Bernyce Wanzor

Bernyce Tedford Wanzor was born June 23, 1925 in Checotah, Oklahoma to Valesta Mae (Bedford) and Henry Tedford. Growing up during the depression, the Tedford family knew hard times as most families did. It may have been during this time that Bernyce and her siblings Harvey and Pauline learned to make their own fun, as they loved to tell jokes and play tricks on each other.


The family relocated to Geary, Oklahoma where Bernyce graduated as the Valedictorian of the Class of 1943. While in high school she held the position of head school librarian and acted as a live-in nanny for the Holman family. Leading up to her high school graduation Mr. Holman (First National Bank of Geary) reached out to then President of Farmers Bank, Mr. C.L. Barton to secure a position for Bernyce in Carnegie. She arrived in Carnegie via bus two days after graduation with her belongings and a healthy bank account for those times, for as she said, "no one in Carnegie had money when I came here!"


In that first position of teller at the bank Bernyce met Carl Wanzor upon his return from service during WWII. Carl and Bernyce were married on August 11, of 1946 and son Kynn Wanzor was born in 1952. The bank graciously allowed Bernyce to work part-time in order to spend more time being a mother. Marrying into the Wanzor family, Bernyce gained some of her best friends, Carl's sisters. Over the years, she enjoyed many holiday gatherings and other good times with Wyona, Willa Mae, Betty, Joann, Shirley and their families.


Bernyce flourished in the banking environment. She excelled as a teller, and by 1974 had returned to full time work and was named Cashier following the retirement of long time bank employee Paul Thomas. That same year, she began her service to the City of Carnegie as Treasurer, a position she dutifully fulfilled and enjoyed until stepping down in 2011 when a fall and injury had her sidelined for several months.


Bernyce was a faithful member of Carnegie First United Methodist church for nearly eight decades. She served there as a Sunday School teacher during Kynn's school years and also served her church in the role of Treasurer for a time.


The advance of technology helped Bernyce make the decision to fully retire from the Farmers Bank in 2002. At that time she held the title of Cashier and Operations Officer. Bernyce enjoyed her life's work at the bank more than anything. She especially liked helping long time customers invest their savings in CD's. She remained active and was able to live independently in her own home until 2021. Declining health forced her to move closer to Kynn allowing her to have fewer day to day worries about taking care of herself and her home.


Bernyce is survived by son Kynn and wife Carol of Duncan, Oklahoma; grandchildren Nick and wife Jolynn of Fort Worth, Texas, and Devin and wife Emily of Stillwater, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren Karsten Wanzor, Bennett Wanzor, Nathan Wanzor (Fort Worth), and Charles Wanzor and Samuel Wanzor (Stillwater). Also surviving Bernyce are three sisters-in-law who were very dear friends to her: Betty Warren and husband Waldo (Oklahoma City), Jo Ann Leatherbury (Apache), and Shirley Bryant (Carnegie) Also nieces and nephews Paula (Belden) Bowles, Sandy (Belden) Ferree, Doug Belden, and Darin Tedford. Bernyce was very grateful for these children of her sister bringing Pauline to Carnegie for visits. She is also survived by numerous Wanzor nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Carl (1994) brother Harvey Tedford, sister Pauline Belden, and niece Nancy Tedford. Also sisters-in-law Wyona Wanzor Tate, Willa Mae Wanzor Goolbsy and brother-in-law Wayne Wanzor.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to: Carnegie Senior Citizens Center Corporation, ATTN Tom Davis, P. O. Box 578, Carnegie, OK; Carnegie Food Pantry, LLC, P. O. Box 601, Carnegie, OK. 73015, or a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to express appreciation to the staff of Canoe Brook Assisted Living (Duncan), Country Club Care, Drs. William Stewart and Krystal Vonfeldt, and Complete OK Hospice.


Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2023
Ray & Martha's Funeral Home
Carnegie, Oklahoma

Visitation: 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturday, February 25, 2023
1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Sunday, February 26, 2023
Ray & Martha's Funeral Home
Carnegie, Oklahoma

The family will be receive guest 4:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m., Sunday, February 26, 2023
at Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Carnegie, Oklahoma

Interment: Carnegie Cemetery
Carnegie, Oklahoma


Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Carnegie