Betty Jean Seargent

Betty Jean (Clapp) Seargent was born January 1, 1934 In Oklahoma City. She passed this life October 10, 2020.

Betty’s mom was Maudie (Freeman Clapp) Pugh. Betty loved her stepfather, Oscar Pugh from the time she was five years old.

Betty fell in love with her sweetheart, Joe Seargent when she was a young girl working at her stepdad’s gas station at 15th & Central in OKC. So when work was slim in 1947, Joe left for California to join his many brothers working the vegetable fields around Bakersfield and Betty promised to wait for him. When he returned in 1949, she told the story of how she was pumping gas at the station and heard he was back. She jumped on her bicycle to ride those 6 blocks to his mother’s house as fast as she could. From that day forward, they planned their future together. They were married on Aug 6, 1949. They were married 59 years before his passing in 2008.

Together they ran a successful cement contracting business for many years in OKC. In the early 70’s they met some great friends and began coming to Paden to spend the weekends on their farm. When the chance came in 1974, they made the move here with a purchase of land north of Prague.

In 1976 with many friends encouraging them, they built BJ Corral on their property and held the grand opening dance on Kolache Night. Over the years, BJ’s featured a house band every Saturday night including long-standing regulars Rex Herring & the Roughouts. They had special guest stars over time including Asleep at the Wheel, Mickey Gilley, Cal Smith, Conway Twitty, and The Texas Playboys along with some young upcoming stars including Danny Cooksey & Melissa Hembree. Everyone knew that Betty & Joe loved to dance and did it very well. The jitterbug was quite fun to watch but their all-time favorite song was “Silver Wings”. They truly enjoyed their friends coming out on Saturday nights to have a good time scootin’ their boots! The BJ’s crowds in the beginning were the parents sat on the north side of dance floor and their kids & young folks sat on the south. Several generations have great memories inside that big ole building with the beautiful hardwood dance floor.

Betty loved to crochet her beautiful afghans, playing bingo, making sweatshirt designs, cooking for her family and painting ceramics. She bought her first camera at age 12 and loved taking photographs of her family & friends. She & Joe loved their sightseeing road trips with their friends. For many years before the move to Prague, they enjoyed their weekends with side-by-side cabins at Clear Lake in Marlow with Betty’s brother and his family.

They both loved to entertain their many weekend guests & she made sure you were comfortable & well fed. And if you ever spent any time at their home, you were introduced & taught to play their favorite card game - VEGAS! If you know it, you’ll recognize the terms “I’m buying that,” “it’ll cost you a nickel” and “fan out!” The game continues today many generations later.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her 2 brothers, Vernon Brock & Don Clapp and sister, Juanita VanSickle.

She is survived by her daughters, Teresa Seargent and Debbie (Seargent) Overby, both of Prague; her grandchildren, Kiley & Ron Bailey of Prague, Shane & Kayla Overby of Tecumseh, and Isham & Amanda Overby of Claremore; her great-grandchildren, Reagan Bailey of Paden, and Terron, Branom & Laycen Bailey of Prague, and Boston, Wyatt, Weston & Karlie Overby of Tecumseh and Jensen & Kannon Overby of Claremore; three great-great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and lots of great friends.

Graveside services will be officiated by Bro. Tim Emmons on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. at Prague Cemetery under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service, Prague, OK. Online condolences and memories can be shared at www.parksbrothers.net.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Care Closet at First Baptist Church, 1500 Blue Bell Road, Prague OK 74864.