Inez (Rhynes) Agee

Hedy Inez (Rhynes) Agee passed peacefully on December 23rd, 2023, and was reunited with the love of her life, Calvin, just in time for Christmas. Born on April 20th, 1933, in Lamar, Arkansas, Inez was a child of the dust bowl, moving with her family to California in search of a better life before being called back home to Oklahoma. Upon their return, her father founded Rhynes Surplus Store in Ada. Inez graduated from Ada High School in 1952 and studied Drama and the Arts at East Central University in Ada. Inez took a chance on a swing-dance class at ECU and while she had a full dance card, there was a particular, tall and handsome dance partner named Calvin that swept her off her feet. They married on October 1st, 1954, and spent a remarkable 68 years together.

Inez was a supportive and encouraging spouse, moving with her husband to Wayne, Pawnee, and Konawa, Oklahoma where he taught and coached. They welcomed a son, Clifford, and daughter, Pam, which shifted her focus to raising her children with love and care. In 1965 the family moved to Sulphur where Calvin served as Superintendent of Sulphur Public Schools for more than 23 years. Inez was a pillar of his success; attending ball games, proms, graduations and dozens of other school events annually. She was always by his side and was a loyal and true Sulphur Bulldog throughout the rest of her years. In fact, she loved Sulphur Schools and the Bulldogs so much that in her seventies she began substitute teaching at the high school and continued to do so well into her eighties.

In 1983 she and Calvin welcomed their first grandchild. Soon after, four more grandkids followed, and Inez quickly learned that was the job she loved the most – being a grandma and earning the title “Nene.” She made it her life’s work to support and love her grandkids; collecting all the mementos, certificates, and newspaper clippings for their scrapbooks. Sometimes it was tough love she gave, but the grandkids always knew Nene loved them and would do anything to support their endeavors. She was even more thrilled to welcome and love on six great-grandchildren.

Inez was a prideful woman who lived with dignity and honor. She went to the hair salon every week, never missing an appointment despite bad weather, pandemics, or difficult life events. She was a lifelong Estee Lauder Cosmetics customer and was never seen in public without her make-up on and her hair fixed. She loved shopping and enjoyed keeping her fashions current and stylish. Later in life she was seldom without her iPhone or iPad, adopting new technologies to FaceTime the grandkids, watch her shows, paint-by-numbers, and keep up with friends and family on Facebook. She loved to travel with her husband and together they visited every state in the Union and multiple countries. She met many friends during her travels and maintained those special friendships through to the end of her life.

Inez was a strong, Christian woman. She loved the Lord and was redeemed by His grace. She greatly enjoyed her time with First Free Will Baptist Church and took delight in attending weekly bible study and giving the pastor a hard time at every turn. She was a loyal member of the Sulphur Sorosis Club and looked forward to hosting the club in her home on Country Club Drive. She lived with a zeal for life and loved to greet friends and family with a hug.

She was preceded in death by her husband; Calvin Agee, parents; Dennis and Velma Ann (Belling) Rhynes, sister; Mary Burnett, and brother; Kenneth Rhynes. She is survived by her son, Clifford and daughter-in-law Terri; her daughter, Pamela Ann (Agee) Chitwood and son-in-law Fred; five grandchildren, Lauren (Agee) Johnson and husband, Boone, Luke Agee and wife Laura, Ross Chitwood and fiancé Zachary Kemper, Bryce Chitwood, and Tanner Chitwood; six great-grandchildren, Kenleigh Johnson, Addison Johnson, Maggie Johnson, Camden Chitwood, Blayke Chitwood, and her husband’s namesake, Calvin Agee. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be all the teachers she worked with during her time as a substitute teacher.

A celebration of life for Inez will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Sulphur with Pastor Dick Terry officiating.

As we celebrate her sweet life, in lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to the Calvin Agee Memorial Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made to Sulphur Public Schools, Attn: Calvin Agee Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1021 West 9th Street, Sulphur, OK 73086. We feel there is no better way to honor her than by doing something for the students of the school she loved.

Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.

Services are entrusted to HALE’S FUNERAL HOME, Sulphur, OK.