Cleota Bunce

Cleota Bunce, 94, a Fairland, OK resident since 1963, entered the Kingdom of Heaven and is at her forever home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 20, 2022.

Born on January 24, 1928 to Joseph Samuel Swearengin and Leona (Fleming) Swearengin in Springfield, MO, Cleota moved with her family to Salina, OK when she was 11 years old. She was the Valedictorian of the Salina High School Class of 1947. She graduated from NEO A&M College in 1949 with an Associate Degree in Business.

While attending NEO, Cleota met a red-headed boy from Quapaw who worked in the kitchen with her at the college. She married the love of her life, Leo S. Bunce on May 27, 1949 in Miami, OK. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage before Leo’s death in December 2011.

Cleota was a stay-at-home mom who took great pleasure in being a good wife and mother. Through the years she helped care for many of her grandchildren. She liked to sew, cook for her family and especially enjoyed working in her yard and gardening.

As parents Leo and Cleota were a strong team who provided a loving , nurturing Christian home for their children. They were preceded in death by 3 daughters: Rebekah Sharon (Bunce) Schillhahn, Naomi Elizabeth Bunce (Stillborn), Diana Crystal Bunce and 1 grandson, Kenton. Cleota was also preceded by her parents, 1 brother and 7 sisters.

She will be missed by her surviving offspring: David Joseph and Alene Bunce of rural Afton, OK, Rachel Bunce-Fleming of Universal City, TX, Daniel and Susie Bunce of Oologah, OK, Nathan and Dee Bunce of rural Fairland, OK, Martha (Bunce) Roach of Fairland, and Amos and Kelly Bunce of Miami, OK.

Cleota leaves a lasting legacy of a long life well lived to her 13 grandchildren and their spouses: Beverly Hubert, Diana and Jason Beehler, Buford and Stephanie Bunce, Brittany and Joshua Zamora, Ashley and Duncan McAllister, Seth and Jessica Bunce, Joel Bunce, Chloe and Deyvaun West, Michael Roach, Matthew and Brook Alexander, Marcus Hogan Bunce, Kamrie Bunce and Trevor Bunce. She is also survived by 21 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Visitation for Cleota will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. Services will follow at 11:00 AM with interment following at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Miami.

Paul Bearers:

Grandsons: Marcus Bunce, Seth Bunce, Joel Bunce, Michael Roach Trevor Bunce
Great Grandsons: Ransom Ferris, KJ Ferris

Honorary Paul Bearers:

Grandson: Buford Bunce
Grandsons in Love: Jason Beehler, Duncan McAllister, Joshua Zamora, Deyvaun West

Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mrs. Bunce’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

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