Noka Dean Hornbuckle, 82, passed away at her home on December 3rd, 2016 in Santa Clarita, CA. Noka Dean (Spears) Hornbuckle was born in Heavener, Oklahoma to Thomas Damon and Ova Lee (Wisdom) Spears on September 14, 1934. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and best friend. Her radiant smile, infectious laugh and humble, but warm and caring personality will be adoringly remembered by all who knew her.
After graduating from Heavener High School she enrolled at Eastern Oklahoma A&M, but left the halls of academia in her freshman year to marry the love of her life, Charley Pat Hornbuckle, who was starting his career with the U.S. Air Force. This busy military career took them many places throughout the USA and on numerous foreign assignments. Along the way, they were blessed with a son, Charles P. "Chuck" and a daughter, Jo Lynn. The last military assignment was in Anchorage, Alaska, where Noka retired from the City of Anchorage, having been employed in the Utilities Customer Service Department. Noka loved camping in the mountains and streams and always had her fishing pole handy. They eventually found their way back home to Heavener where Noka served as pianist for the Calvary Baptist Church. Noka stayed in Heavener after Charley Pats death in 1989 until 2004 when she joined her daughter in California where she enjoyed the involvement in the lives of her grand and great-grandchildren.
Noka was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Charley Pat her soul mate. She is survived by one brother, Edwin Utah Spears of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada; one sister, Wanda Sue (Spears) Smith of Wapiti, Wyoming; two children, Charles P. "Chuck" Hornbuckle of Anchorage, Alaska; and Jo Lynn (Hornbuckle) Gessert of Santa Clarita, California; two grandchildren, Joslyne Renae Bullard of Santa Clarita, California and Jacqueline Lee McGirt of Palmdale, California; two great-grandchildren, Lauren Renee McGirt and Leeah Mae Wilson, both of Palmdale, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Her ashes will be interred next to her beloved husband, Charley Pat in Heavener, Oklahoma.
Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Heavener Memorial Park with Reverend Aaron Polk officiating.