Viola "Dollie" Belle Denton

Viola “Dollie” Belle (Smith) Denton, 84, passed Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 7:35 pm. Viola was surrounded by her loving family at their home in Coweta, Oklahoma.

She will be remembered by family and friends as someone who lived life as a true caretaker. Viola was dedicated to building a life with her husband and raising her kids, but her true joy was taking care of her grandkids and great grandkids. As an avid fuzzy blanket lover there is no surprise to how loving, genuine, sweet, soft, strong, and loyal she was. Viola got her nickname Dollie from her sister that was 2 ½ years old who thought she looked like a doll and it stuck. It stuck so much her brother returned from the military walked in and said, “Oh my goodness my baby doll.” She was also Nana to family, friends, and strangers alike.

Born on February 14, 1937, in Grovania (Okmulgee), to Robert and Mary-Jane Smith on a farm. In the cold wintertime of November 1951, her family moved to Coweta. Viola Denton graduated from Coweta High School in 1955.

Dollie’s uncle helped build the very church she was a part of. At the age of 14 Dollie was baptized. Her membership began in 1952 of the Church of Christ in Coweta. For over 69 years, Viola contributed her musical talents and sang to every hymn. She also participated in the nursery and Sunday school. She loved attending church and followed the word of the lord. Instead of saying hell she would spell out H E double L each and every time.

At the age of 17, Dollie met the love of her life, Jimmy Denton. They married in Coweta on May 18, 1956 on the night of Jimmy’s high school graduation. Dollie used to complain and say she came from a place by the ocean and with a bus to take her to the movies. Then she had moved to a po’dunk town and her father thought a pony would make up for it. She made quick friends with Jimmy’s sister Aurelia and that is how they met.  She started working right away at her uncle’s shoe store “Cassidy’s” so she could buy Jimmy a wedding ring. In 1965 they built their house together rock by rock. Dollie moved and stack every single rock you see on their house today. Her main job may have been caretaker, but she did not take her other full-time job lightly. Her other full-time job may have been even more crucial, keeping Jimmy Denton’s orneriness in line.  Sometimes that meant she had to take on the role of card shark and beat Jimmy in a good game of cards.

Dollie enjoyed traveling, gardening, playing cards, clothes, sewing, cooking, garage sales, and spending time with family. Time melted away while out tending to the garden and growing roses. With the spoils from their garden Dollie and Jimmy would be canning quarts and quarts of food. Her obsession of strawberries, strawberry rhubarb pie, and apricot fried pies has been passed on to her family. Thankfully Dollie could cook! During a thin year she drove the car and Jimmy rode on top while hunting rabbits. That year they cooked 286 rabbits in every imaginable way. Her love of clothes spread throughout the whole house. Jimmy had a quarter of a closet to use while she had 4 plus closets. Dollie treasured visiting with her family and sightseeing. One of her favorite trips was when they ventured out to the Bahamas. Her love for taking care of her grandkids eclipsed most things. Dollie would say “You’re not spoiled just extra loved.” She quit her job when her first grandchild was born to help take care of her. All of the babies drank coffee right along with her. She would put a splash of coffee in their sippy cup or bottle with their milk. At the young age of 74 she broke her right hip while playing soccer with the kids.

Dollie is survived by her loving husband of 64 years and 10 months, Jimmy Denton. Her daughter Jill Foster “that came out sunny side up talking and hasn’t stopped talking since,” as Dollie would say. Jimmy said “AMEN!” Including Jill’s kids Cortnee Foster (granddaughter); Cameron Factor (great grandson), Autumn Friedmansky (granddaughter); Micah Friedmansky (great grandson), Derek Foster (grandson); Dezyrae Foster (great granddaughter); DJ Foster (great grandson), and Vanessa Foster. Her daughter Joy Pickett (Brian) was born in the middle of the night. Jimmy had to speed so bad that he got pulled over. Jimmy told the cop “he would have to follow him then he could give him a ticket.” Also survived by Joy’s kids Janette Austin (granddaughter), Pamela Terry (granddaughter); Tyler Terry (great grandson); Jacob Terry (great grandson), Donny Austin (grandson); Draco Austin (great grandson). Predeceased by her son Christopher Denton which was the result of her willingness to stay home without having a kid to take care of. Carrying on in her memory Chris’s children Christina Moreland (granddaughter); Colton Moreland (great grandson), Joseph Denton (grandson), and Sierra Denton (granddaughter). Along with a brother and many other adopted kids, grandkids, and surrogate family members.

Dollie passed on her own terms in the privacy of her home. A celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Coweta Church of Christ, 125 W. Cypress St. Coweta, OK 74429.

Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, March 15, 2021 at Brown Funeral Home, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429. Family and friends may share memories online at www.brownfamilycares.com.