Mrs. Earlene L. Deere's Obituary
Earlene Laverne Deere was born to the parentage of the late Clyde Morgan Long and Mary Katherine Long in Beggs, Oklahoma; she was one of four daughters born to this union.
Earlene received her public education in Wagoner School systems where she met her deepest love, Louis Deere, and graduated from Lincoln High School. She also attended Northeastern State University until her marriage to Louis Deere. She trained as a Medical Assistant and supported her husband through medical school and his residency.
In 1968, the family moved to Dallas, Texas and settled in the Oak Cliff area. Earlene joined Bethel AME Church. She felt she could be of service there and remained a faithful member. Earlene held numerous offices at Bethel AME including serving on the Usher Board, the Missionary Board, numerous other boards and finally elected to the Trustee Board where she remained until her death.
Born with a spirit of community service, in 1975 Earlene assisted in the startup of the first minority halfway house for women. After several years of growth, she was essential in facilitating the halfway house to relocate to a larger building, the old nursing school at Bethel AME. She was also a volunteer for the City of Dallas and numerous schools in the Dallas area.
Earlene worked tirelessly within Al-Anon for forty plus years. She was co-founder of the Corinth Street Al-Anon group and was a sponsor for 16 plus years of the Alateen group.
Earlene was one of the founding members of the Continentals Society Inc., Dallas Chapter, with over forty years of membership. She served as Chaplain of the organization for numerous years. The organization is primarily focused on enriching the lives of children in the Dallas area, via health screenings, awarding scholarships to facilitate higher education and various other activities supporting children. The organization also distributes Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to enrich the local community.
Earlene was a charter member of the Dallas Carrousels with forty-two years of membership. She held roles as Chapter Treasurer, National Delegate and Vice President of the Dallas Chapter from 2009 – 2011. As a member of Carrousels of Dallas, Texas, Carrousel Earlene participated by donating to The African American Museum from 1985 – 1988. In 2014 she donated to The Dallas Black Dance Theater through Carrousels, Inc. and Carrousels of Dallas, Texas.
Earlene was a charter member of The Girl Friends, Inc, Dallas Chapter. The Girl Friends, Inc. is the oldest and highly respected social organization of African American women in the United States. The organization’s main purpose is to promote friendship, provide social activities, perform civic services in local communities and support National Projects. The organization also promotes higher education through the awarding of student scholarships to high school graduates. She had over forty years of membership with the organization and at various times, served as Chaplain during her tenure. She had reached the Emeritus Membership level, which is the highest level within The Girl Friends, Inc.
Earlene was preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, Dr. Louis E. Deere; and parents, Clyde and Mary Long of Wagoner, Oklahoma.
Earlene leaves to cherish her memory sons, Clyde Louis Deere (Vickie) and Louis Edward Deere Jr. (Lisa) both of Desoto, Texas; two grandchildren Mackynzee and Nicholas Deere both of Houston, Texas; three sisters, Irene Evelyn Jones, Gloria Jean Traylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Donna Rose Ford (Curtis) of Wagoner, Oklahoma and Georgianna Deere Robinson, sister-in-law, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, along with a host of nieces, nephews and special friends.
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