Ilene was born July 24, 1937, to Scott and Vola (Dotson) Sweeten in Rock Island, Oklahoma.
She attended elementary school in Rock Island and graduated from Cameron High School.
In 1956, she married Calvin “Cowboy” Terry, and they lived in Oceanside, California, while Calvin served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following Calvin’s military service, they settled in Williams, Oklahoma, where they raised their three children and served the community through the Williams Baptist Church.
While working as a Teacher’s Aid and later Teacher at the Kibois Head Start program in Cameron, Oklahoma, Ilene went on to obtain her Bachelor’s degree through Carl Albert State College and graduated from Southeastern State University in Durant, Oklahoma.
Ilene taught generations of students at Cameron Head Start and Shady Point Elementary School until retiring after more than 35 years of service. She then continued beyond retirement as a Special Education Consultant for several schools in LeFlore County and retired (again) following several years of service at Pocola Schools. A lifelong educator, Ilene was a member and a national officer for the Alpha Delta Kappa sorority.
In addition to her teaching career, Ilene was a helpmate to her husband, Calvin, as a ranch wife, but also later a supportive Pastor’s wife while they served the Old Bokoshe Baptist Church for more than twenty years. Ilene was deeply involved with the Women’s Missionary Union, and together with Calvin, went on several mission trips to Mexico and South America.
Ilene was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin; her parents, Scott and Vola Sweeten; her sister, Kathleen (Daffron); and her brother, Richard Sweeten.
She is survived by her children: daughter, Calene Binns (and husband, Tim) of Derby, Kansas; sons, Scotty Terry (and wife, Becky) of Cameron, Oklahoma, and Ty Terry (and spouse, Mark Weise) of Nampa, Idaho; her sister, Gearldean (Gerri) Smoldt of Rogers, Arkansas; two (2) grandchildren; six (6) great-grandchildren (by whom she was known as “White-Haired Grandma”); numerous nieces and nephews, many of whom she was happy to be “Grandma” to, as well.
Funeral services for Ilene will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau, Oklahoma, with Pastor Clyde Hess officiating. Burial will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in Cameron, Oklahoma, under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau, Oklahoma.
Pallbearers will be Mitchell Binns, Rick Sweeten, Monty Watts, Kason Watts, Ty Wiles, and Matt Brummett.
Viewing and visitation will be Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the funeral home, where the family will visit with family and friends.
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