Dolores Eldena (Ellis) Bush, age 87, of Edmond, Oklahoma, passed away on Friday, June 14, 2024 with her family by her side.

Dolores was born May 21, 1937 in Sayre, Oklahoma to Frank Edwin Ellis and Eldena Grace (Bradley). Her initials became her nickname, and she was known to most as 'Dee'. She was the firstborn of four children, and she loved her siblings dearly: Darlene, Tom and Vickie.

Dee was 12 years old when she made the decision to follow Christ. "I remember the preacher talked about Jesus standing at the door of my heart, but only I could open my heart and let him in. They showed that famous picture of Jesus at the door. That was the day I asked Jesus to come into my heart and life. When I was baptized, I remember when the preacher put me under the water, my feet floated up and popped up out of the water!"

Her family moved to Tulsa when she was 13, which set the course for the best years of her life. It was there, just a few houses away, that she became inseparable with her forever best friend - Louise Bush. "The very first Sunday, the Bush family invited me to go to church, Crowell Heights Baptist Church. Louise's mom, Lucille Bush, was my Sunday School teacher." Dee was only 15 years old when she fell in love with Louise's big brother, Jimmy. Mesmerized by Dee, Jim bought her favorite songs on 45-rpm records to leave as gifts on her doorstep. Jim was still in college when he drove Dee to Swan Lake in Tulsa and asked for her hand in marriage.

Dee and Jim (James L. Bush) married June 2, 1958 in Crowell Heights Baptist Church in Tulsa. They were married 66 years. Dee and Jim were always active in a local Baptist church of every community they lived including First Baptist Church, Edmond, Oklahoma since 1970 where they have many longtime friends.

To the union, three daughters were born: Cathy, Cindy and Carri. All three girls had the privilege to learn from their Mom the tradition of creating a home. Dee had amazing giftings as homemaker and seamstress. She was unusually talented in home decor and everyone loved to be on the receiving end of her hospitality. Christmas was absolutely her favorite holiday and her home decorated for Christmas would take your breath away.

One year for Dee's birthday, the daughters each listed 80 things they loved about Dee. Here are some favorites: I love you Mom because. .

You married the best man ever, my dad
You loved Jesus and taught me to do the same
You gave me two amazing sisters
You insisted we learn good manners
You handmade clothes for my Barbie dolls
You let us bring a kitten home from Tulsa, but not the piglet from Aunt Darlene's
You made the best homemade ice cream
You endured my awful teenage years and let me live to tell about it.
You handmade each of my prom dresses
You love your sons-in-law
You gave me on-the-job training on everything I needed for turning a house into a home
You have a big, beautiful smile
But I love you most of all just because you are my Mom
Here are a few from Jim's list: I love you Dee because . . .
You were my sister's best friend
You speak your mind
You taught our daughters those things only a Mother can and you did it so well.
You are the most gracious hostess I've ever known
You know my faults and love me anyway
You are just a beautiful, kind and loving Godly woman.
You just keep going when things get tough

Dee did keep going when things got tough. But a few weeks ago, as her health began to decline, she reminded us, "I love every one of you and want to be with you, but I can't live forever." Last week she said, "I just want to take a nap and wake up with Jesus." Jesus mercifully answered her prayer on Friday.

We will always miss her yet treasure the years of memories we shared with her.

Dee is survived by her husband, Jim, her three daughters; Cathy (Bill Cox), Cindy (Mark McFadden), and Carri (Brad Matheson), her 10 grandchildren: Michelle, James, Downing, Connor, Garrett, Payton, Isaac, Jack, John, Sam, her 5 great grandchildren; Annelise, Lyla, Sonora, Hayden and Hudson and her siblings; Darlene, Tom and Vickie plus several nephews and nieces.

Graveside Services will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5111 S. Memorial Drive, Tulsa, OK 74145 on Saturday, June 22 @ 12:00 pm Directed by Moore Funeral Home Southlawn Chapel, 918-663-2233