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Celebration of Life for Wanda Fern (Banks) Overton, Akin, Hataway age 97, of Frederick, Oklahoma will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the Jackson Funeral Home Chapel, with Mike Haverland, minister of the Frederick Church of Christ officiating.  Private family burial will follow in the Frederick Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home of Frederick.  Wanda was welcomed into the loving arms of her Jesus on the 27th day of September, 2022. We can't help but celebrate and be joyful with her because this is a reward she has prayed for, prepared for, lived for and looked forward to nearly her entire life.

Wanda Fern Banks was born on the 23 ^rd day of November, 1924, in Altus, Oklahoma, to Noel Banks and Thelma (Allen) Banks. She attended Frederick Public Schools where she was a drum major in the high school band for three years. She married Mark Wayne Overton in 1940 in Reno, Nevada. They worked together in the Kaiser Shipyard in Richmond, California during WWII after Mark returned from his service in the military. Wanda was trained and worked as a steel beveled burner, ship fitter, and draftsman.

They returned to Frederick where their daughter Dana Joy was born. Later they moved to Chickasha, OK, where their son Randy Wayne was born. Wanda attended Chickasha Beauty College acquiring her Oklahoma Cosmetology license. She worked with her mother in her shop, Thelma's Beauty Shop, while earning her BS degree in Elementary Education from what was then called Chickasha College for Women.

After Mark passed away, she married Hugh L Akin in December of 1958. Chad Hugh was born to that union.

Wanda was an elementary teacher in the Frederick Public Schools for twenty-one years. She was honored by being selected not only Frederick's Teacher of the Year but also the District Teacher of the Year which allowed her to compete for Oklahoma State Competition in 1986.

Wanda and Ben Hataway were married in October of 1987. She attentively helped him through many health challenges before his death in February of 2013.

She was a long-time member of the Frederick Church of Christ serving as a Bible class and Vacation Bible School Teacher for many years. She did the flower arranging for the front of the church for some time also. In her later years, she kept involved with the younger children by preparing the devotional for the elementary girls sewing classes. She always participated when her church family did worship time at the nursing home. She loved being involved in the pot lunch dinners and visiting with her church family.

She was also a member of Chapter CE of PEO serving as Chaplin for several years. Wanda enjoyed playing golf in her earlier years and she especially grew to love playing bridge. She dearly missed those bridge friends after she had to give up the game due to her failing eyesight.

Wanda thoroughly enjoyed raising her three children, but by the time she was blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren MiMi had more time to enjoy watching, interacting with them, and loving mightily on them. And they loved MiMi right back. They were a delight to each other.

One of Wanda's greatest joys in life, other than her family, was being outside working with her flowers, bushes, trees, and God's wonderful bounty. You could see her out there with her walker to balance her, just trying to work away.

Wanda was asked many times during these later years if she was bored or lonely since she could no longer play bridge, drive, or see very well. She would truthfully respond, "Oh no, Jesus and I have been hanging out together." She had a lifelong loving friendship with Jesus. She loved to listen to her audio Bible and other audiobooks the librarians were kind enough to pick out for her. Her strong faith and dependence on God kept her going all these many years.

Wanda was preceded in death by the above-mentioned husbands, son Randy Overton, mother Thelma Banks, father Noel Banks, brother Preston Banks, and nephew Galen Banks.

Wanda is survived by her daughter Dana Burns and her husband Glen of Ardmore, OK, son Chad Hugh Akin and his wife Johnita of Davidson, OK, Grandchildren Regina Overton Ortega and her husband Hugo of Burien, WA, Cody Burns and his wife Anne of Carrollton, TX, Clint Burns of Denison, TX, Paige Akin Key and her husband Chris of Oklahoma City, OK, Riley Akin and his wife Katie of Bethel Acres, Ok, daughter-in-law Marilyn Overton of Edmonds, WA. Great grandchildren Randi, Leah and Preston Ortega, Elizabeth and Catherine Burns, Caleb and Alexis Key. Niece Kayla Banks Davis, nephew Glen Allen Banks, and a host of great nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Please remember Mom with her God-loving spirit, her servant's heart, joyful smile, colorful clothing and jewelry, and that glorious red hair!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Nursing Center in Frederick, or to the Frederick Church of Christ in memory of Wanda Fern (Banks) Overton, Akin, Hataway.