Betty Jean Listen
1933 – 2021
Betty Jean Listen (aka Bombom, as she was affectionately named by her first grandson) passed away on January 1, 2021. She was born June 6, 1933, in Edmond, Oklahoma, to Roy Earl and Lucille Katherine Hood. In 1951, she married David Wayne Listen and had three children, Katherine, Gary, and Carlita.
Betty lived her entire life in Edmond and attended Edmond schools. After high school, she graduated Hill’s Business school.
Betty began her work career in the office of Long Bell in Oklahoma City. She then became the secretary for First Christian Church in Edmond, followed by Office Manager for TG&Y in Edmond, where she worked for many years. She then worked in accounting for Tapp Development Co. In her later years, she was a bookkeeper for Cook’s Hardware and then finished her career working as a bookkeeper for several builders and lastly Holco. She worked until her death at the age of 87. Life and work were synonymous to Betty. However, Betty and her husband, Wayne, found time to travel all over the world with Betty’s sister, Rose Millender and her husband, Marion.
Along with work and travel, Betty enjoyed listening to music and working in her flower gardens. She especially loved the Christmas season, decorating the Christmas tree, and cooking for her family. After working all day, she enjoyed sitting by the creek on the property where she and her husband, Wayne, lived, watching the sunset.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Lucille Hood; grandson, Jeremy Stilwell; and son, Gary Listen. Her sister, Rose Millender, followed her in death on March 1, 2021.
Her husband, Wayne, subsequently passed away on September 9, 2022.
She is survived by her daughters, both of Edmond, Katherine Stilwell and husband, Roger, and Carlita Listen; grandsons, Preston Shane Stilwell and wife, Susan, Jayson Listen, and Cory Listen and wife, Masey; great grandchildren, Ashlee Reed and husband, Michael, Corban Self, Skylar Ludwig, and Ellee Kate Listen; and great-great granddaughter Aria Reed.
David Wayne Listen
1932 – 2022
David Wayne Listen (affectionately known as Papa) passed away on September 9, 2022. He was born on September 4, 1929, in Edmond, Oklahoma, to Carl Valentine and Doris Kathryn Listen. He married Betty Jean Hood in 1951 and they had three children, Katherine, Gary, and Carlita.
Wayne lived his entire life in Edmond and graduated Edmond High School.
He grew up on a farm where his dad had milk cows, which he and his brothers would milk every morning and evening. He had very fond memories of this time in his youth and talked about it often.
Wayne’s career started as a police officer and owner of a gas station and then owner of a trucking business, before becoming an independent truck driver for over 50 years, driving a semi from south Texas to Boston and back. He could keep you entertained with his experiences on the road. He retired at the age of 81.
In retirement, he enjoyed playing the organ. He never had piano lessons, but played by ear and composed his own songs. He also enjoyed working on his acreage. He and his wife, Betty, enjoyed sitting on the back porch looking at the sunsets and enjoying the peacefulness of the creek that flowed through their property. Somehow, he and Betty found time to travel all over the world with Betty’s sister, Rose, and her husband, Marion.
Wayne is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Listen; his parents, Carl and Doris Listen; brothers, Vernon, Louis, Wesley , and Darrell ; and sister, Norma Jean Daniels; son, Gary Listen; and grandson, Jeremy Stilwell.
He is survived by his daughters, both of Edmond, Katherine Stilwell and husband, Roger, and Carlita Listen; brother, Herbert Listen and wife, Wilma; sister, Dorothy Loveless and husband, Bob; grandsons, Shane Stilwell and wife, Susan, Jayson Listen, and Cory Listen and wife, Masey; great-grandchildren, Ashlee Reed and husband, Michael, Corban Self, Skylar Ludwig, and Ellee Kate Listen; and great-great granddaughter, Aria Reed.
A service in their memory will be held at Heritage Fellowship on September 28, 2022, at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association.