Obituary for Vesta Hyatt

Funeral service for Vesta Lou (Campbell) Hyatt of Arkoma is 10 a.m. Friday at the Fanshawe Freewill Baptist Church in Fanshawe.

Burial will follow in the Fanshawe Cemetery, under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

She was born Feb. 16, 1935 in the Dog Creek community in Shady Point to Harley Sylvester and Alta Lou (Jones) Campbell and passed away Nov. 28, 2023 in Spiro at the age of 88.

After moving from Oklahoma to Oregon as a teenager, Vesta met and married the love of her life, Billie in Reno, Nevada on February 20, 1954.  Their marriage endured for 69 years until Billie’s passing.

As Vesta was a child, her family followed the cotton crops throughout eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas.  While living in Oregon, she worked at Kenney’s Variety in Myrtle Creek. After living in Oregon for a number of years, Vesta and Billie moved from there back to Fanshawe. They resided in Arkoma for the last 40 years. She also worked at the Arkoma Nursing Home. Vesta was a member of the Panama Freewill Baptist Church.

Later in life, Vesta was thrilled to make connections with her extended family that reside in Hawaii.

She was a homemaker, mother and grandmother. She included almost everyone as family but had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. Vesta loved her pets and would try to rescue every homeless dog and cat that came around. 

She took pride in her ancestry, especially her Scottish heritage. She attended Scottish Rite Festivals as often as she could.

Her hobbies included genealogy, reading, photography and gardening. Vesta always strived to have the prettiest roses and the first tomatoes in the neighborhood.

She always considered herself a “Fanshawe girl”. The last Fanshawe School Alumni Banquet that she attended honored her for being an “Outstanding Supporter of Fanshawe Schools”.

Vesta spent the last 1 ½ years as a resident of the Spiro Nursing and Rehab, where she made some special friends. A special thank you to the Spiro Nursing and Rehab and Heart of Hospice for the care they afforded her.

She is survived by her siblings Harley Campbell and wife Rayqene of Oregon, Shelby Fairfield and husband Hank of California and Donna Sumpter of Red Oak; her children Jasper Hyatt and wife Helen of the Hontubby community, Cynthia Cooper and husband A.C. of Hackett, Arkansas, Rick Hyatt of Arkoma, and Billy Hyatt and wife Kathy of Muldrow; 10 grandchildren

Christy Terry and husband David, Jeremie Thornburg and wife Kelly, Tammy Deshazo, Jennifer Cochran, Melinda Hyatt, James Thornburg, Tausha Hyatt, Tiffany Mitchell and husband Dustin, Brian Hyatt and wife Lauren, and K.C. Hyatt; 23 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends whom loved her very much.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harley and Alta Lou (Jones) Campbell; and her husband, Billie Hyatt.

Pallbearers are her grandsons and great-nephews.

Viewing is from noon until 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

To sign Vesta’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.