Lillie Belle Tarkington Girdner ©2026 Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat
Muskogee, Oklahoma
June 28, 2006Submitted by: Jo Aguirre
Lillie Belle Tarkington Girdner joined the church triumphant on June 26, 2006. Lillie was born on Feb. 21, 1932, in Porum, OK, the daughter of W.D. and Mary Elizabeth (Nicholson) Tarkington.
She grew up in Warner and attended Warner Schools and Connors Junior College. Lillie earned a Bachelors Degree from Oklahoma A & M and her Masters from Northeastern State University.
Lillie met her husband John A. (Jack) Girdner in Tahlequah while she was working as an assistant home demonstration agent. They married on August 28, 1954. Lillie worked with 4-H clubs throughout Cherokee County before offering her gifts to students in Home Economics and English classes in Henryetta and Tahlequah. After 31 years in the classroom, Lillie joined her husband in managing their Woodhaved Apts.
Lillie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tahlequah. She had served as a deacon and was serving as an elder at the time of her death. She was also a member of the National and Oklahoma Education Associations as well as the Oklahoma Council of English Teachers.
Lillie enjoyed the arts, especially opera and ballet. Reading, puzzles, sewing, and movies were her hobbies. Most of all Lillie loved fishing and camping with her husband. She and Jack raised three wonderful children and were enjoying being grandparents to six grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband; a daughter Mary Elizabeth Nichols and husband Bill of Jenks, OK; two sons Michael Girdner and wife Karen of Norman, and Robert S. Girdner and Wife Judy of Tahlequah; grandchildren Jessica Nichols, Clay Girdner, Paige Girdner, Dannielle Girdner, Stephanie Girdner, and Marisa Girdner; six nephews and two nieces. She has been predeceased by her parents; brothers Allan, David, and J.M. Tarkington; and sisters Allie Mae Stidham and Irene Byrd.
Funeral Services will be 2:00 PM Thursday June 29, 2006, at the First Presbyterian Church in Tahlequah. Interment will follow in the Ross Cemetery at Park Hill under the care of Green Country Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Trudy R. Morphew. Serving as pall bearers are Arlie Manship, George Morgan, Phil Baker, Al Mutzig, Fred Adams, and Dick Turnbull. Honorary pall bearers are Jim Chappell, David Cronkhite, Veramin Davis, Eddie Jackson Jack Miller, Jack Heaton, John Green, and Jackie Farar. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests contribution be made to the Lillie Girdner Memorial fund at the First Presbyterian Church, 315 E. Shawnee, Tahlequah, OK 74464.
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