After a long life, rich with family, faith and music, Laura DeHart, 96, passed from this life on Jan. 23, 2025, surrounded by family at her home in Chickasha.
A businesswoman who helped operate various family businesses with her husband, the late Elmer Leonard DeHart (1925-2009), Laura also was an enthusiastic mother, homemaker, community volunteer and church leader.
Services are scheduled at the First Christian Church in Chickasha at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. Officiating at the service will be FCC Pastor Michael Oberlander. A reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall with family displays hosted by her children and grandchildren.
Laura Luella Robberson DeHart was born on March 11, 1928 in Covington, Okla. Laura’s parents – the late John Wesley Robberson and Pearl Florence (Hampton) Robberson – were from Texas and moved to Oklahoma in 1918. Laura graduated from high school in Wewoka. Her mother was a homemaker, and her dad worked in the oilfield.
Laura met her future husband Elmer when she came to Chickasha in the 1940s from Wewoka to attend the Oklahoma College for Women. She came on a music scholarship and played the saxophone in the college orchestra and dance band. She attended OCW in 1946-48.
The DeHarts married on Aug. 15, 1948, in Chickasha, where they eventually took on operations for DeHart Air Conditioning founded in 1948 by Elmer’s father, Ed. Elmer graduated from Oklahoma State University in mechanical engineering and served in the U.S. Army before they started a family.
Together, the DeHarts had four children, Debbie, Cary, Mark and Kristy, all of whom live in the Chickasha area, where they raised their children and grandchildren. At the time of her death, Laura and Elmer had four children, 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. They were married 61 years before his death in 2009.
Together the DeHarts enjoyed their family, travel, sailing, movies and community theatre. During the 1990s, they built a business breeding and racing Thoroughbred horses. Their grandchildren describe the thrill of watching Elmer’s and Laura’s horses compete and win.
When their children became adults, the DeHarts started other businesses with their children, including The Willows Restaurant and Willowbrook Apartments, among others. Eventually each of their children pursued their own careers, with their grandsons eventually taking on the air conditioning business to run.
Together, Laura and Elmer enjoyed travel to Western Europe, many Pacific islands, Central America and across the United States. Laura loved reading and singing, and her children and grandchildren used music and singing as a means by which to communicate with her during her final days.
Laura enjoyed Broadway show music and following her favorite movie stars like Julie Harris, Debbie Reynolds and Cary Grant. She loved the Scriptures and listed her favorites as Psalm 23, John 14, Philippians 4 and John 3. Besides the Bible, her favorite book was Jane Eyre , the classic Charlotte Bronte novel about an orphan girl who overcomes many hardships to become a strong, independent woman.
Like her fictional hero, Laura loved her independence and remained in the family home, even at 96, with help from generous caregivers and family. Neighbors recall her sitting on the back patio of her home in recent years, entertaining herself with music, the family cat, and birds singing along with her. Her pets provided companionship around the clock.
Laura enjoyed serving her musical fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota; the Junior Social Workers of Chickasha; her local women’s service organization, the PEO-DV Chapter; and the Thursday Bridge Club in Chickasha. She served as Elder at the First Christian Church of Chickasha, where Laura also was a choir member and served the Rogers Circle. Working with other theatre enthusiasts in Chickasha, Laura and Elmer helped to establish the Chickasha Community Theatre in 1967. Laura served as CCT’s secretary for many years and loved to perform on the stage.
Laura is survived by her children: Deborah DeHart; Cary DeHart and his wife, B.J.; Mark DeHart and his wife, Michele; Kristy Jarnagin and her husband, Jason; all of Chickasha. Grandchildren include Jennifer Atwell and companion Doug Manning; Kevin Barrett; Jeff Barrett and wife, Jessica; Summer McClure and her husband; Jeff; Weston DeHart and his wife, Julie; Seth DeHart and his wife, Mandy; Natalie McCalla; John DeHart and his wife, Camille; Kassity Grigg and her husband, DJ; and Jacoby Jarnagin and his wife, Krystal. Great-grandchildren include Gabrielle (and her husband, Dalton), Michael, Lillie, Jonathon, Jaxon, Carson, Gracelyn, James, Ella Claire, Scout, Gus, Kasen, Ozzy, Stella, Tilly, Fieldon, Georgia, Millie, River, Cyleigh, Cayleb, Jett, and Mox. Her great-great-grandchildren include Maddox, Julien and Rhett.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents, John and Pearl Robberson; and her older brothers: Guy (and Zelda) Robberson, and C.L. (and Iva) Robberson.
Laura’s caregivers became dear friends in recent years. These include Marlene Davis, Alicia Beets, Loretta Wilson, Krista Bennett, Rachell Gall and Misty Luker.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make gifts as desired to the First Christian Church (202 S. 6 th Street, Chickasha OK 73018), or to the Chickasha Community Theatre (P.O. Box 1687, Chickasha OK 73023), or to any charity of choice in Laura’s memory.
Interment will be at a later date in the Rosehill Cemetery. Cremation arrangements and services are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home, where words of comfort and condolences may be left for the family at www.ferguson-funeralhome.com .