decisions were better than others, but the girls will never forget that time with Grandma Q.

From the earliest ages, Beckye was a creative genius. She could imagine, design, create, fabricate, invent, or repair just about anything. Sewing clothes, costumes, creating holiday and party decorations, the BDQ Calendar, etc. For years Beckye was the creative force behind the photographic portion of their iconic Christmas cards (with Barry responsible for the letter portion), creating props like Giant Bass, huge haybale reindeer, and even staging an actual deer in the Polaris...

The BDQ has always been a warm, welcoming place for all to come chill, relax, and play. The kids, grands, great grands, and friends have always known it as a place you could always drop in on short or no notice and stay as long as you like! The kids and friends came to play, then the kids and friends brought their kids, now the grandkids are bringing their kids! Beckye, Mom, Grandma Q was always there welcoming them and soaking it up!

Beckye helped foster a neighborhood feel for her Honeycreek Road neighbors. The gatherings and parties were great! She was also known to decorate multiple neighbors' gates for each holiday. Several years ago, she began making US flags out of wooden pallets. She would make them, then go place them at each neighbor's gate. You were officially a neighbor when you came home and saw your new flag, made with love and placed neatly at your entrance.

A huge smile and an equally huge hug welcomed you when you walked in the door! That's if she wasn't outside working in her flower beds, painting pallet flags, or zipping around at breakneck speed on her Kubota zero turn mower. An orange flash (with the obligatory Dr. Pepper and cigarette) flying back and forth.

Another constant in Becky's life was the presence of dogs. From Popcorn and Floppy in Fayetteville to Lucky and Mollie, Beckye loved all of her dogs like they were her kids. So much so that at one point they had eight, including a batch of new Brittany spaniels.

The 81 years of a full life of adventure eventually took their toll and our loving Beckye, Mom, Grandma Q got a little more "spicey." Her last few weeks saw her have a significant recovery from several months of degrading health. Mother's Day was spent visiting with Trevor and Felicia on the patio. She reviewed notes she'd been taking for the last couple of weeks about her plans, including needing to get paint for the next set of pallets (waiting in the garage). She said she wanted to mow and could, if "they'd" let her.

She was preparing to take her home back! She must have known her new Place in Heaven was prepared and waiting for her to arrive just hours later! Mom's never-ending love was often subtly hidden under a sometimes-gruff exterior. It was, however, always reinforced when she would ask Felicia and Trevor, "Give me a call and let me know when you get home okay!"

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Beckye's name to the Okmulgee County Humane Society www.okcohumane.org

Services have been entrusted to Schaudt Funeral Service. Friends & family may leave condolences and kind words of comfort at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com