Carole Rose Braden
January 26, 1937 - January 10, 2026
Carole Rose Kesinger Braden was born January 26, 1937, in Mullinville, KS and passed away January 10, 2026, at her home in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The family will receive friends at their home on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 3101 Cadet Road, Ponca City, Oklahoma, 74604. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Newpoint church with Pastor Kyle Megenity officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.
Carole and her family moved several times during her childhood from Mullinville, KS to Glasco KS, Gladewater TX, and then to Ponca City where she attended McCord school and then graduated from Ponca City High School in 1956. If you're here today then you know enough about Carole to know she immediately entered the work force and was employed with at least one and lots of times two jobs for her entire life from desk clerk at the Quo Vadis, Southwestern Bell telephone operator, owning and operating the Cowboy Supply Western Store "the go to source for western wear and tack for the entire area", director of human resources for JCPenney's Department store, office assistant at various elementary schools, bookkeeper for Fowler Vending, part-time ranch hand, rodeo coach, and a damn good cook/housewife. Carole was a self-taught authority on diabetes with Bucky and Boyd both developing the disease at an early age, and Barry in his early twenties. Carole was a lifelong supporter of the 101 Wild West Rodeo, even serving several years on the Ponca City Rodeo Foundation.
Carole married her high school sweetheart during a snowstorm on January 25, 1957. Together they raised a loving family and amassed a group of friends that extended nationwide. Carole and Franks' hospitality and generosity were known throughout the rodeo world, their home was a favorite stop for years, whether a junior rodeoing family or a professional cowboy as a welcome place to stall your horses, eat a good meal and maybe even rope a few calves or steers. Carole was her family's biggest fan "often referred to as Rodeo Rose", attended thousands of rodeos and roping events cheering on her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was also a well-known fan of 4-H events, girls' basketball, football, wrestling etc.
Carole survived by her children Bucky Braden and wife Dana of Dewey, OK, Boyd Braden of Owasso, OK, Barry Braden and wife Tina, of Horatio AR, Tina Beaty and husband Brad of Ponca City, OK daughter in law Vicki Braden of Ponca City, OK. Grandchildren Colt Braden, Tanner Braden, Blake Braden, Brett Braden, Brody Braden, Bryce Braden, Brylee Braden, Kaity Beaty, Braden Beaty, 9 great grandchildren, and her brother Dewayne Kesinger of Owasso, OK. She was proceeded in death by her husband Frank, her parents Erple Oscar and Gladys lee Kesinger and her father-in-law and mother-in-law George and Nila Braden.
In lieu of flowers the family would encourage a memorial donation to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601. We cannot thank Hospice and Dr. Ground for the care both Carole and Frank received during the last few weeks of their lives.
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