Wilma Jean Hager, 91, passed from this life on October 26, 2023. She was born June 2, 1932, in Maywood, Illinois to John Henry and Cleo Etta (Stephens) Luna. The family moved to Tulsa, OK where she spent much of her childhood and then to Pawnee, OK where Jean attended high school. While attending Oklahoma State University she met Kenneth C. Hager, from Cleveland, OK, and they were married on January 23, 1953.

Jean and Kenneth made several moves in the early years of their marriage. As Kenneth was building his career, Jean completed a B.A. degree at the University of Central Oklahoma, taught high school English, and worked to pursue her life-long goal of becoming a writer. In 1970 Jean published her first 2 books and would go on to publish a total of 58 novels over the next 30 years. During her career as a writer, Jean won the Oklahoma Writers Federation Teepee Award five times, was named the Oklahoma Writer of the Year in 1982, and was inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame in 1992. She was a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and American Crime Writers.

Jean was an avid reader and loved quilting. She created hundreds of quilts in her retirement, many of which were awarded prizes in various shows and contests. She and Ken were always very active members of their church which included Garnett and Park Churches of Christ.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, John and Cleo Luna; sister, Jo Pinkstaff; and Ken, her beloved husband of 65 years. She is survived by her children, Mark Hager; Elaine Clark and her husband Jeff; Kyle Hager and his wife Julie; grandchildren, Courtney Clark; Madeline Clark Frank and her husband Liam; Logan Hager; and Tyler Hager and his wife Sarah; great grandchildren, Hanna Elaine Frank and Kenneth Jameson (KJ) Hager; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be 1:30PM, Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel, 5111 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma.