Alethea Zoe Southern, age 97, a longtime Atoka, OK resident, formerly of Stigler, OK.

She was born on Friday, January 6, 1928, to Henry Thomas and Iva (Stephens) Vance, at Stigler, OK.

Zoe passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at her home in Atoka, OK.

She graduated from Stigler High School with the class of 1946.

Zoe was a program assistant for the USDA office in Stigler and Atoka.

She married Howard Curtis Southern in 1946 at Stigler, OK. They celebrated 63 years of marriage before his passing in December of 2009.

Zoe was the oldest member of Atoka First Baptist Church where she was also a longtime member there. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, painting, cooking, baking, making jewelry and always finding time for little hobbies. Zoe loved spoiling her grandchildren.

SURVIVED BY DAUGHTER: Karen Vieux of Wilburton, OK SON: Curtis Southern and wife Geraldine of Atoka, OK GRANDCHILDREN: Kerri Briggs and husband Dar-ren of Stillwater, OK, Courtney Gunn and husband Chris of Powderly, TX, Alexander Southern and wife Kara of Pottsboro, TX GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Riley Briggs, Rian Briggs, Gauge Gunn, Olivia Gunn and fiancé Alex, Kaia Southern GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILD: Harlow Mae along with loving nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.

PRECEDED IN DEATH BY PARENTS: Henry Thomas and Iva (Stephens) Vance HUSBAND: Howard Curtis Southern SON IN LAW: Roy Vieux DATE OF SERVICES: 10:00 AM Monday, May 19th, 2025 PLACE OF SERVICES: Brown's Funeral Chapel, Atoka, Oklahoma OFFICIATING: Bro. John Mixon INTERMENT: 1 PM, Vance Family Cemetery, Stigler, Oklahoma 'I PRAY I LEAVE A LEGACY OF GOD'S LOVE. ONE GOD, ONE WAY TO HEAVEN'-This was our mother's legacy CONDOLENCES MAY BE SENT TO THE FAMILY BY EMAIL TO: [email protected]. PLEASE REFERENCE THE NAME OF THE DECEASED IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE VISITATION IS SUNDAY 1-6PM SERVICES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF BROWN’S FUNERAL SERVICE - ATOKA, OK