Crystal Florence Fielden

Crystal Florence Fielden was born on September 23, 1919 in Grove, Oklahoma, to Albey and Belmer Lackey. She died on January 5, 2016, in Edmond, Oklahoma at the age of 96. Crystal and her two sisters were raised on a farm outside of Grove. They were assigned farm and home duties while growing up, which resulted in Crystal developing a good work ethic at an early age, which remained with her throughout her life. After graduating Grove High School, she began working her way through college at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where she met her future husband, R. A. Fielden. They were married in 1940 and remained married for over 73 years, until R.A.’s death in 2013 at the age of 92. For a young couple having to work their way through college, finances were tight so Crystal and R. A. left college early after learning they could obtain teaching certificates from the State of Oklahoma, and finish their degrees while teaching. When their only son, Arlen, was born during a school year, Crystal missed only one week of school. Crystal and R.A. returned to Northeastern State during summers in order to complete their Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Both later attended summer sessions at what was then Oklahoma A & M College, now Oklahoma State University, to obtain their Masters Degrees. Throughout their teaching careers they taught at various schools in Oklahoma, including Midway, Vidaway, Milfay, Ong, Sapulpa and Carney. R.A. normally both taught and served as either Principal or Superintendent and Crystal taught lower grades. Both also served terms as County Superintendent of Lincoln County in Chandler, Oklahoma. Crystal loved children and took great pride in her teaching. When Crystal and R.A. retired from public education in 1985 they moved to Prague, Oklahoma where they owned and operated Fielden Realty until retiring in 2006. At that time, they moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, to be near their son and daughter in law. Crystal was predeceased by her husband, R.A.; her parents, Albey and Belmer Lackey; her sisters, Elva Golden and Lodema Arney; and her nephew, Carl Cordell. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Arlen and Mary Jane Fielden of Edmond; grandsons Craig Fielden and his wife, Jennifer, of Seattle, WA, and Brian Fielden and his wife, Paige of Atlanta, GA; great grandchildren Heidi, Maddie and Zoe Fielden of Seattle, WA, and Christopher and Blake Fielden of Atlanta, GA; nephew, Delmon Arney, and his wife, Kathleen of Atlanta, GA; and other family and friends. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 2:00p.m., at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at the Prague Cemetery.