Dessie Marie Herren, 63, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026 at her home in Blackwell, OK with loved ones near. She was born on July 30, 1963 in St. Louis, Missouri and lovingly raised by Tommy and Ethel Gill in Northeastern Oklahoma. She graduated from Miami High School in 1981 and subsequently attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, OK. Dessie met her husband of 43 years while living in Fairview, OK and married shortly thereafter on July 30, 1983. Together they raised two children, Sean and Brandi, and many, many animals.
Over her adult life, Dessie worked at Southwest Cupid, as a secretary at Blackwell First Assembly of God, as a home-based cake decorator, a bank teller at BancFirst, and a homemaker. Because Dessie was an active member of Tonkawa First Assembly of God, it brought her joy teaching the classes for children and singing on the worship team. Through the years, Dessie enjoyed a variety of things to include visiting her parents in Vinita, OK, motorcycle rides with her husband, shopping trips with her friends or road trips to see them, traveling to the zoo in Wichita, KS with her children, participating in a singing ministry at local nursing homes, garage sale shopping, and taking care of her granddogs. Dessie will be remembered as one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.
Dessie is survived by her husband Mark of Blackwell, OK, son Sean Herren of Blackwell, OK, daughter Brandi Herren and partner Vance Hodges of Edmond, OK, sister Sandy Hosick of St. Louis, MO, sister Joyce and husband Rick Jaskulsky of Pensacola Beach, FL, sister Brenda Knorpp of Rosamond, CA, brother James Gill and wife Carrie of Vinita, OK, sister Mary Ann and husband Jack Dart of Greenwood, AR, sister Sharon Ivie of Guthrie, OK, Tommie Wallin of Lubbock, TX, countless nieces and nephews, and many life-long friends.
Dessie was preceded in death by mothers Eleanor Hosick and Ethel Gill, fathers Charles Beckemeyer and Tommy Gill, brother Steven Hosick, brother John Beckemeyer, brother David Beckemeyer, brother Robert Beckemeyer, brother Donald Beckemeyer, sisterMary Stotts, sister Sharon Haukap, brother Eddie Beckemeyer, and brother Charles Gill.
Per Dessie’s wishes, she will be cremated. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 10:30am at the Carolyn Renfro Center in Ponca City, OK. Honorary pallbearers are Kory Haney, Jason Herren, Glenn Hill, Matt Kail, Brad Coffey, and Darrell Thompson. After the services, Tonkawa First Assembly of God will host a lunch for family and close friends. Afterwards, Mark will be transporting Dessie’s remains home on his motorcycle for “her last ride.”