Loretta O'Hara

Funeral services for Mrs. Loretta O’Hara, age 85, a lifelong resident of Tuttle, will begin at 10:00 am Monday, July 7th, in the Tuttle Methodist Church, 402 South Cimarron Road, Tuttle, Oklahoma with Pastor Ron Perceful presiding.

Loretta was born on Sunday, May 19, 1940, in Tuttle, the daughter of Murl and Dena (Phillips) Sipe. She passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2025, while worshiping her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with her church family at the Tuttle Methodist Church. Loretta was raised in Tuttle, playing softball and the bass drum before graduating from Tuttle High School in 1958. She married Mr. Forrest O’Hara on Sunday, July 31, 1960, in Tuttle. Forrest and Loretta built a life rooted in faith, family, and serving others. Loretta’s home away from home was her church. She served numerous roles benefiting the United Methodist Women, VBS, youth groups, adult ministries, the choir, various boards, back-to-school lunches, and her favorite, the annual Bazaar.

Loretta’s greatest passion was her family, from family holidays held at her brothers’ and sisters’ houses to the 100-plus person Sipe family reunions. She loved her Sipe and Phillips clans along with the O’Hara’s,who welcomed the “city girl” to the farm. She would Christmas shop throughout the year to create the most magical gift-giving at the annual over-the-top Thankmas celebration (Christmas at Thanksgiving). Loretta always had chocolate chip cookies in the jar and a pie, cake, and/or bread on the counter ready to go for family and visitors. She held Granny Camps for many years, taking groups of grandkids around the state and the farm.

She was a true pioneer woman, harvesting a garden and canning vegetables to feed her five kids. She planted hundreds of flowers and manicured her yard. She sewed clothes for adults, kids and dolls, created patchwork quilts, crocheted blankets, painted on canvas, wood, pots, and anything else she found on the farm. In her spare time, she ran a newspaper route, a convenience store, a pool and Christmas store while always reading, learning, and expanding her knowledge. She was a bookkeeper for the family as well as volunteering those and other skills for the church, Fair Board, election board, FFA Booster Cluband Tuttle class projects. She also worked at various times in Oklahoma City to help support her family.

Loretta loved time with her friends at her bridge group and traveling with Deana, Linda, Lou and Joan. Servanthood and hospitality were at the very core of who she truly was, and she demonstrated this behavior daily in her walk with Christ, her family, and her community. She loved to love others!

Survivors include her husband of nearly 65 years, Forrest of the home; four sons, Kim Spain and his wife, Dena; Scott O’Hara and his wife, Jana; Stanley O’Hara and his wife, Michelle; and Dirk O’Hara and his wife, Stephanie; one daughter, Peggy O’Hara Baird and her husband, Ted; 14 grandchildren, Cody O’Hara and his wife, Wina; Aaron Spain; Bethany Baird Kessler and her husband, Todd; Nathan Spain and his partner, Melissa; Chase O’Hara and his wife, Emily; Brock Baird and his partner, Amber; Natalie Spain; Caitlin O’Hara; Abby Baird; Aidan O’Hara; Stella O’Hara; Smith O’Hara; Roark O’Hara; and Sloan O’Hara; five great-grandchildren, Jayden O’Hara; Liam O’Hara; Kinsley Kessler; Leah O’Hara; Margaret Spain; one brother, David Sipe and his wife, Ginger; two sisters, Donna Harryman and her husband, Doyle; and Paula McDaniel; and a host of nieces, nephews, additional family, and many friends.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Murl and Dena Sipe; one sister, Murlene Clifton; and one brother, Gerald Sipe; two sisters-in-law, Velva Koebelen and Wanda Sipe; one brother-in-law, Max O’Hara and one niece, Deana Williams.

The O’Hara family will host friends with a visitation on Sunday, July 6, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Tribute Memorial Care Southwest, 5311 East Highway 37, Tuttle, OK 73089.