Helen Jeannine (Charter) Vernon

Helen Jeannine Vernon

Funeral services for Helen Vernon will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Javita presiding. Interment will follow in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry.

Helen J. Vernon, age 85, of Sperry, passed away Friday, February 22, 2019 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa.

Helen was born November 23, 1933 to Clarence Russell Charter and Mary Etta (Tyner) Charter, at their home on Bird Creek Bottom between Skiatook and Sperry, OK. Jeannine was delivered by Dr. Phillips. Jeannine was named by her father, with her first name, Helen being after her grandmother, Helen Christina Tyner, and her middle name, Jeannine, after the song, “Jeannine I Dream of Lilac Time”. Jeannine had one older brother Alvin Carter “Son” Busby. Her grandparents were Carter Blackstone and Helen Christina (Elder) Tyner and John Lafayette and Alice Loretta (Mackey) Charter.

Jeannine went to Sperry Schools from Kindergarten through her sophomore year. Her favorite class was science with Ethel Cooper as her teacher. Jeannine left school during the first part of her junior year. She married Etsel Jack Selvidge, son of Alfred Etsel Selvidge and Vivian Embrey Selvidge on August 24, 1950 at the home of Brother Summers in Tulsa. Standing up with Jeannine and Jack were Clara Juby and Leonard Barton both of Sperry. Jeannine lived in Sperry while Jack served with the 45th Infantry Division overseas in the Korean War. To this union was born two sons, A. Jack Selvidge and Stephen R. Selvidge.

Jeannine later married Nicholas John Joseph Baustert on July 17, 1959 in Sapulpa, OK. Nell Cason and Randall West stood up with the couple. They made their home in Sperry. To that union was born one daughter, Michele Maree Baustert.

Jeannine was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Women in Construction, Veterans Auxillary, and a proud member of the Cherokee Tribe.

Jeannine was a granddaughter of one of the original signers of the Cherokee Nation Constitution and an Associate Justice of the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court, Moses (Tu-lu-squit) Parris.

Besides being a stay home mother and home room mother for her children’s classes; Jeannine worked various positions during her young life. She worked for Common Wealth Life Insurance in Tulsa, National Bank of Tulsa, Pan-American Petroleum in Tulsa, Briggs-Weaver in Houston, TX and then transferred back to Tulsa, Concrete Conservation in Tulsa, Manhatten Construction in Tulsa and Ducommun Metals in Tulsa.

While Jeannine was working for Concrete Conservation in Tulsa she met the love of her life, Thomas Gerald Vernon who was superintendent responsible for building the north tower at St John Medical Center Tulsa. Jeannine and Jerry married on May 20, 1989 in Las Vegas, NV.

Jeannine loved to travel, find new relatives through genealogy work, and visit many cemeteries. The grandkids spent many a day traveling and walking through cemeteries with their grandma “Neen”. Jeannine has assisted scores of individuals with their genealogy research. She was an expert in finding many long-lost relatives. She especially loved going shopping and visiting with her best friend Sue Winford.

Jeannine is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Russell and Mary Etta (Tyner) Charter, her brother Alvin Carter “Son” Busby, and her husband Gerald Thomas Vernon.

Left to miss Jeannine is her son and daughter- in -law, Stephen R. and Shirley A. Selvidge of Sperry, son and daughter- in- law A. Jack and Jonnetta (Basse) Selvidge of Sperry, daughter, Michele Maree (Baustert) Mulford of Tulsa, step-daughter Lynn Vernon of Pasadena, Maryland; seven grandchildren Joshua Selvidge, Amber Selvidge, Adrian Mulford, Danielle Mulford, Siota Mulford, Shawn Selvidge and Drew Mulford; seven great-grandchildren and a multitude of cousins, nephews, other family and friends.

Pallbearers will be:Joshua Selvidge, Shawn Selvidge, Drew Mulford, Travis Studi,Dylan Selvidge, Devon Selvidge and Eric Armstrong. Honorary pallbearers will be; Travis Studi, Butch Tyner,  Dennis Hilton, Paul Henry, Nicholas Baustert, Jr (Charlie Brown), Gary Lynn Fast and Alvin Charles Busby.

The family of Helen Jeannine Vernon entrusted her care and services to the Sien-Shelton Funeral Home.

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