Alma Modesta "Dessie" Cleveland

Alma Modesta (Criswell) Cleveland, known to all as Dessie, passed away on April 3, 2017. Dessie was born on May 26, 1925, in Buffalo, Oklahoma; she was the sixth child of Harrison and Mary (Brown) Criswell. Dessie attended grade school at the Liberty and Independence schools. She attended high school at Mount Carmel Academy in Wichita, Kansas, and graduated in 1943. Afterwards, she earned an Associate's Degree in Secretarial/Business Relations from Sacred Heart Junior College, also in Wichita. While there, Dessie also participated in several musical productions which led to a lifetime love of music.

Through her brother, she met Loren Cleveland, a returning veteran of World War II. They married on June 5, 1948, and enjoyed 66 years together.
Dessie's first job after college was with the Harper County Extension Office; she later worked as a secretary to Division Engineer at the Oklahoma
Department of Transportation. She also helped Loren in his insurance agency, and together they owned and operated the Cleveland Clothing Store for
fifteen years.

Dessie and Loren enjoyed traveling and took several cruises during their marriage. Always physically active, Dessie played softball on a local team and organized neighborhood volleyball games. She also stayed active by speed-walking and tending her much-admired flowerbeds.

Dessie was an avid Sooner fan and bird-watcher. She was a dedicated bridge player, whether with the local bridge club or on the computer. Truly
dedicated to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, she was active in the Women's Club and church choir; she also served as lector and eucharistic minister.

Dessie's husband and parents preceded her in death. She was also preceded by her sister Mary Cecily and brothers Victor, Bryan, Laurence, and Eugene (Jiggs).

She is survived by her younger sister Naola Conner of Phoenix, Arizona; daughter Sue and Jimmie Biedermann of Corpus Christi, Texas; son John and Denise Cleveland of Birmingham, Alabama; son Tom and Kristine Cleveland of Edmond, Oklahoma; daughter Alice and Terry Zollinger of Buffalo, Oklahoma; son Robert and Michelle Cleveland of Buffalo, Oklahoma; grandchildren Amy Biedermann, Sarah Riley, Brian Cleveland, Robert Cleveland, Michael Cleveland, Hunter Cleveland, Sydney Cleveland, Lee Zollinger, Sami Zollinger, Krista Nairn, Noel Cleveland, and Will Cleveland; and eleven great-grandchildren.

Memorials made in Dessie's name may be made to the Catholic Women's Club, c/o Paula Lauer, PO Box 327, Buffalo, OK 73834 or to a charity of your choice.

Services:

Rosary Service Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Buffalo, Oklahoma.

Funeral Mass Friday, April 7, 2017 at 2:00 P.M. at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Buffalo, Oklahoma.

Interment will follow the service in the Highpoint Cemetery in Buffalo, Oklahoma.