Birdie E (Yeubanks) Toon-Thorne & Arthur Weid Toon

©  Mary Kirby

Obit for Birdie posted by Jo Aguirre
Jun 12, 1919 - Jul 29, 2005
 

Paper: Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat (OK)
Deceased: BIRDIE TOON-THORNE
Date: July 1, 2005

Birdie Toon-Thorne, longtime Muskogee resident, died Wednesday, July 29, 2005, at 86 years of age. She was born on June 12, 1919, in Coffeyville, Kansas to William Columbus and Mary (Hefner) Yeubanks. Birdie spent her early years in Coffeyville before moving to Wann, Oklahoma where she graduated high school. She matriculated to Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, where she earned her teaching degree. Birdie continued her education at Oklahoma A & M and received a Masters degree in Education.

On November 25, 1945 Birdie was married to Arthur Waid Toon, in Tulsa. They enjoyed many years together that began in Fame, Oklahoma. As the couple was both in education, they moved several times and lived five years in Council Hill before settling in Muskogee, where Birdie has lived since 1952. Birdie was a great educator and was proud to have given over 40 years to the development of children. She began teaching high school English, Speech and Drama. She taught second grade for most of her career in Muskogee at Longfellow and later at Toney-Goetz Elementary Schools. Birdie retired from education in 1979. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Iota, Phi Delta Kappa, New Century Book Club, presided on the board of the Salvation Army, was Teacher of the Year in Muskogee, and enjoyed two bridge groups. She was also a longtime member of the Community of Christ Church in Broken Arrow.

Mrs. Toon was preceded in death by: her husband, Arthur Waid Toon on November 23, 1997; her parents; four brothers and one sister. On December 4, 2004 Birdie re-married and is survived by her husband, Dr. Thomas V. (Jete) Thorne of the home. His extended family was special to Birdie and they will also cherish her memory.

Mrs. Toon-Thorne is also survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Bud Hale of Beggs; four grandchildren, Mandi Dixon and her husband, Stephen of Phoenix, Arizona, Lindsey Hale of Tulsa, John Hale of Tulsa and Stephanie Reinhart and her husband, Steven of Stuttgart, Arkansas; four great grandchildren; one sister, Evelyn McKee of Tulsa and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, July 2, 2005 in Fosters' Ivory Chapel, with Rev. Tom Thorne and Dr. C. H. McKee officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Checotah. Pallbearers will be Paul Grant Toon, Steve Lynch, Terry Thorne, John Thorne, Chad McKee and Chris Thrutchley. W. C. Winfrey, John Hale, Jared Hood, Clarence Lynch, Keven Lynch, and Sean Mckee will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. The family of Mrs. Toon-Thorne will receive friends during a visitation on Friday for 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Foster-Petering Funeral Home.

Funeral services are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.