Ella Mattox

Obituary for Ella May (Jean) Mattox

Ella Jean Mattox was born on April 6, 1935, in Hominy, Oklahoma to Wesley Johnson and Ella May (Clifton) Johnson. Ella grew up in the Hominy area with her two brothers, Harry and Wesley. She was raised by her grandparents, Charles and Daisy Johnson. Ella Jean graduated from Hominy High School in 1954, where she was in band (Clarinet), part of the pep club and the junior class reporter. She became a member of the Eastern Star as a young girl and maintained her membership her whole life.

Ella Jean married Cecil Ward in 1953, before she got out of high school. They had three children born to this union; Harry Ray Ward, (who lived for six days), Wayne Ward and Karen Ward. In the early years of their marriage Ella Jean would cook for all the cowboys on the ranch that Cecil worked for. Cecil was killed in a car accident west of Hominy in 1966.

Ella Jean worked hard to raise her two children. She went to work for the local flower shop and then bought the shop from Dale Ewing. She owned and ran Jean's Flower Shop for over forty years. She bought the two-story house across from the flower shop for her and the children. That house was built before statehood and had stamped on the lumber Oklahoma Territory, which was brought in from Mississippi.

Ella Jean married Tom Mattox on January 10, 2012, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Together Ella Jean and Tom traveled to California, Wisconsin, Florida and all over Arkansas. Ella Jean was a lifelong member of the Hominy Christian Church. She loved working in her flower garden on the side of her house. She was very creative, and she loved Christmas.

Ella Jean had many hobbies and interests. She enjoyed quilting and made over 300 "Orphan Button Babies." She collected over 1000 beanie babies, over 300 salt and pepper shakers (not necessarily matches), and a couple of dozen porcelain dolls. Ella Jean also loved yard sales and antique stores.

Ella Jean spent the last couple of years in the nursing center and on Saturday morning, December 7, 2024, at 7:45 AM Ella Jean Mattox passed from this life at the age of 89.

She is survived by her husband Tom Mattox; son Wayne (Cathy) Ward; daughter Karen (Kenneth) Miller; son James (Kara) Mattox, daughter Crystal (Jeff Darci) Mattox; six grandchildren Austin Miller, Sara (Frank) Brackett, Justin (Karen) Ward, Scott (Heather) Ward, Hudson Mattox and Melia Mattox; ten great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Ella Jean was preceded in death by her husband Cecil Ward; a son Harry Ray Ward; her parents Wesley Johnson and Ella May Johnson; brothers Harry Johnson and Wesley Johnson.

Memorial Service for Ella Jean Mattox will be Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Hominy Christian Church. Arrangements were made by Powell Funeral Home, Hominy, Oklahoma