On January 20, 1930, Lurline Middleton gave birth to her and Carl's fifth child. It was a girl who would have beautiful blue eyes, fair skin, and dark brunette hair. They named her Nowana Ruth. She would be their last child, joining their other children Naomi, who would be nine years old in a few days. Harold, six years her senior, who in a few years would nickname her "Feller" and carry her around on his back with her feet in the hip pockets of his overalls. And Lola, who was going to be three in a few months, and would not just be her sister, but her best friend all their lives. Of course, they had buried their first child, Preston years ago, after he died of a fever.

So the four children grew in their tiny community of Duke, Oklahoma. Their Mama raised them to faithfully close their day in prayer at the altar in their home, as well as to attend Sunday School and worship at Duke United Methodist Church. Nowana learned to walk and talk and play with the others as well as to do her chores, staking out and milking the cow and the goat. They lived just down the street from the school and could go play on the swings in the schoolyard. That was double fun because Lola would get in first and Nowana would sit on her lap facing her. They could both "pump" that way and swing so high! On their bicycle, Lola would sit on the seat and pedal while Nowana rode on the handlebars and away they would go.

So much fun especially when their cousin Ethelene, who was about Lola's age, would come visit. They would play "Annie Over". That's when some are at the back of the house and some at the front. One would have a ball and yell, "Annie Over!" while throwing it over the roof of the house for someone on the other side to catch. There was no basketball hoop on the gable over the front porch, but the paint was missing in one spot, right where a basketball goal would have been. Of course these games revealed Nowana's natural athletic ability and helped her develop the strength and skills she would use on the various teams at school, and throughout her life.

She did miss the others when they left her at home and went to school, but they came home for lunch, and she got to spend some time alone with her precious Mama. Then came the day, Nowana got to walk with Lola to the schoolhouse. She liked school, but it was not easy for her. She had to study hard. In second grade, they learned that her eyesight was lacking and she began to wear glasses. Life got easier, but she would need to study hard all through school.

Oh, but they had basketball and baseball! She loved to play and was very competitive. Her school was very small, but they had a girls basketball team. Nowana was one of the three girls who played defense, called guards, and had to stay on one half of the court and prevent their opposition from scoring She excelled at baseball/softball, too. She was the catcher on the girls softball team. There are some funny stories about that, but for the sake of time, I'll skip over that.
Naomi and Harold had moved away from home, and when Nowana was thirteen, Lola married also. So Lurline and Nowana lived together in Duke until Nowana graduated from Duke Schools in 1948. Nowana began working for the Jackson County Treasurers Office in Altus, and moved in with Lola and her husband Gale Powers. Lola was working at the Badger-Henry Building as the Elevator Operator. One day a young man got on the elevator doing business in the building. Lola thought Nowana might be interested in him, and that's how Nowana met Hugh.

They married on April 8, 1950 and began a life of adventure together. They lived in several places: Altus, Oklahoma City, and in 1955 they moved to Colorado Spring One day at the Colorado Springs Post Office Hugh saw a posting about openings for Government Jobs. He filled out the application and sent it. In 1956, Hugh was selected for a position in the Comptroller's Office of the Panama Canal Company. So leaving many of their possessions behind in Altus, Nowana and Hugh packed up their car, drove to New York City and got on a ship bound for the Panama Canal. A few Months later Nowana gave birth to their first daughter, Celia Jan on November 7, 1956. Can you imagine getting on a ship when you're seven months pregnant, to move to another hemisphere, leaving everything familiar behind except for her husband? Her simple explanation was, "Because that is where Hugh was going..."

Nowana was hot natured so the tropical heat was not her dream environment, but they stayed for 10 years and had a second daughter, Carol Ann, in 1961. Nowana took some Jr. College classes there and played in the volleyball league, she and Hugh played in the softball leagues and Hugh got her interested in playing golf. Their church, Curundu Protestant Church (later Crossroads Bible Church) was full of wonderful believers, many of which became life-long friends.

In 1966, They came back to the States and decided to stay because Hugh's brother offered him a position as the manager of his Ready Mix Companies headquartered in Tahlequah. They were active in Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Tahlequah Bible Church and Cornerstone Fellowship. Nowana was involved with Christian Women's Club, including leading bible studies. They lived in Tahlequah until 1993 when after they retired they moved to Tulsa, Lynn Lane to be exact, to raise cows and play with their grandkids. They were active in Church on the Move. They stayed there until time to move to their final destination, The Presence Of God. Hugh left in June of 2010, and Nowana joined him and the other loved ones waiting for her July 1, 2018.

Visitation will be 6-8 P.M., Thursday, July 5, 2018 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M., Friday, July 6, 2018 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233