Kristen Lee Elizabeth Deaton Hankinson April 28, 1979 - December 27, 2024

To watch the livestream of Kristen’s service, please click here. 

Kristen was always a friendly and talkative girl. Her family joked that if no one was available to speak with, she would talk to a brick wall. She was a champion for others, always wanting to cheer for, and support her friends and for young people with disabilities. She worked for years, ministering to girls in their late teens and early twenties, helping them to maneuver through this confusing time of life.

Kristen (45), of OKC, died of liver failure on 12/27/24. She spent Christmas Day with most of her family, including her boyfriend, Jeff Cantrell, her sons, Caden and Crew, sister, Katherine Pickett Mullens and family, brother, Kelly Pickett and family and her parents, Jerry and Mary Pickett. She had a wonderful day awake and happy, interacting with everyone. She then went to sleep and woke up the next day just in time to see heaven as she passed over into Jesus’ arms. Her brother Blake, who passed away 3 years ago, was there to escort her home.

Kristen was born in 1979, first child to Richard Lee Deaton and Mary Blakemore Deaton Pickett. She started playing fast pitch softball when she was 5 years old starting with the OKC Jitterbugs, then the OKC Naturals, and finally the University of Tulsa. She was a Co-Head Coach for the OKC Storm with her grandfather, Wyndel Blakemore. She also worked as an Assistant Head Coach for the SNU Storm.  She forged many life-long friendships through softball.

In high school, Kristen, along with her mother and sister, started the Anyone Can Softball League for children and young adults with Disabilities. Hundreds of children with disabilities played softball for 13 years, always with a “buddy” to assist them. Anyone Can Softball enriched the lives of any children and families’ lives through Kristen’s volunteer work, developing and managing this program.

In college, Kristen was injured playing softball. She developed an incurable pain syndrome in both of her legs. Her pain management Dr. promised he could help her with new pain meds called OxyContin and Oxycodone. He promised her they were not addictive and would not hurt her. He put her on max doses for 17 years. The Tylenol in the opioids damaged her liver. She quit the opioids and several trusted people told her to try alcohol, as it would not hurt her as much as opioids. Kristen would want to tell everyone to take care of your body. Fortunately, opioid manufacturers have been exposed for the lies they told and the lives they took, including Kristen’s.

We will remember Kristen for her energy, excitement for life, passion for people and love of her Lord Jesus. We will remember her for how much she loved her biological sons, Caden and Crew, and her 3 informally adopted sons, AJ, Jazman and Terrence Coulter. She always wanted to be the best mom to her boys. The family wishes to thank everyone who reached out to Kristen in the past 3 months and to those that sent food and cared for us as we prepared to say good-bye to Kristen.

The memorial service for Kristen will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at Buchanan Funeral Service, 8712 N Council Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73132.