Mildred Carlene Dacus

Mildred Carlene Dacus was born on June 26, 1938, in Mena, Arkansas, to Opal and Carl Howard. She passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, at the age of 87.

Known to most as Carlene, she graduated from Lindsey High School in Lindsey, Oklahoma. She began her working life as a telephone operator in her hometown, where she met the love of her life, Clarence Roy Dacus. The couple, who grew up in the same community, shared 62 years of marriage until Clarence’s passing on August 29, 2018.

In 1967, Carlene and Clarence moved their family to Cyril, Oklahoma, when he took a position at the APCO oil refinery. While raising her children, she cared for her family and babysat for local families. She later pursued her own career, attending beauty school in Lawton and eventually purchasing a local beauty shop from Viola Urban. She operated the shop for many years, building deep friendships with her clients. Later in life, she followed a new calling, earning her Licensed Practical Nurse certification from Fort Cobb Vo-Tech and devoting herself to the care of residents at the Cyril Nursing Home with kindness and compassion.

A longtime member of the Cyril Church of Christ, Carlene was a devoted daughter who cared for her parents in their later years. Above all, she was a loving and attentive mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her three children, Pamela and Harold Talbert of Cyril, Oklahoma, Steven and Chris Dacus of Fletcher, Oklahoma, and Rebecca (Becky) and James Darnell of Haysville, Kansas; ten grandchildren, Travis and Jo Ressa Rucker, Kiel and Kristi Talbert, Tyson Talbert, Blake and Nikki Dacus, Davin and Jessica Dacus, Jessica Marie Dacus, Seth and Julie Brown, Isaac and Alysha Brown, Sarah and Ethan Winter, and Leah and Michael Rue; and twenty great-grandchildren, Kolten Talbert, Kenzie Talbert, Rylee Rucker, Delanie Rucker, Tyler and Stacia Gorden, Aubrey Dacus, Clayton Jenkins, Declan Dacus, Denni Dacus, Hannah Evans, Taylon Dacus, Nova Dacus, Leon Dacus, Brody Brown, Isabel Brown, Breanna Brown, Rhett Brown, Adelaide Brown, Ivy Winter, and Ellie Winter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Opal and Carl Howard, her husband, Clarence Dacus, and her daughter, Karen Brown.