Myrtle Leona Allen Gettel Secrest

Myrtle Leona Allen Gettel Secrest (Muff) passed away peacefully on December 4th, 2024 after a long battle with cancer. She has gone to heaven to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all those who went before her. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 13, 2024 at the Caudle-Rutledge-Daugherty Funeral Home Chapel in Lindale with Pastor Roger Ferguson officiating. Muff was an active 30-year resident of Hideaway Lake where she organized local nurse groups, vaccination clinics, Texercise classes and emergency response planning. Known as “Nurse Muff” by her family and friends, she provided first aide, health care and life advice to young and old alike. Many people benefited from her warm heart, sympathetic ear and wise council. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1934, she was the second oldest of four sisters. Her early years were filled with frequent moves, loving relatives, good books, church functions, watermelon and homemade ice cream. When she was just 15, her father died of a massive coronary. Life changed after that but her mother and close relatives maintained a foundation of love and security for her and her sisters. She was active in high school while maintaining an “A” average. During her senior year she met the love of her life – Ken Gettel whom she married in 1954. After high school she went to Northwestern State College to pursue a diploma in Nursing which she received in 1954. Her life-long career in nursing began in Morgan City, Louisiana where she ultimately became Supervisor of Nursing of an 80-bed hospital at 25 years of age. In 1959 she and Ken moved to Norman Oklahoma where her two sons were born. Her work life included a stint at Dallas Presbyterian Hospital where she helped establish its first ICU. In 1975, she received a BA in Social Work from Oral Roberts University. Shortly after that, Muff’s family found themselves in Rock Springs, Wyoming. There she initiated, developed and ran the Sweetwater County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program. The family moved back to Tulsa in 1977 and Muff went to work for Children’s Medical Center as the Director of Nursing. There she established the Child Development Institute which brought preventative and therapeutic treatment to young kids with developmental issues. Although Children’s Medical Center no longer exists, Mom’s Child Development Institute continues to this day in Tulsa. In 1985, Muff received her MS in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma. At the end of her professional career, she was teaching nursing at Oral Roberts University. In 1993, Muff and Ken retired and moved to Hideaway Lake to be near their grandchildren. Sadly, Ken passed away in 1996 but Mom remained determined to make Hideaway her forever home. Five years later Muff went on a blind date where she met and later married Dr. Leigh Secrest. They enjoyed 14 wonderful years together and she got to know and love the Secrest family. Mom’s health was very problematic in her later years and a special thanks goes to Robert Secrest, Joan Hooper, Tinka Calvert and Marge Porter for all of the love and support they gave her during her time of need. Muff is proceeded in death by her parents Mary Haynes Allen Nason and Leslie Wallace Allen, first husband Kenneth Gettel, second husband Leigh Secrest, son Steven Gettel, in-law parents Margaret and Cecil Kelly, sisters Linda Alleman and Mary Warmack as well as brother in-laws Bill Calvert and John Warmack. She is survived by her sons Michael Gettel and Robert Secrest, daughter in-law Jeanell Gettel, best friend and dear sister Melva (Tinka) Calvert, brother in-law Sam Alleman, cherished grand-daughters Stephanie Gettel, Shannon Ferguson and Michelle Voss, as well as four amazing great grandkids that she got to know and adore. Muff loved her family greatly and they cherished her. Her legacy is well established and her exceptional life of faith, love and service will be a guiding light for all to follow. She will be greatly missed. But we trust that her new life is free of pain, full of joy and that she is with her loved ones in the presence of Almighty God. Well done Mom! We’ll see you again.

Myrtle Leona Allen Gettel Secrest

June 9, 1934 - December 4, 2024