Emma Cline Carver

Emma Cline Carver departed this life on July 11, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was born on June 24, 1942, in Seminole, Oklahoma. She grew up in Kiefer, Oklahoma and graduated from Kiefer High in 1960. Upon graduating from NSU in Tahlequah with her teaching degree, she and her good friend surprised their parents by taking jobs in Key West, Florida. It was there that she met James "Bud" Carver, who was stationed at the naval base, and they were married in 1964. After living in Florida for a brief time, they moved to Oklahoma. They had two children, Rachel and Bill.
Emma was a schoolteacher for 43 years. During that time, she obtained her master's degree in early childhood education. After teaching in Daytona Beach, Florida; Pryor, Oklahoma; Sapulpa Schools; and Lone Star in Sapulpa, she retired from teaching in Oklahoma, and they moved to Grove. She continued her teaching career in Neosho, Missouri, and Southwest City, Missouri, before retiring from Missouri schools. To be closer to her grandchildren, whom she adored spending time with and cheering them on in their activities, they returned to Sapulpa.
She leaves behind her daughter, Rachel Mathis, and her husband, Stephan Mathis, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; her son, William "Bill" Carver, and his wife, Jennifer Dent Carver, of Glenpool, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Captain James "Kyle" Mathis, who is currently stationed in South Korea, Andrew Scott Mathis, Abigail Lynn Carver, and Allyson Helen Lynn Carver; and two sisters, Shirley Waller of Dallas, Texas, and Barbara Gilliam of Sapulpa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William "Bill" Cline and Ethel Cook Cline, and by her husband of 58 years, James "Bud" Carver.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sapulpa Historical Museum where she loved volunteering her time.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 pm - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Green Hill Funeral Home in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. The service will be held at 12:30 on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Sapulpa Methodist Church located at 1401 E. Taft Street, Sapulpa, Oklahoma. A lunch will be served following the service.
Arrangements are in the care of Green Hill Funeral Home.
.