The Edmond Sun

Local News

Related Photos

  • SUN FILE PHOTO Longtime Edmond resident, author and arts patron Eloise Rodkey Rees died on Tuesday. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Baggerley Funeral Home.

    Eloise Rees.jpg

Discussion

February 10, 2012

Edmond loses wealth of knowledge with death of resident

James Coburn and Patty Miller The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — The death of longtime Edmond resident Eloise Rodkey Rees goes with the saying that with every death, you lose a library.

Rees was born Jan. 28, 1918, and died Feb. 7, 2012, at the age of 94.  

Rees was the granddaughter of Isaac Rodkey, a pioneer Edmond industrialist who made life a bit easier for the community with the Rodkey Flour Mill. The business provided economic stability for the city until the family sold the property in 1970. At its peak during the 1930s, the company employed more than 30 workers.

The Rodkey Flour elevator still stands west of the railroad tracks on Edmond Road.

“I used to go over there with my friends. And we played on the flour sacks,” Rees told The Edmond Sun in 2000. “It was so hot that our perspiration would cause flour paste to be all over us.”

Rees was known in the community for her altruism and charity, with her support of the HOPE Center and the Fine Arts Institute of Edmond.

She donated the funds for a room at the FAI. Other local causes she supported included the University of Central Oklahoma’s Broadway Tonight, and Edmond PEO Chapter D.

“Eloise enriched our community with her bright mind, creative genius, dedication to humanity and love of the arts,” said Mitzi Hancuff, executive director of the FAI.

A novelist and artist, Rees earned a degree in drama at the University of Oklahoma.

Rees earned a teaching certificate and worked toward her master’s degree. Although she never taught full time, she always substituted whenever she could.

In 2008 Rees told The Edmond Sun as she spoke of herself, “I am a writer. I’ve been a writer for years.”

With seven published novels, Rees once said she always had written and to the end she loved writing.

Her family established a writing award in her honor that went to Edmond teachers.

“Eloise Rees lived her dream of writing,” said Carole Heitz, the first award winner.

Edmond was a wonderful place to grow up, Rees told The Sun in 2006.

She developed her philosophy, “You have to stick with things to be successful.”

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Baggerley Funeral Home Chapel.

Text Only
Local News
  • $6.8B budget crosses final hurdle

    House members found enough votes late Thursday afternoon to approve the state’s $6.8 billion budget for next year by a vote of 52-42. This came after an earlier vote failed by four votes in the House Thursday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • Santa Fe principal resigns

    Edmond Santa Fe High School principal Earl Kirkpatrick resigned Thursday to explore possibilities in the field of ministry. His last day is June 30.

    May 25, 2012

  • devin derrick 2012.jpg Hollywood dreams do come true: Edmondite develops film, music career

    It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
    At least that is what Edmond resident and 1990 Edmond High School graduate Devin Derrick will tell you about his rise to fame in the music and movie businesses.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • ASK A LAWYER: Trusts provide options for difficult heirs

    Q: We have a grown daughter who has a gambling problem. We want to provide for her in our will, but also want to protect her share from being wasted after we die. How can we do this?
    A: Your situation is not unusual. Most of us know at least one person who has difficulty handling money for one reason or another.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Pets

    This is a list of animals that have been found and are at the Edmond Animal Shelter, at Interstate 35 and Covell in the Cross Timbers Municipal Complex. Call the shelter at 216-7615 for more information.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Police and Fire

    Information in this column is gathered from city fire incident logs and police incident reports.

    May 25, 2012

  • Make-A-Wish Oklahoma hosts Lexus raffle

    Make-A-Wish Oklahoma will once again partner with Lexus of Tulsa and Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City to raffle off a new Lexus, raising funds to support the organization’s efforts to grant the heartfelt wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in Oklahoma.

    May 25, 2012

  • Edmond youth are encouraged to make a difference

    The Edmond Youth Council programs are opportunities for students 15-18 years of age to learn about municipal government and potentially impact future city policies.

    May 25, 2012

  • Hiebert graduates from Field Artillery training

    Army Pfc. Cody A. Hiebert has graduated from the Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton.

    May 25, 2012

  • arcadia lake 3.jpg Police: Comply with lake rules during holiday period

    Summer vacation, hot days and a holiday weekend spell heavier traffic on Arcadia Lake, and police want to remind guests about rules and what happens if you break them.
    May 23 was the last day of school for Edmond Public Schools and the long Memorial Day holiday period has come.

    May 25, 2012 6 Photos