Claudia Loonita McGehee, 91-year-old Marietta, OK resident, passed away Thursday, October 24, 2024, at her home while surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services for Loonita will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Church of Christ in Marietta with Todd Hicks officiating and John Thompson assisting. After the service, Loonita will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Lakeview Cemetery in Marietta. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. For those who are unable to attend the funeral, services will be live streamed via the Marietta Church of Christ Facebook page. Services have been entrusted to the Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Marietta.

Loonita was born January 23, 1933, in the community of Abner in Love County, OK the daughter and the fifth of ten children born to John Claude and Tennie Pearl (Adcock) Lang. Known by her middle name, Loonita was named after Doctor Looney, a longtime and well-known Love County practitioner. Much of her youth was spent growing up on Oswalt Road on the family farm. Loonita attended grade school in a three-room schoolhouse in Abner. She then went to Greenville schools from the 6th through the 9th grade. Loonita was Valedictorian of her 8th grade class in Greenville. About this time, the family traveled to California to visit Loonita's sister and ended up staying to work in the orchard for 4 months. They later came back to Oklahoma and Loonita went to school at Meadowbrook through the 11th grade. Life didn't allow her to graduate, but she felt it was important to do so and later received her GED.

Loonita was first noticed by Bill McGehee while she was playing basketball on a dirt court in Abner. He found out that she worked as a "Soda Jerk" at the Wagner Drug Store and that is where he made official plans to meet her. The two fell madly in love and were later married on December 25, 1949, in Shady Dale, OK. They spent more than 55 years together before his tragic death in 2005.

In 1972, Loonita bought the flower shop in the small storefront on West Main from Enid McGehee. She kept the name Enid's Flower Shop for about 5 years and then decided to assume the name Nita's Flowers & Gifts. As the business grew, she needed more space and in 1979, she bought the building at 216 W Main and moved to the much larger building. Loonita was concerned she wouldn't have enough merchandise to fill the space, but it wasn't long until it was filled, and more space was needed. Martha Flanagan came to work for her in 1979 and worked for her for 29 years. When Bill retired, he became an important part of the daily flower shop business too. They shared lots of laughter and made wonderful memories along with Martha Greenwood, Eudean Johnson, Vida Robertson, Mona Flanagan, Margaret Willis, and family. Many times, she expressed her thankfulness for her loyal customers and for her being able to support the local community.

Throughout Bill and Loonita's married life, the church and the Lord were always their first priority for not only themselves but for their children and family. Loonita was actively involved with the Marietta Church of Christ where she found great support from her loving church family and her belief in the Lord. While raising the children, Loonita became an active bowler. She and Bill also loved to travel and go to garage sales. So many things brought her great joy and happiness, but nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Loonita was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings, Verna Kerbo, Oral Lang, Mildred Lang, Autry Mae Bearden, Delbert Lang, James "Caesar" Lang, Velton "Brutus" Lang, and Essie Lang. Those left to cherish her memory are her son, William Darrel McGehee and wife Karol of Corinth, TX; daughter, Anita Jane Van Wye and husband Henry of Allen, TX; sister, Wanda Shellenberger and husband F.A. of Lone Grove, OK; grandchildren, Olivia White and husband Justin, Magan McGehee, Brett McGehee, and Rachel Carson and husband Evan; great-grandchildren, Barrett and Everett Carson and Hallie White; and sister-in-law, Joy Lang.

A special thank you to her caregivers Lori, Brenda, Leanna, Cindy, and Kylee.

Casket bearers are John Cartwright, Greg Greenwood, Clancy Hallum, Brian Barrick, Larry Vinson, and John Choate. Honorary bearers are Bill Bell, Joe Davis, Gregg McGehee, Preston McGehee, Allen Woody, Danny Frazier, Men of the Marietta Church of Christ, Martha Greenwood, Dana Scott, Mona Flanagan, Peggy Frazier, and Delores Renfro.

The family suggest any memorial donations to be made to a breast cancer society of their choice.