Clella Elizabeth Estep

Clella Elizabeth Estep, 80, passed away peacefully at her home on December 9, 2025. She was born July 3, 1945, in Ashland, Kansas, to Lloyd and Sylvia Dargel. She graduated from Hooker High School in 1963. She then graduated from Ponca City School of Nursing in Ponca City, Oklahoma, in 1966.

Clella worked at Ponca City Hospital for one year post-graduation before moving on to Miami Baptist Hospital in Miami, Oklahoma. She then moved to Oklahoma City and began working at Baptist Memorial Hospital in 1969. She worked in coronary care and oncology for 28 years. Sixteen of those years were at Oncology Specialists of Oklahoma in the infusion room.

Clella’s accolades were from her patients and families by the notes and cards she received from them. She was often told that she made a difficult situation or journey easier. Clella loved being an oncology nurse and often said, “I loved what I did and I did what I loved.”

Clella married Donald Keith Wells on July 30, 1976. She loved Don very much. She enjoyed spending time with him going to Vegas and Arizona. Don passed away August 20, 2008.

Clella later remarried Billy Rex Estep on January 3, 2014. She met him at a dance, and before the first dance was over she thought, “I could do this for the rest of my life.” She really meant the dancing at the time. They both loved dancing and each other. Bill passed away November 18, 2023.

Clella spent the rest of her time enjoying trips, cruises, and shows. She was a devoted Catholic and had so many friends and supporters through her church, St. Robert Bellarmine.

Clella is preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Sylvia Dargel; her brothers, James and John Dargel; her first husband, Donald Wells; and her second husband, Billy Estep.

Clella is survived by her brother, Ronald “Jerry” Dargel.