Cleo Christine Bassham was born October 26, 1928, at home in Sapulpa OK.  She was the 4th child out of seven for Claude and Molli Bassham. She was raised in Sapulpa and spent all her 95 years there.  On December 8, 2023, the Lord walked her into her Heavenly home where she was reunited with her husband and the rest of her family.

Cleo graduated from Sapulpa High School in May 1946 where she met and dated Pete Belk.  Pete and Cleo married July 13, 1946, and purchased their forever home on Ross Street in Sapulpa.  They raised their four children here and Cleo always made sure she was at every program, every game, and every activity cheering on her family.  She was the President of the PTA at Liberty School and ran the concession stands at the Berryhill baseball fields.  At one point, she took on coaching the boys' baseball team because all the coaches had quit.  If something needed to be done, she just did it and made sure she did it the right way.

Pete and Cleo opened their own mechanic shop in 1974 called Ace Auto.  Pete fixed a car or two, but Cleo was the secretary, the bookkeeper, lunch provider, HR and customer relations.  During Christmas time, people in town knew to make a special trip to Ace Auto for Cleo's homemade cookies and candies.

Cleo loved to travel by car, truck & camper or motorhome and she journaled about her trips.  Lake Tenkiller was a regular family trip that started with their own kids and continued for three generations.  The lake trips always included at least one big boat ride with her in the driver's seat aiming at every big wave she could find.

From the very beginning, Saturday nights became Burger Night at the Belk's house.  This was an open invitation to anyone looking for a good burger and family hospitality.  This was also the place we always gathered for every birthday, anniversary, graduation, holiday and any reason at all for a party.  Wherever her family was, that is where you would find Cleo.

The house on Ross Street started out as a one-bedroom home and expanded until four generations could fit under one roof and we did that a lot.  Cleo's heart was full when her house was full.

She is preceded in death by her parents Claude and Molli Bassham; her sisters Lucille Cole, Betty VanHorn, Maxine Herzer, Raydean Moon and Nancy McDaniels and one brother Roy Bassham; her husband of 66 years Pete Belk; son-in-law Tom Underwood; grandsons Zac Henderson and Chance Belk.

She is survived by her children Peggy and James Titus, Tony and Carolyn Belk, Christine Underwood and David and Terri Belk; grandchildren Shelly and Roger Henderson, Teresa and Mark Harper, Stacy and Gina Belk, Randy 'Bear' Belk, Angie and Scott Pruitt, Vicki and Jason King, Dave Belk, Summer and Marc Brown; 15 great grandkids and six great great grandkids.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Cleo Belk's name to the Porta Caeli House.  PortaCaeli.org

Services will be 2pm, Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Traditions Funeral Chapel in Kellyville. Arrangements are under the direction of Traditions Funeral and Cremation Services, 35 S. Main, Kellyville, OK, 918-247-7373.