Dewey County Obituary
Trail Cemetery

Lorene Harriett Twyman

December 11, 1921 - October 24, 2016

© SHAW REDINGER FUNERAL HOME
VICI, DEWEY CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Visitation: Thursday 9-5pm Friday 9-5pm

Lorene Harriet Twyman, daughter of Thomas Edward and Lula Maude Twyman, was born December 11, 1921 about 10 miles north of Leedey in the Trail, Oklahoma community. She was one of 7 children. There were 5 girls and 2 boys: Bertha Mildred (age 98), George Porter (age 61), Margaret Helen (age 79), Lula Mae (age 93), Mary Evelyn (age 84), Lorene Harriet (age 94) and Robert Thomas (age 66). She left this life at the age of 94 years, 11 months, and 14 days on October 24, 2016 at the Heritage Manor Nursing Center in Oklahoma City with her niece, Barbara Brown and her nephew, Virgil Graybill by her side. Lorene’s dad farmed, and the family moved several times. Her dad later purchased property on the Canadian River, which was called the Stout place. It was close to the railroad tracks where hobos often stopped for handouts at the family farm.

Lorene received her education thru the 11th grade at the Trail School until the school closed. She then attended Leedey High School and graduated on May 18, 1939.

When she started to school, she and her siblings walked about two miles to school. Later, they rode the bus. Her sister, Mildred, remembered that they did not have any store bought clothes. All of the kids earned money in the cotton patch to buy the cloth, so their mother could make their clothing. Their parents made them wear long johns under their long stockings when they walked to school in the cold weather.

Lorene remembered when her dad purchased their first car, a Ford touring car. They made a trip to Missouri to visit relatives. Her sister, Lula Mae, had just received her driver’s license and their dad allowed her to drive all the way. Lorene thought that was a treat and that Lula Mae was a good driver. In August of 1939, Lorene left the little town of Leedey and moved to Oklahoma City where she spent the rest of her life. Her mom and dad were not happy, but knowing Lorene, she was very “head strong” At this time, LaMelba and June Wisemen were living together in Oklahoma City. June was working at the stockyards and soon met Lorene’s brother, Robert. Robert would visit frequently staying with his sister, Lorene. Lorene soon developed a friendship and the three became roommates in a housing close enough for her to walk to work.

Lorene never got her driver’s license until about 15 years after she moved to Oklahoma City. When she went home, she rode the bus to Elk City, where a family member was waiting for her. She always lived close enough to work and walked or rode the bus. After about 15 years, Lula Mae taught her how to drive and she finally got her driver’s license. Lorene said Lula Mae told her that she couldn’t go so fast until she learned to steer, and Lorene responded, when she put her foot on the pedal, it just went fast. Her first car was a 1955 Pontiac.

After moving to Oklahoma City, Lorene graduated from Draughn’s Business School. After several jobs, she went to work on August 24, 1941 at the Security Pacific Finance Company, and remained until January 30, 1987.

She joined the Eighth Street Methodist Church. When the church closed in 1976, she joined the St John Methodist Church.

Retiring after 45 years at Security Pacific Finance Company, she became a servant of the church and the people. She was always helping everyone in need and made wonderful dishes for all of the church dinners. You could always find her in her kitchen preparing cookies or cakes or some dish for someone. She loved to cook and she was a good cook! She joined the walkers at Shepherd Mall and furnished treats with their morning coffee socials. When a family member was in the hospital, she visited every day, and she always had a bed and meal for the family members. When her sister, Evelyn had a stroke and was in a rehab unit in Bethany, Lorene was at her side everyday assisting with her breakfast and lunch daily. During the period of the Oklahoma City Bombing, she was a faithful volunteer helping to cook the meals.

She knew everyone’s birthday, and never forgot any of the nieces and nephews during the holidays. They mentioned how she would always give them a silver dollar, or make them a small gift. She was a very generous lady and loved “people”. Virgil remembers his dad saying that he never heard any member of that family say a bad thing about anyone, or a cuss word. They were good people.

Even though she never married, she and Rex Andes had a long relationship that lasted until just a few months before her death. They talked daily on the phone and he always had a bright spot in her heart.

In 1952 Lorene purchased her home in Oklahoma City just off Portland and 10th street and continued to live there until she entered an assisted living center in 2008. She continued to live in two different assisted living centers in Oklahoma City, until her health forced her to move to the Heritage Manor Nursing Home in February of 2016. She remained there until her death last Monday, October 24, 2016.

She was always so thankful and would tell Virgil and Barbara that she would repay them when “her rich uncle got out of the poor house”. Even though she was only 5’2”, she had the Twyman stubbornness! She would always say “I don’t think so!” very adamantly. In later years, when her memory was fading, and she was asked a question, she said “How soon do you need to know?” She had her quick wit and smile up to the end and always charmed everyone around her. Preceding Lorene in death were her parents, Thomas and Maud Twyman; two brothers, Porter and Robert Twyman; and four sisters, Mildred, Margaret, Lula Mae, and Mary Evelyn, along with seven nieces/nephews and four grand nieces/nephews.

Surviving her are her beloved (14) nieces/nephews; (40) grand nieces/nephews; (71) great-grand nieces/nephews and (51) great-great-grand nephews and many dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Trail Cemetery: c/o Wesley Metzler; 75000 N 1090 Rd; Leedey, OK 73654.