Easter Ester Effinger (Cozad) Drumheller

Easter Ester Effinger (Cozad) Drumheller, 69, of McAlester, OK died December 9, 2009 at 7:40 pm. She has been battling ovarian cancer for 4 years and each day was another day she had to serve. She spent her life trying to help others. She attended the Oklahoma Stand-down for our veterans’ days after having chemotherapy because our veterans needed her. She was there for anyone who needed her and her dedication was unsurpassed. She aided the Blue Star Mothers and was dedicated to all of the Gold Star Mother in Oklahoma. They were not forgotten. Because of her dedication to others, the Jr. Girls of the Department of Oklahoma Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW named Easter the Humanitarian of the Year in 2008 and she was the Oklahoma Daughters of the American Revolutions 2008 Humanitarian of the Year. She was so proud to be honored while she was still alive.

Funeral Services will be held at Brumley Mills Funeral Home in McAlester at 2:00 PM. Lunch will be provided for everyone at the McAlester VFW Post 1098 from 11 AM to 1 PM.  The food will be provided by their Ladies Auxiliary with assistance from the Eufaula Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 8798. The McAlester VFW Post 1098 is located at 1426 Morris Street in McAlester. Viewing begins on Monday, December 14, 2009 and Family viewing to be Wednesday, December 16, 2009 from 5 to 7 pm.

Easter was born March 24, 1940 in Indianola, Ok to William Clinton and Nancy Bell (Lashbrook) Effinger. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1959.

She married Warren Ellwood Drumheller on December 19, 1994 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. They have lived in McAlester area since their marriage. Easter attended Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Ok, Oklahoma City Community College and received an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and East Central University in Ada, Ok and received a Bachelor of Art in May 1989. Easter worked for Komar’s for 13 year and served for the election board for each election for many years. Easter worked for the Oklahoma Department of Correction in McAlester for 24 years. She worked as Guard for 14 years and as a Case Worker for 10 years. She retired from the McAlester Penitentiary in 2002.

Easter was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW for more than 28 years. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW 3085 Twin Cities Hartshorne and serve as a Trustee and the Patriotic instructor. Easter served as the 2002-2003 Oklahoma Department President to the Ladies Auxiliary VFW and was serving as the current 2009-2010 Department Chief of Staff and the 2009-2010 Ladies Auxiliary VFW Southern Conference President. She was the one of the founding members to help establish a Jr. Girls Unit at two auxiliary. She was a member of many organizations which include the Fleet Reserve, Eastern Star, Department of Corrections Employee fund, OSP Historical Society, American Legion Auxiliary, Moose Lodge, Oklahoma Public Employees Association, Elks Lodge, Indianola High School Alumni Association, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement Systems, Pittsburg County Republican Women and one the Original Founders of the Cox Chandler Fraternal Order of Police #176 Oklahoma. 

Survivors include her husband Warren Ellwood Drumheller, her sister and brother-in-law Nancy (Effinger) Carpenter and James Carpenter, her first husband Darrell R. Cozad who she was married to for 24 years, 5 daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy (Cozad) Denny and Bob Denny of Griffith, In, LaQuetta (Cozad) McCartor and Gerry McCartor of Oklahoma City, OK, Tammy (Cozad) Cato and Leon Cato of Oklahoma City, OK, Iva Lela (Cozad) Turman and Timothy Turman Jr. of McAlester, OK, Esther Marie (Cozad) Woody and Ross Woody of Oklahoma City, OK, 2 Step-children Marie (Drumheller) Chambless and Cash Chambless of McAlester, OK and Kenneth Drumheller and Karen Drumheller of Las Vegas, NV.

Also grandchildren, Robert Denny II of Griffith, In, Nime Nancy Aguru of Oklahoma City, OK, Iris Lane (Montross) Minor of McAlester, OK, Gabrielle Cato of McAlester, Amanda Pettigrew of Oklahoma city, OK, Jeremiah Cato of Oklahoma City, Logan Denny of Griffith, In, Alexzandria McCartor of Oklahoma City, OK, great-grandchildren, Aaryn-Athiel Stanley of Oklahoma City, Trinity Denny of Griffith, In, Xavier Harper, of Oklahoma City, OK, and Icia-Emily McCartor of Oklahoma City, OK. Step-grandchildren and spouses, Ann (Grogan) Waddle and Jim Waddle of McAlester, OK, Scott Grogan and Lisa Grogan of Kernersville, NC, Brian Drumheller of MN, Chris Drumheller of Las Vegas, NV and Angela Drumheller of Las Vegas, NV.

Also nieces and nephews and spouses, Ida Bell (Trollinger) Gardiner and Norrie Gardiner, Beckie (Trollinger) Marchal, Jackie Dean Trollinger, Viola Potter, Orval Lee Janes, Wilburn Janes, Louise (Janes) Tash, Johnny Ray Janes, Norma (Effinger) Gafford, George Jr. Effinger, Janet Effinger, Terry Effinger, James Effinger, Henretta Effinger, Cynthia (Cole) Henrichs and Steve Henrichs, Carla (Carpenter) Nelson and Jeremy Nelson, Curtis Carpenter and Jeannie Carpenter, Jamie (Carpenter) Smith and Aaron Smith, Kathy (Carpenter) Decker, Shelly Kay Effinger, Debbie Effinger, Craig Effinger, and many great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her great-great-grandparents Paternal Sara (Williams) William and John William, Melchior Effinger and Magdalena (Schaub) Effinger, Maternal Whitwell Wood and Misisatube (Native American) Woods, John Truelove and Rosanna L. (Woods) Truelove, Great-grandparents, Robert Efinger and Margaretha (Krauss) Efinger, and Maternal W. D. Lashbrook and Nancy Lashbrook, grandparents Paternal John Effinger and Francis Ellen (Williams) Effinger, Maternal Grandparents George (Geo) Lashbrook and Lela (Nobel) Lashbrook, parents William Clinton Effinger and Nancy Bell (Lashbrook) Effinger, brothers and sisters, Florence Effinger, Maggie (Effinger) Trollinger, Mollie (Effinger) Young, Johnny Effinger, Willie Effinger, George Effinger, and Henry Effinger, nephews John Trollinger Jr, William (Billy) Trollinger, Dale Effinger, and niece Royleen (Trollinger) Crandall.

OC Hawkins of VFW 1098 McAlester officiating and Leon Cato memorial prayer, the OSP Honor Guard, the Department of Oklahoma Ladies Auxiliary Department Officers to provide traditional Memorial Services, poem by Anne Coleman, life video and open commemoration.

Pallbearers include Harry Reeding, Bryan Holden, Mike McFarland, Dale Cantrell, Chester Mason, James Garigan; Horary Pallbearers include Ron Woody, Dirk McCarty, Lewis Martin, Bobby Bryant, Timothy Turman Sr, Capt. Jerry Holt, Capt. Jerry Dawling, and Freddy Cook.

The family requests that memorial be made to the Ladies Auxiliary VFW 3085 and designated for cancer, PO Box 892, McAlester, OK 74502. Easter spent many years collecting money for cancer and participated in a research study to help women ovarian cancer.

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