Ceilia, 77, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on June 20 after a short battle with cancer. She was born June 9 1946 in San Bernardino, CA to CPT Harold and Margaret Leora (Poteet) McCallister. It was an ‘end of the war’ love story where Oklahoma girl met Arkansas boy. Their love story lasted for 63 years. Ceilia was raised in a military family so moving became a way of life. She was taught how to fish and hunt by her father and home making skills by her mother.
She graduated from Guthrie Oklahoma High School and Oklahoma State University with graduate work done at Central Oklahoma State University. She began work with the Oklahoma Historical Society in February of 1972 and stayed with the organization through several different jobs-including Curator at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum, Guthrie Oklahoma, where Fred Olds featured her as the model for Miss Indian Territory in his monument sized statue in front of the building; Curator at the State Museum at the state capitol, Oklahoma City; and Director of the Cherokee Strip Museum, Perry, Oklahoma. While at the State Museum, among the many temporary and permanent exhibits one of the largest was the “75 Years of Statehood”-which included giving a guided tour to the governor. At Perry, she and Kathy Dickson initiated a national award-winning program that continues today.
In 1989 she began work for the US Army at Fort Hood, TX as Director of the 2nd Armored Division Museum where she continued for the next 20 years. She describes it as one of the most rewarding jobs of her career. She did a lot of peripheral work for the Center of Military History including many certification inspections of museums throughout the world.
A first marriage produced two beautiful daughters. A much later marriage united her with her life partner and love --Michael Guilbault.
She was a talented artist, whether painting, quilting, card-making, or cooking. She loved food, to garden and to experiment with new recipes. She also loved to hit the casinos on occasion. She was smart, quick-witted and a walking encyclopedia on any history subject.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Lee; her daughter, Kristen Lee; and her sisters, Margaret Jean McCallister and Elizabeth Lauren McCallister.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Guilbault ofthehomeinMountainburg, AR; daughter Kelli Shafer Yadon and her husband, Craig, Guthrie, OK; grandson Jackson Caldwell Yadon, Guthrie, OK; nieces Maggie Wade, Guthrie, OK; Stephanie Lorance, Oklahoma City, OK; and numerous cousins and friends.
Memorial service will be 1:00 PM Friday, June 30, 2023 at Ocker Chapel of Alma. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma. The service will be livestreamed on the Ocker Putman Funeral Home website.