Wanda Faye York July 14, 1928 – July 21, 2018

Wanda Faye Stembridge York was born into this world on July 14, 1928, as Wanda Faye Stembridge in Bokoshe, Oklahoma. Her parents were Nolan Logan and Rosa Mirl (Mangrum) Stembridge. Wanda was one of five Stembridge sisters, which may have something to do with why sisters Velma and Wanda were affectionately referred to as “Aunt Dick and Aunt Billie” respectively! The siblings in order of age, noting their subsequent married names, were Ethel Mirl Mattingley; Hazel Mae Lamoreaux; Velma Lee Casey; Wanda Faye York; and Esther Elizabeth (Betty) Wolfe. With the exception of Betty, Wanda’s sisters have predeceased her. Wanda also had two half-brothers, Walter Leolan Stembridge and Nolan Victor Stembridge who both died in early childhood. Their mother, Roselphia Stembridge, died young as well, and was Wanda’s mother’s cousin.

Wanda’s husband, Neil Marion York, also predeceased her. Wanda is survived by her three children, Bonnie Lorraine York Phillips of Lake City, Colorado, Neal William (Bud) York of Collinsville, Oklahoma, and Fatemah Bent-Neil York of Kuwait. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Angela Loraine York, Brent Alan Phillips, Omar Zarrouk and Nouradeen Zarrouk, two great grandchildren, Kali Lorraine Sowards and Braden Ray York, and one great grandchild, Rileigh Laine Sowards, and a host of nieces and nephews from her four sisters and Neil’s siblings that she loved also.

In the first few years of Wanda’s life, the family was somewhat affluent, with her father owning two furniture stores, and a sewing machine shop. However, Wanda was born at the beginning of the Great Depression, and the furniture stores were lost, and livelihood became precarious. Wanda’s father continued to run a sewing machine business while she was growing up, and she sometimes made the rounds with him, and the business certainly influenced her. She became an exceptional seamstress, sewing everything from baby clothes to grown-up coats, even upholstering furniture, all with extreme finesse. She was an excellent student and outstanding athlete with her favorite sport being basketball! The family lived in several small towns in Oklahoma, culminating in Oolagah, then Collinsville during Wanda’s high school years. She was able to shoot baskets from half-court and win many basketball games under Coach McNatt.

It was in Collinsville that Wanda met the love of her life, Neil Marion York. Neil’s folks were farmers, and Neil rode into high school on horseback, and swung by to pick up Wanda. That must have been impressive, because he was able to convince her to elope with him. They were both underage, and ran off to Caney, Kansas for the ceremony. This created quite a ruckus, but the marriage held strong throughout the years, with subsequent sealing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple in Dallas, Texas in 1991. She was sealed to her parents in the St. George Temple in Utah in 1990. It is interesting to note that although the Stembridge girls had a staunch Baptist upbringing, and raised their families in diverse locations (California, Utah, and Oklahoma), all of their families eventually found refuge in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Her Christian faith was central to Wanda’s life, and Bud’s most treasured gift from his mother is a Bible in which she referenced Matthew 17:5.

Wanda was always a very independent woman, and worked hard to help Neil as he continued his education prior to entering the business of Real Estate. She worked at Ruth Fuel Gas Company, and then at Dr. William Orlando Smith’s Ear, Nose, & Throat office. Dr. Smith’s office got a lot of expertise from the Stembridge Girls, as Wanda’s sisters Ethel and Betty also worked for Dr. Smith! She also worked for the Elledge Insurance office for a lengthy time.

Daughter Bonnie was born early in the marriage, but was an only child for 13 years. Then while working for the Verdigris Valley Electric Company in Collinsville, Wanda and Neil were blessed with the arrival of a second child, Neal William!

Sister Bonnie dubbed him, “My Little Buddy,” and he became known as Buddy, or “Bud” when his six foot-plus frame had outgrown the earlier nickname. After Buddy was born, Wanda was more of a “Stay at home Mom,” except when she was helping Neil at his new real estate business, York Realty, which thrived for many years in Collinsville. A third child was born as Catherine Elizabeth and the family was complete, and Wanda dedicated herself to the family. She coached a girl’s baseball team, the Agates, and also sewed dance costumes for Catherine and granddaughter Angela, making sure they had grace as well as athleticism! Some of the happier times of Wanda’s life were spent in Lake City, Colorado. Neil and Wanda built a family home there, and it became a retreat from the cares of life and always refreshed and invigorated the family.

In addition to being a tantalizing cook and a fastidious housekeeper (ask daughter Bonnie about the hardwood floors!), she also loved crafts, creating beautiful ceramic, crochet work, jewelry and paintings! She also wrote poetry, and it is fitting to end this with a handwritten poem that her daughter Bonnie found among her things. Wanda composed this poem herself, and it provides the best and truest insight into her life.

Reflections by Wanda

Embarked in youth with eagerness
Life’s pathway soon to trod
Hand in hand with my true love,
My love, and me, and God.

The mixed joys of motherhood
Filled a space sublime
The years sped by and
Three new souls
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Oh, bitter dregs of unhappiness,
Engulf my very soul,
The woes of life all crush my heart,
Alone as I grow old.

But one sure thing that I have learned
In this great quest for life,
Is God is Good and God is Great,
He loves with all His might.

So if right now I lean on Him
That will be okay
I know with Him to lean upon
I’ll make it thru each day.

Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at the Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 26, 2018 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Owasso, OK. Interment will follow at the Ridgelawn Cemetery.