Deloris “DEE” Jean Isted, born Aug. 18, 1925, passed on May 8, 2026. Dee was the youngest daughter of Dr. Benjamin Davis and Charlotte Davis of Cushing, Oklahoma. She was predeceased by her parents and her older sister, Charlaine Anderson of Cushing, and her husband of 64 years, Desmond Isted.
She was born in Cushing, and graduated from Cushing High in 1941, attended Hockaday, and Fairmont Casements in Daytona Beach, FL, where she met her future husband, Desmond Isted of the Royal Air Force of England. They married in 1944, and after the war lived in Curacao, where Desmond flew for KLM before moving back to Cushing, where they raised 2 daughters, Jill and Jennifer.
Anyone who knew her knew her love of nature, especially ornithology and flowers (a Master Gardener). She traveled extensively and had over 700 species of birds on her life list. She studied art in college and later in Tulsa.
In 1981, they moved to Tulsa, where she was involved in book clubs, Philbrook Museum, Gilcrease Museum, and All Souls Unitarian Church. She was also a voracious reader until her recent vision loss.
She is survived by 2 daughters, Jill Isted-Gill (Jet), and Jennifer Isted, 4 grandchildren, Brian Holderread, Lisa Philpott (Brian), Jessica Berg (Tim), and Ryan Isted-Murray, 6 great grandchildren, Caelan, Alexanna, Kate, Brianne, Paisley, and Harper, and numerous nieces and nephews - C’Anne Anderson (Michael Condax), Sue Anderson, Nick and Linda Anderson, Peter Bruce Anderson, Brett Anderson, Leslie Anderson (Jerry Hathaway), Beverley and Peter Gibson, Denny Whitfield.
In lieu of flowers, any memorials can be made in her name to Legacy Trees at Arbor Day.org, Nature Conservancy, or a charity of your choice.
There will be a private family service at her request in the near future.
