Charlene Kirtley, 75, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on April 9, 2025, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born on July 1, 1949, in Carnegie, Oklahoma, to Roy and Arletta Thornton. She attended high school in Carnegie and graduated with a political science degree from Southwestern State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

While attending school in Weatherford, she met and married her husband, David Kirtley.

Charlene was a veteran of the U.S. Army. She worked as an administrative assistant for several organizations in Oklahoma, including the state legislature where she worked for State Rep. Enoch Kelly Haney as well as American Fidelity where she worked for the CFO. She retired from American Fidelity in 2010.

Charlene was an avid reader and used her political science degree to volunteer for many Oklahoma political campaigns. She also loved traveling and taking road trips with her husband, inside and outside of Oklahoma. She was a huge fan of the OKC Thunder and enjoyed watching British crime shows on Netflix.

She loved her family dearly and always supported her children in their extracurricular activities, hobbies and all stages of life. She will be deeply missed.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband, David; parents; sisters, Betty and Evelyn Thornton; and brothers, Gaylon and Raymond Thornton.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce Cook and son-in-law Jeff Cook of Edmond; son, Stephen Kirtley of Oklahoma City; sister, Donna Norton of California; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Viewing at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service, 3925 N. Asbury in Bethany, will be held from 12-8pm on Tuesday, April 15, with the family present from 5-7pm.