Grace Maria Bennett, 95, of Sapulpa passed away Saturday, January 22, 2011, at Green Tree Memory Care in Sand Springs.

Grace was born May 22, 1915 at Sloan’s Chapel, Okla. (Sequoyah County) to Roy and Emma Cheek. After graduating from Sallisaw High School in 1932 she attended Conners State Agricultural College in Warner, Okla. On August 28, 1936 Grace married H. M. Bennett, Jr. of Keota, Okla. In 1941 she received her bachelor’s degree and in 1958 her master’s degree from Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, Okla. Grace and H. M. taught school in Haskell County rural schools and Keota High School. In 1956, they moved to Sapulpa where she taught math in the Junior High until she retired in 1977.

Following a desire to carry on the family tradition of quilting, Grace joined the Sapulpa Quilting Club in 1981. Grace’s quiltmaking began and continued until 2007.

Grace was a member of First Baptist Church of Sapulpa for 54 years. She was active in missionary circles, taught Sunday School, and worked in the church library. Also, she was a member of Oklahoma Retired Teachers’ Association and a lifetime member of the Oklahoma Education Association.

She is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Judy and Jim Collins of Sand Springs, and Sabra and Bill Filbert of Emporia, Kan. Survivors also include grandchildren, Michelle Collins Harp and her husband David of Catoosa, Okla., Greg Collins and his wife Laurie of Sand Springs, Scott Collins and fiancée Nancy Pfannenstiel-Owens of Broken Arrow, Okla., Kylee Filbert Raleigh and her husband Lucas of Little River, Kan., and Zach Filbert of Manhattan, Kan., and great-grandchildren, Mikelynn Reed and Jessica Bledsoe of Norman, Okla., Sierra, Jacob, and James Collins of Sand Springs and Saelyn and Lincoln Raleigh of Little River.

A Funeral service will be held 10: 30 a.m. Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at First Baptist Church, Sapulpa. Grace will be laid to rest in Green Hill Mausoleum.

Donations in Grace’s memory may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 10816 E. Newton Street, Suite 117, Tulsa, OK 74116.

Smith Funeral Home of Sapulpa is in charge of arrangements.