Helen Earlene Rott

Helen Earlene Rott (Bond), 80, passed away at home on August 30, 2024. Earlene was born to Helen Lucille (Crouch) Cunningham and Earl Granville Cunningham on March 12, 1944. She was born and raised in Nowata, Oklahoma where she lived until she married James Charlie (Jim) Rott, on September 16, 1962. Together Jim and Earlene made their home in Tulsa and then Bixby where Earlene worked at TG&Y. Two years later they welcomed their first child, James Earl, followed by Sheri Dawn and then Penny Lucille. During this time Jim and Earlene also began opening their home to foster children, something they continued for the next 40+ years. Earlene and family moved to Pryor, Oklahoma in 1975 where they built their dream home on a 200 acre farm. Here Earlene raised chickens, something she continued to enjoy throughout her life, and opened a children’s clothing store, Children’s Alley, which she was very proud of. In 1983, Earlene and Jim moved to Midland, Michigan for his work. Here they continued to be involved in the foster care system, ultimately welcoming their son Chadwick into their family. During this time Earlene also began her very favorite job as “Meme” to her grandchildren. In 1996, Earlene and Jim returned home to Oklahoma and settled in Ochelata where they lived for the rest of their lives. Their return gave Earlene the opportunity to work in her son’s office at First Choice Lawncare facilitating scheduling and customer service for his Bartlesville customers. In 2009, Earlene and Jim ended their tenure as foster parents after caring for over 100 foster children, many who continued to stay in touch and visit. Throughout her life Earlene was known for loving to have a good time, being a great cook, and also being a spitfire. She and Jim could frequently be found at the Elks Lodge in Tulsa during their younger years, Earlene always dressed to the nines, or hosting card nights full of laughter and jokes at their home. She made vast and delicious spreads for the holidays as long as she was able, including homemade Christmas candy you could hardly resist. Her grandchildren could always count on ending the night with a glass of R&R, a good laugh, probably at something most grandmas wouldn’t say, and a little game show network or hallmark channel at Christmas time. Earlene was famous for saying “you don’t have to rush off” even if you’d been there for hours. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren, always snuggling them in her lap and leaving them smelling like her signature scent of Cinnabar. Earlene was preceded in death by her parents, Lucille and Earl, her husband Jim Rott, their son Chadwick, her husband John Bond, her sister Judi Opie, her son in law Larry Kennedy, and her great grandson Castiel Martin. Earlene is survived by her son James (Jeroi) Rott of Pryor, her daughter Sheri Kennedy of Ochelata, her daughter Penny (Matt) Miller of Broken Arrow, daughter in law Sarah Lindsley of Owasso, foster sons Nick (Michelle) Connelly, Caleb (Penny) Scribner, and Charlie (Lynn) Abbott, her grandchildren Dawn (Michael) Prusator, Autumn (Cerik) Martin, Emalie (Nick) Foster, Austin Kennedy, James Aaron Rott, Destiny (Hunter Huckaby) Kennedy, and Alexandria Rott. Earlene also leaves behind great grandchildren Bear, Dorian, Lily, Izzy and her newest great grandson, Truett, who, if she hadn’t rushed off, she would have been able to meet.

Helen Earlene Rott

March 12, 1944 - August 30, 2024