Verna Pearl Baugus formerly of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Monday afternoon, June 7, 2010, in the Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center in Houston, Texas, at the age of 72 years.

Verna Pearl Baugus was born on February 8, 1938, in Austin, Texas, to Jacob and Josie C. (Drake) Burney. She grew up in Houston, Texas, attending Houston Public Schools. Following her education she married James Okert and they settled in Houston. They moved to various communities where he was stationed in the military. Following his discharge they moved to Spokane, Washington, before returning to Houston. While in Houston she worked as a sales clerk for the Cashaway Lumber Company and Safeway Grocery Store. She later married Wilbur Wayne Baugus on January 30, 1976, in Houston and they settled there before moving to Blackwell, Oklahoma, in 1986, where she worked as a sales clerk for Wal-Mart. Her husband preceded her in death on January 6, 2002. Following his death she returned to Houston in 2003 to be near family. She was a member of the Pentecostal Church in Blackwell. She enjoyed attending various garage sales.

She is survived by two sons, Michael Okert of Houston, Texas, and Danny Okert of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; two sisters, Lucille Tadfield of Houston, Texas, and Juanita Rhoades of Minnesota; a brother, Herman Burney of Lano, Texas; nine grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Walter Burney and an infant brother.

Graveside services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 11th in the Blackwell Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Johnson of The Tabernacle Church in Blackwell officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in her honor with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for heart and stroke research in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.