Lavicia Odell [Christopher] Elliott Standley

Lavicia Odell [Christopher] Elliott Standley

Funeral services for Lavicia Odell Standley, 91, of Chickasha, will be held Friday, December 27, 200-2, at 1:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel.

Lavicia Odell Christopher Standley, the daughter of Andrew William Christopher and Genie Lela Clawson, was born December 25, 1911, in the Duncan, Okla., area of Stephens County. Born at home, Lavicia was welcomed into this world by her parents and Charlie, her 27-month-old brother.

Over the next 14 years of her life, she became the older sister of sisters Allie and Pat and brothers Fred and A. D. This big, happy family lived in several counties in southern Oklahoma during this time. They all worked together on each family farm throughout the winter, spring and summer. Every fall for many years, their father would sell the cotton crop that he and his family planted, chopped and worked throughout the summer, packed up the wagon and the family, and moved to west Texas to pick cotton planted by someone else.

In 1925, the family finally settled northeast of Pocasset, Okla. Lavicia was known for how fast she could run and soon earned the nickname of Bike, since she could run as fast as a bicycle. She attended school whenever possible and caught on fast. She did well in every subject and loved being in school plays and some sports.

By the age of seventeen, Bike had developed into a beautiful blonde with big, olive green eyes, and stood a willowy five feet six inches when she met her future husband, Jim Elliott. In 1928, they were married and during the next six years, sadly lost five sons at birth. On December 13, 1935, they were blessed by the birth of Jimmy L. Elliott, and then on December 23, 1942, Donald R. Elliott was born.

After farming in Grady County for several years, the family moved into Chickasha and bought a home on south Eighth Street. Due to unhappy circumstances, the family separated in 1950.

Lavicia went to work at the Orange Grove Cafe on Chickasha Avenue and met Fred Standley. In 1951, Lavicia went to work as a bookkeeper for Fred Standley Office Machines. The couple married in 1953. Fred loved Lavicia's blond hair and soon began to lovingly call her Blondie. They made their first home on Nineteenth Street and later moved to 1224 Chickasha Avenue. Fred loved to fish, but Blondie didn't. Eventually he talked her into going fishing with him, and on their first fishing trip, she out-fished him, and then she was hooked. They spent the next twenty-five years fishing, traveling, and enjoying one another.

Blondie Standley was the best grandmother in the world. Whether she was entertaining them in her home with parties on her front porch in the afternoon, or taking them on walks through the pecan trails, or taking them fishing or swimming, she always had time for her six grandchildren.

An invitation to a family dinner in Fred and Blondie's home was always a wonderful event. When you stepped on her front porch, the aroma coming from her kitchen let you know that you were about to partake of one of Blondie's delicious meals. Her table was always set with her best pottery and silverware. There was no such thing as a meal being served on a paper plate in Blondie's home.

After twenty-five years of marriage, Fred and Blondie turned the business over to Jimmy and Don so that they could travel. During the winter months, they traveled to south Texas to fish and enjoy the warm climate. In the summer months, their favorite places to fish were Lake Texhoma and Fort Cobb Lake.

Fred's health began to fail, and he preceded her in death in 1983. The years that followed were lonely years for Blondie. She visited her brother and sister-in-law, A. D. and Joan, in Hawaii, in an attempt to fill the empty spot that had been created when she lost her beloved husband. She lived at home for several years before moving to Sterling House. Her health began to fail, and for the last seven years she has lived and been cared for in assisted living facilities.
On December 25, 2002, at the age of 91 years, her prayer was answered. Just as she was welcomed by her parents and her brother into this world at birth, on Christmas Day, 2002, at 6 p.m., she was welcomed into Heaven by her Lord and her awaiting family. Although her loved ones will miss her, this is Blondie's Home Going Celebration.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sons' father, Jim Elliott, her husband, Fred Standley, two brothers, Charlie and Fred Christopher.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jimmy and Barbara Elliott and Donald and Carolynn Elliott, of Chickasha; one brother and sister-in-law, A. D. and Joan Christopher, of San Antonio, Texas; two sisters, Allie Hicks, of Chickasha, and Pat Wilson, of Lebanon, Oregon; grandchildren: Tim and Sondra Elliott, Gary and Stephany Elliott, Sherri and Art Kell, Tracy and Scott Williford, Gregory and Paige Elliott, Corry and Keri Elliott; and 19 great grandchildren.

Interment will be in the Friendship Cemetery in Pocasset under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.