The funeral service for Lola Plunkett Nelms,101, a vital part of the Wagoner community since 1941, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at the Mallett Funeral Home Chapel in Wagoner. The Reverend Roger Miller will officiate. A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Monday. Pallbearers will be Edie Turpin, Matt Cobb, Ray Cobb, Tim Rose, Cotton Cooper and Leonard Smith. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Wagoner. She arrived in Wagoner as the young wife of Dr. E. Frank Nelms, who came to Wagoner to set up his first medical practice in March of 1941, after his graduation from the School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri. Lola's uncle, Dr. John Plunkett had encouraged the couple to move to Wagoner, where they both became civic leaders and major influences within many community activities. Lola was born to A.J. and Katie French Plunkett in Porum, Oklahoma on November 20, 1909. When she was nine years of age she and her parents moved to Checotah where her father was employed as a rural mail carrier. "In those days he carried the mail in a wagon with a team of horses." As a young woman, Lola was the pianist for the Methodist Church in Checotah. And she stated, "I've always been a Methodist, my grandfather and my uncle were circuit ministers riding horses to preach." In addition to playing the piano for the church she was the pianist fo the early day silent movies' shown at the theater in Checotah and played the piano on radio station, KBIX in Muskogee. Even today Mrs. Nelms hosted two pianos and an organ in her home, which she played along with her daughter, Judy. Then local resident, Sam Dugger said one of his favorite memories of Mrs. Nelms was in the fifties when he, Judy and Mrs. Nelms were in a forty-eight piano recital that was held at the Civic Center in Muskogee. He also stated, "All my life, every year Mrs. Nelms has either called or sent me a card on my birthday." "She is a great person." Lola completed high school in Checotah and after graduation attended Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. At nineteen she began her educational career by teaching second graders at the Onapa Consolidated School for four years. She then taught in the Checotah Public Schools teaching seventh and eighth graders for one year and then returning to second graders for the next seven years. In 1931 she married her high school sweetheart, E. Frank Nelms, and they were together for almost forty eight years, until his death in 1979. In 1942 after their move to Wagoner Dr. and Mrs. Nelms became the proud parents of their daughter, Judith Ann. And although they only had one birth child, they mentored many Wagoner children, and Lola was particularly involved in school, (PTA and school lunch program, etc.) and church activities, (teaching Bible school, MYF and children's choir). In the early 1950's she was instrumental in bringing artist, Ruth White from Muskogee to teach after-school art classes to children and adults at Central Elementary. Among those early students were Sam Dugger, Harry Fender, Judy Nelms, Joan Smith, Janet Lamon, Mary Lamon and others. In 1953 Mrs. Nelms was influential in bringing the organizations of Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls to Wagoner, and she became the first leader for a group of ten young fifth grade girls. Those under the leadership of Lola were Judy Nelms, Janie Brill, Jane Jeffrey, Patty Turnham, Carol Butler, Janet Lamon, Linda Ward, Earlene Youree, Sally Groves and Margaret Hill. During her four years of leading this organization she oversaw many activities for these girls including a visit to television station KTUL to visit Ace Blue Eagle, trips to Gilcrease and Philbrook Museums in Tulsa, a train ride to Muskogee, many roller skating trips as well as hosting fashion shows and silver teas. With the assistance of Juanita Youree and Kathryn Jeffrey she undertook transporting the girls to accordion classes at the Updike Music Store in Muskogee one time per week. By all accounts these girls grew up to be successful entrepreneurs, business owners, educators and/or involved in the arts. No doubt this was due to the excellent tutelage and role modeling they received from their leader. Patty Turnham Cooper, former owner of the Wagoner Flower Shop remembers a Christmas, when she was young, she asked for a Toni' doll in her letter to Santa Claus. "And on Christmas morning there was the Toni' doll and all these beautiful handmade little dresses." "Years later I learned who gave me that doll and made all those little dresses." "Mrs. Nelms was always so good to me." During Judy's school years Mrs. Nelms was up early and on the road, transporting not only Judy, but Harry and Richard Fender, Janet Lamon, Sam Dugger and sometimes Linda Lawhorn to school, picking them up for lunch and returning them for afternoon classes and then picking them up again in the afternoon. Talk about a busy schedule!! Mrs. Nelms would have put Harriet Nelson and June Cleaver in the dust. Her home was always a favorite place to visit, there were always fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and other snacks just waiting to be enjoyed. One of Mrs. Nelms priorities has always been the education of fine arts and promoting activities for the youth of the community. Twice during the 1950's she arranged for dance teachers to come to Wagoner; the first one teaching tap and ballet, and then later Dutch Creekmore came from Muskogee once a week to instruct the popular dances of the late fifties. Mrs. Nelms was the first to volunteer as a sponsor for activities for the youth of Wagoner. Her station wagon was always loaded with Judy and her friends on the way to ball games, teen dances/parties and other fun activities. Lola always had time for older adults and friends, too. She welcomed her Grandma French, her parents and Dr. Nelms' mother when they came for visits. Her friends and neighbors were often graced with a freshly baked cake or pie. P.E.O. sister, Malka Hayes state, "Lola made the best angel food cake I've ever tasted." In the earl 50's she helped Cora Belcher (wife of A.M. Belcher, the first Methodist minister in Wagoner) with a letter/jingle for a contest to win a new e refrigerator to replace the icebox' she had used for many years. In addition to her busy involvement with the Wagoner your, she was initiated into Chapter BD of P.E.O. in 1950 and later became a charter member of Chapter EU in 1965. She was also a member of Eastern Star for more than seventy-five years, a past member of the Arts and Crafts Literary Club and United Methodist Women. During the sixties Mrs. Nelms attended flight school and took flying lessons as well as being a member of the bowling league. More recently her activities were quieter, however, she enjoyed watching OU football games, thought that Emeril was quite the chef, liked to watch Lawrence Welk and rooted for Dale Earnhardt Jr. when watching the NASCAR races. Her daughter, Judy and her husband, Bud Cobb, made their home with Mrs. Nelms, and Judy continued to care for her mother following Bud's death. Mrs. Nelms enjoyed phone calls and visits from her four grandchildren, Skip Cobb, Cathy Cobb Turpin, Dr. Matthew Cobb and Ray Cobb as well as her ten great grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. When asked what she attributed her longevity she replied, "I'm still here because the Good Lord is not ready for me yet."