Colene Frizzell

Marquetta Colene Frizzell (Jenkins) was born on November 22nd, 1942 in Shawnee, OK to Red and Helene Jenkins. She passed away on August 29, 2024 in Oklahoma City, OK of natural causes. Colene, or MeMaw as she was affectionately known to friends and family, grew up in the Shawnee/Dale area where she was active as a Round-Up Club Cowgirl and felt it an honor to be inducted into the Order of the Rainbow for Girls. Her school years were busy with Varsity Basketball, Drama Club, Jr. Pirate Pep-Club and selected as Dale High School’s Girl’s State Representative.

Several months prior to her 1959 Dale High School graduation, Colene met John Denning Frizzell, Jr. of Oklahoma City on a blind date. As the family legend goes, she refused to leave the house when he came to pick her up until her mother forced her to. He took her to the Petroleum Club for dinner and surprised her with a bottle of Chanel No. 5. Johnnie’s wit, charm, near daily love letters and acceptable height quickly won her over and they were married in August of 1959. Upon marriage, Colene transferred from Oklahoma Baptist University to Oklahoma City University with John; however, two years later, she put her studies on hold to begin raising their two children, William Denning (“Denny”) and De’Lene Elizabeth. She was involved, led or coached nearly every activity Denny and De’Lene joined. While continuing to be the best wife, mother, daughter and friend, Colene resumed her studies in 1976, graduating with her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from OSU-OKC and eventually becoming a Registered Nurse. Colene took great pride in nursing, working most of her career taking care of dialysis patients. Her work in the medical field inspired the next two generations to become health care professionals.

Colene enjoyed being an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Her leadership skills, creativity and “stick to it” attitude resulted in meeting or surpassing multiple philanthropic goals yearly. She often would reminisce that early in their marriage many lifelong friendships were made through attending Beta Sigma Phi functions as a couple. Later in life, Mildred Frizzell, Colene’s mother-in-law, invited her to explore PEO International. In time, she was asked and accepted induction into the organization and for decades upheld its strict code of conduct in support of the mission to motivate, educate and celebrate women all over the world.

John and Colene enjoyed spending summers at the lake and worked together restoring multiple boats. They were both United States Coast Guard Auxiliary members and again many of their best friends were made through joining a local flotilla, patrolling lakes and teaching boating safety. 

Colene was a longtime member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where she and John befriended their life-long friends Jack and Darla Clouse. They were members of the same Sunday school class for decades and helped establish the Explorer’s travel group. Colene was a member of the United Methodist Women and both acted as Wesley Methodist Youth Fellowship sponsors.

Colene was often at her best during the holidays as they were steeped in traditions she loved to share with anyone willing to take a seat at her table. She thrived on extravagant planning, decorating, cooking and hosting…often trapping attendees at the table until she was able to read a much cherished article enlightening all about a random piece of holiday history or forcing attendees to make a holiday craft! As a family, we tried mercifully to steal the news clippings/craft projects prior to dinner but she outsmarted us every time.

More than anything, MeMaw enjoyed her grandkids Andy and Hannah. She loved passing on family traditions, sharing her cooking secrets, spending summers taking them to and from various activities and summer camps, and exposing them to a dangerous amount of hairspray before getting out of the car at every stop. Even when the grandkids were gone on life adventures, she would always keep in touch and send her love with hand-written letters from her famous yellow legal pad. She was the best MeMaw!

Memaw will be remembered in our hearts as a loving wife, mother, daughter, grandmother and friend. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday September 14 at 1:00pm at Smith & Kernke, 1401 NW 23rd St., Oklahoma City.