Carol Dean Whiles

Funeral service for Carol Dean Whiles will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Calvary Freewill Baptist Church. 1921 Holly Road, Claremore, OK 74017

Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Cemetery.

Carol passed away on December 21, 2025, at the age of 82.

Carol was born on July 16, 1943, in Oilton, Oklahoma; she was the daughter of Chester and Hazel (Dickson) Bateman. Her early childhood was in Cleveland before her father’s work took the family to Venezuela for a time. They later returned to Cleveland, where Carol graduated from Cleveland High School in 1961.

During her school years, Carol met James (Jim) Whiles. Although they knew of one another in school they formally met at the Dairy Diner. They grew close in a short period of time and married on December 13, 1961. While Jim served in the United States Army, Carol remained in Cleveland waiting for their 1st born. When Jim returned home from Korea he met his 4 month old son, Scott. The couple had their daughter, Deane Ann 10 months later. They lived briefly in Cleveland and later purchased a home in Mannford, where Carol devoted herself to raising their family. While in Mannford, Carol eventually began to babysit neighborhood children and later managed the Ben Franklin Store. Carol voiced that out of all the labels she has worn, being a mother was her favorite and the most important. Scott and Deane Ann recalled that it was important to her that they had sit down meals and during breakfast most mornings, because they were a captive audience, she would read the Bible to them followed by a story out of Guideposts and there was always a Geritol vitamin every morning.

In 1985, after their children had graduated, Jim and Carol purchased an auto parts store in Barnsdall. Together, they successfully owned and operated the business for just over 21 years. Carol always made sure there was freshly brewed coffee because the locals often dropped by for a visit and a good cup of brew. After retirement, they began searching for the perfect place to enjoy this new season of their life and they found it in Claremore.

Carol's life was defined by her deep and unwavering faith. A devoted Christian, she was known by many as a true prayer warrior. She will be remembered as a place of comfort and someone to turn to for guidance and a loving heart. Her life was one of service. She was a caregiver for her mother-in-law, Violet, for 20+ years. She loved singing in the church and for years she devoted time to singing weekly at the Barnsdall nursing home. At the time of her passing, she was an active member of Calvary Freewill Baptist Church in Claremore. Carol was known as a wonderful cook. She was crafty and creative. She was loved for her quick wit, sense of humor, and devotion to her family and church. A couple of things that are not well known about Carol is that she was a bit of a rebel and ended up in Facebook jail more than once. She was a self-taught harmonica player and she was a walking encyclopedia for church hymnals.

Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Hazel Bateman; brother, Delbert Bateman; and sister, Ramona Skinner.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Whiles; sons, Scott Whiles and wife Leslie and Darren Vaughn; daughter, Deane Ann Barnes and husband David; grandchildren, Karen Trarbaugh, Daniel and Timothy Zivkovic, Elisha and Allan Barnes, Bailee Waller, Staci Good, Chelsea Vaughan, Hayden, Alex, and Nick McKray; and great-grandchildren, Clayton, Braxton, Braydon, Braddock, Brodee, Weston, Haiden, Carson, Blake and Layla