Regenia Gayle Cargal

Regenia Gayle (Jean) Cargal was born June 20, 1956, in Wichita, Kansas, to Cloyd Franklin and Gayle Rowena (Gallegly) Altom and on July 2, 2026, she met her Savior, Jesus, face to face. The family moved to Blair, Oklahoma in May 1959. She graduated from Blair High School in 1974 and played basketball from 5th grade through her freshman year of college.

Jean obtained her bachelor's in education at Oklahoma State University in July 1980. In August 1980, she began her teaching career at Navajo School where she taught for 11 years. She taught in Odessa, Texas for 2 years, Altus Junior High for 3 years, and Blair School for 9 years before choosing to retire. After her retirement, she was asked to serve on the Blair School Board where she served for 3 years.

Jean married John H. Cargal on November 7, 1980, at First Baptist Church in Blair. She and John raised and trained greyhounds for 35+ years. Even though raising greyhounds was an everyday of the week job, they still found time to enjoy playing golf and participate in team roping. They were members of the National Greyhound Association, U.S. Team Roping Association, and the American Amateur Team Roping Champions.

Jean was fiercely competitive from a young age and never liked to lose, whether she was playing basketball, golfing, roping, or enjoying a board or card game. Although she faithfully taught ladies’ Bible studies and Sunday School, family and friends knew to watch her closely during game night - you just might catch her cheating!

Jean was saved and baptized in March 1965 at First Baptist Church in Blair, Oklahoma, where she has been a member for 61 years. She began teaching the Naomi Sunday School Class when her mama was no longer able to teach due to her failing eyesight. At that time the class was made up of ladies around her mother’s age. One year, as Promotion Day approached, she asked her class if they were planning to move up to the next class. Emma Lee Nobles said, “Our next promotion is on that hill west of town.” Today the class consists of ladies of various ages, and they refer to it as “Jean’s class”. She also taught a ladies’ Bible study for many years.

The following acrostic reflects the qualities that best defined Jean’s life, using the letters of her name:

J…Jesus - She loved Jesus and wanted others to know and love Him too.

E…Educator - She loved teaching school, but her greater love was found as a student of the Word. She helped birth in the lives of many ladies a hunger and desire to know God’s Word.

A…Asking - She was always asking questions that challenged you. Jean wanted you to go deeper than surface level to find greater truths and wisdom from God’s Word.

N…Need - She had a deep love for her family and needed them to stay connected by spending time together. She intentionally made that happen and preserved those precious memories through countless pictures. And this same sense of need and intentionality extended to the ladies in her Sunday School class, with whom she shared life, built lasting friendships, and walked through life together.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her in-laws; sister, Rowan Wicker; nephew, Darren Wicker; brother-in-law, John Gallagher, Jr.; nieces, Danyle Altom and Robin Staggs; and sister-in-law, Del Ann Easter.

She is survived by her siblings, Navone Staggs and husband, Donald, Bud Altom and wife, Anne, Judie Gallagher, Derrall Altom and wife, Fran, Donald Altom and wife, Donna, Pat Warren and husband, James, Doug Altom and wife, Jayme, and Mike Altom and special friend, Sonya Tutten; brother-in-law, Dink Wicker; step-daughter, Lani Sanders and husband, David; along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, great-great-nephews; and a host of cherished friends.

The family will formally greet friends from 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Monday, July 6th, Kincannon Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 7th, at First Baptist Church in Blair.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to LifeWise Academy, P.O. Box 692, Altus, OK 73522 (notate Blair or Kari Pryor so it will go to the Blair LifeWise Academy). Online memorial tributes and expressions of sympathy may be made at www.kincannonfuneralhome.com.