Lorene Maxine Provence

Our mother, Lorene Maxine Provence, began the next phase of her journey on the morning of Thursday, April 29, 2021. We would like to think that her partner on the dance floor, her husband Jiggs Provence, came to take her to that big Honky Tonk in heaven.

Lorene was born in the native hospital in Talihina, Oklahoma, to Ben and Flossie Winship on August 28, 1930. She and her siblings grew up in Eagletown, Olahoma, fishing and running around like children did back then. Lorene, being the eldest, often looked out for her younger siblings.

All her life, she loved to dance, was well known to break out in song, and could yodel like no one’s business. While out with friends she was introduced to Frank “Jiggs” Provence. He just got home from WW2 and Lorene was just out of high school. One night the two of them and a group of friends were out dancing, when someone suggested they just get married. Dad said, I don’t have the $25 for the marriage license. His buddy offered up the money, so they got the license and found a guy who married them in his barber shop. Mom and Dad lived in Oklahoma, where their first two children were born, and after a short time living in King City, they moved to Humboldt County where their second two children were born. They lived in Blue Lake, Arcata, and eventually settled into the house in Eureka where they lived for almost 50 years. They spent their time raising their family, traveling back and forth to Oklahoma to visit family and friends, and weekends were often spent at their place at Ruth Lake. Lorene and Jiggs tore up any dance floor they could find, at bars, the deck at Ruth, or on the weekends they could be found wherever their favorite band, the Roadmasters, were playing, dancing up a storm.

Lorene was a proud member of the Choctaw tribe. She donated to all kinds of native charities and was quite often helping people out. She was generous with her family, and she was kind-hearted and opinionated. She was a wife and stay at home mom until her youngest child went off to school, then she entered the workforce. She got a job working at the old county hospital until it closed, and then she worked until she retired as a janitor taking care of the Humboldt County courthouse.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ben and Flossie Winship, brother Don Winship, brother Bub Winship, sister Tephia “Sue” Fatheree. She was also preceded by her husband Jiggs Provence, and sons Clem Provence and Ken Provence.

She is survived by her brother Nip Winship and his wife Debbie, daughter Lora Toupin, grandson Jerry and Stephanie Locker, great granddaughter, Carrie and her children, granddaughter Sherry and Brian Whitchurch, and great grandchildren Liberty and Daley.

She is also survived by her daughter and son in law Emily and David Scoles, grandchildren Jen and Rod Campbell, great granddaughter, Nakina; grandchildren Stephanie and Ben Bowman, John and Anna Laudenschlager and great grandchildren Ruth, Edie ,Graycen; and grandchildren Suzie and Lavelle Brown. She ais also survived by her son Kenny’s children Debbie Provence, her daughter Taylor, Jessica Provence and her children Tylynn and Austin Minks, and Becky Provence.

The family wishes to sincerely thank Leighann, who cared for Lorene in her final years as if she were her own family, for her good work. Mom dearly loved and trusted Leighann, which is rare for someone outside of her own family. We would also like to thank Dave, along with Hospice staff Adriana, Cara, Steve and Caroline, who worked tirelessly doing the messiest of work, in order to keep Lorene comfortable at home for her final month.