Bernice Louise Wilson
1933-2017
Bernice Louise Federer was born to Theodore and Edna Federer on May 30, 1933 in Cheyenne, Wyoming where she grew up on the farm and ranch that her father homesteaded. She was the 6th of 8 children.
Bernice was married to David Wayne Wilson on Dec 17, 1955. They raised 2 children, Cynthia Sue (Wilson) Waters and Brenda Kaye (Wilson) Benne. They moved from Cheyenne to Carpenter, Wyoming where they purchased a farm and raised Galloway cattle and later changed it over to a dairy.
Bernice was a homemaker but also worked outside the home at a variety of jobs. She worked at a land office, Cheyenne Federal Credit Union, Safeway, Hereford Bank, and then the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Bernice also made custom drapes for Montgomery Wards.
Dave and Bernice, along with their grown children, moved to Edmond, Oklahoma in 1978. Bernice began cleaning houses and babysitting children for other people as well as her grandchildren. Later she became a full time house sitter and nanny for several different families. She has said many times that it was one of the most fulfilling things she did in her life and really became part of the families that she worked for.
Bernice died at Mercy Hospital on Jan 2, 2017 surrounded by friends and family.
She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Theodore and Edna Federer, brothers, Ernest Cecil, Clarence Russell, Marion George, Ivan Lester, Merlin Dale, and Carl Lewis Federer.
She is survived by her husband David Wayne Wilson, sister Kaye Dangerfield, two daughters, Cindy Waters, Brenda Benne and husband Douglas, grandchildren, Chauncy Waters and wife Liz and their children Kiley Maull & husband Austin, Zoe Waters, & Asa Waters, granddaughter Codi Waters & husband Mike Yandell, their children Dylan & Lola, grandson David Benne and wife Kelli and their daughter Emily & granddaughter Katie, grandson Robert Benne & wife Jolene, grandson Jesse Benne and wife Kristin & their son Max.
Bernice is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She is loved and missed by all.
Public viewing will be from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 5th at Matthews Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 6th at Waterloo Road Baptist Church with burial to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery Edmond, OK.