Emily Victoria Kisling

Emily Victoria (Jefferson) Kisling, age 76, passed from this life on Tuesday August 1^st, 2023, in Calera Oklahoma. She was born April 25^th, 1947, in Achille, Oklahoma to Rev. Absalom Paul Sr. and Minnie Victoria (Wall) Jefferson. She graduated from Blue High School (Oklahoma) and from Haskell Indian College (Kansas) with an associate degree in business. She was a proud full-blood member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

She married Herman Benjamin (Rusty) Kisling in 1973. Soon thereafter they moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to start their life together. There, they owned and operated Kisling Enterprises for over 40 years until their retirement. She was a proud long-standing member of the First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.

Emily loved to travel and was always taking trips with Rusty across the USA with their kids and grandkids. Two of her favorite trips were to Italy with her daughter, Shingo, and to Hawaii with her Granddaughter Selina.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. A.P. and Minnie Jefferson, her brother A.P. (Sonny) Jefferson Jr., her husband Rusty Kisling, her son Ryan V. Kisling, her Daughter Shingo D. Eyman, and granddaughter Abigail (Abby) Eyman.

She is survived by Cousin Lucreta Johnson of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Granddaughter Selina Beshirs and husband Ethan, of Calera, Oklahoma, Great-Granddaughters Kayla Beshirs of Calera, Oklahoma, Lori Beshirs of Sherman, Texas. Great-Great Grandsons Royce Golden and Kameron Ruiz.

Special recognition must be given to her friends: Lea, Janie, Angela, Sharon, Jo, and Emily for the love and support throughout the years.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 7,. 2023 at Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.  

Arrangements are entrusted to Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923.