Anita Sue Haftek

Anita Sue Haftek, 67, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and calming music on Saturday, June 7th, 2025. Born on September 21, 1957 in Oklahoma City, OK, to prominent Oklahoma architect Wendell V. Locke and loving mother Thyra "June" Locke. Anita's early life was filled with her three beloved sisters, friends, laughter, road trips to Creede Colorado, and pep rallies as a pep club officer at Putnam City High School class of 1975.

Anita married Michael Haftek on September 21st, 1979. Together they had two children, Mitchell and Melissa, and she was also blessed with a stepdaughter, Macie. She often said her happiest years were spent in Tulsa raising her young children, being involved in church, and spending time with friends, family, and neighbors. Anita moved to Yukon, OK in 1995, where her husband of 16 years passed away. After his passing, as a single mother raising two children, she graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and then a Master's in teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). She taught second grade and later English Language Learners (ELL) for 25 years at Mustang Public Schools, until her retirement in 2021. Her students will always remember her as "Mrs. Haftek," through the song "What a Wonderful World," which she often played in class, and through her care and dedication to each student. Her grandchildren will remember her as "MiMi Nita," with sleepovers, pool parties, and games. Her children will remember her as "Mom," for her strength, times of laughter, nurturing support, and her strong will which she instilled in us all. She wrote poetry, started a grief support group for widows in her church, and was a compassionate member of her community. She had many adored pets, whom she treated as her own children. Her kindness, strength, and love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

In Anita's own words:

"Passion for me is devotion to children and precious living creatures. I consider myself an advocate (friend) for children and animals. Animals have no voice of their own. I feel strongly that humanity (all of us) need to care for them, love them, pet them, read to them and treat them kindly. Caring for children and animals gives me joy and a sense of purpose.

I want people to remember me as a positive person who overcame many things in my life with God's help. I want to spread the message of HOPE. HOPE is my favorite word.  I want people to know that somehow God's love and your faith in Him can overcome despair and problems and His HOPE will restore and heal all things!"

Anita is preceded in death by her husband, Michael Haftek; mother, Thyra "June" Locke; father and stepmother, Wendell and Willie Locke; brother-in-law, Edward Gossling. She is survived by her son and daughter, Mitchell Haftek and Melissa Haftek; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Macie and Heath Ashby; grandchildren, Reagan Ashby-Sides and Carter Ashby; sisters and brothers-in-law, Diane and Ron Siegman, Jeanne and Barry Millican, and Karen and Jeff Dubbe; sister-in-law, Sandra (Haftek) Gossling; and many nieces and nephews.

In honor of Anita, donations can be sent to Friends of the Metro Animal Shelters FOMAS, Oklahoma Alliance for Animals, and Unchain Oklahoma.

Anita's Celebration of Life will be on Friday, June 27th at 1pm, held at the United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd, located at 10928 SW 15th St, Yukon, OK 73099.