Lesley Caryn (Hyche) Turay, age 46
a resident of Tulsa, OK, passed away, Sunday December 23, 2012

All things work together for good to them that Love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

There was a beautiful baby girl, named Lesley Caryn Hyche born on January 30th, 1966 in Bartlesville OK, to Freddie Leon Hyche and Mary Elizabeth Stephenson. And for reasons beyond Lesley's control she became a ward of the state and was raised in foster care. She went through a large majority of her life unhappy and bounced from place to place. But it was in Muskogee with Cedric Johnson and the late Inez Johnson, along with their children, Kelly and Cedric Jr, that Lesley says she felt loved for the very first time. It was also during that time in Muskogee that Lesley was attending Muskogee Public Schools that she first met a stranger that became her lifelong friend and sister, Camille Wade-Allen. Lesley wasn't able to stay in Muskogee long because once again she had to move, this time though she would finally be going home. She was permanently placed with the late Mrs. Amos G. Yerger in Boynton, OK. Mrs. Yerger was a wonderful lady that gave Lesley unconditional love and in time Lesley called her grandmother and loved and respected her and the entire Yerger family. Lesley graduated from Boynton in 1984, and continued her education at Langston University where she not only graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Education Degree, but she also followed in her grandma Yerger's footsteps and became a Zeta. Lesley was an active member and was currently serving as the President of the Tulsa Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority until her death. Also at Langston University, Lesley and Camille met again and became fast friends and this time were inseparable sisters until the very end.

Lesley could have looked over her life and been bitter and unwilling to succeed but instead she thrived and decided not to look like the situation she was dealt early in life. She instead opened herself up and learned all she could from Mrs. Yerger, like how to be a lady, and the importance of knowing Christ, of having an education and how to be a loving mother. Being a mother was the most important job to Lesley. She was blessed with two wonderful children, Gwendolyn Shanel Pope and Christopher Lee Pope and she loved them unconditionally.

Lesley had a soft spot for children whether hers or not. She wanted the best for any child and was willing to do whatever she could to make sure she knew they were safe, secure and loved. She was a teacher at Langston Child Care Center and in Boynton as well as in Muskogee as a Head Start teacher. She moved to Dallas, TX to continue teaching at a Head Start Center there. In Dallas, the capability for her passion to help children deepened as she began to work as a Child Welfare Specialist, helping to place children in safe foster care and shelters and after a few years in Dallas she was able to receive a similar job in Tulsa with The Department of Human Services.

Lesley accepted Christ a young age and was an active member of the Cherryville Baptist Church in Boynton, OK. She was the church secretary and was willing to help whenever she could.

Lesley was a lot of things to a lot of people. She maybe didn't get to know all of her birth family but she was blessed to find love from so many people. Her smile, that contagious, welcoming and loving smile, helped her make fast friends and her sweet demeanor and dedication helped her keep those friends, and her unconditional love and fun nature made those friends be family. Blood isn't the only indicator of family and Lesley was a testament to that.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving fiancé, Mr. Billy Thompson. As well as her children, Gwendlyn and Christopher, she also leaves Kristy Harris (Chapone), Jeff Green, Loni, Shelly, The Cedric Johnson Family, Yerger Family, Wade Family, Pope Family and so many more within the Langston University Family, Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma families, Boynton and Muskogee Community.

It wasn't a coincidental happening that Lesley survived the life of Foster Care to grow up to be an excellent Child Welfare Specialist with a dedicated heart willing and able to relate, understand and help children from situations as her childhood, it wasn't a coincidental encounter that led her to meet her lifelong friend/sister in the halls of a Muskogee Jr. High and not meet up again until college, it wasn't by chance that she smiled at you and melted your heart and it's not unintentional that we should mourn together at the loss of a beautiful person, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, mother or fiancé. Lesley had been hurt and broke and experienced being betrayed or left alone, a lot of people have, but Lesley was different from so many because you would have never known unless you asked. It was because of Gods grace there's no evidence of her past. When she flashed her smile in your direction, it could have been hiding pain and anguish, but you'd never know it because she didn't look like what she had been through.

On December 22, 2012 Lesley's mansion was ready, no time for goodbyes. She was spending Christmas in Heaven this time. Can't you just see her smiling as she met up with her sister, Shanna Hyche-Tottress again and her nieces, Mrs. Inez Johnson, Grandma Yerger and so many other family members and friends, not to mention meeting Jesus and sitting at His feet. She's smiling that beautiful smile she left for us to see in her children, she smiling that beautiful smile because her race down here is finished. Her works she did down here they speak for themselves she's smiling down from Heaven after hearing Him say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant, well done." It is immeasurable to try to think of everyone that is affected by this tremendous loss. But the amazing comfort is knowing her victory has been won not lost. So please only remember Lesley with smiles and laughter, don't dwell on her departure but rejoice in her arrival.

A Home Going service will be conducted Saturday, December 29, 2012, 10:00 a.m., in A.G. Yerger Community Center, Boynton, OK; with Rev. Lacey K. Johnson Jr, eulogizing. Interment will follow in Lee Cemetery.

Visitation: Friday, 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

The family has been cared for by the Winn family at Granger-House of Winn Funeral Home.