On June 25, 2024, Treda Fay Furness was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while surrounded by family and friends.
Treda was born to Marcus “Babe” and Bertha Viola Harris on July 10, 1935 in Durant, Oklahoma. She attended school in Cobb, OK along with her many siblings. She was a lifelong Baptist.
Treda married the love of her life, Edwin Furness, on December 31, 1959. They enjoyed 49 years together before Ed’s passing in 2009.
Having a caring heart for the elderly, Treda worked many years as a nurse’s aide both in Michigan and Oklahoma. In her later years when she became a resident at the McMahon Tomlinson Nursing Home in Lawton, Oklahoma, she looked out for her fellow residents utilizing her years of experience. She was one of the remaining first five from when the new facility opened.
Treda had a lifelong love of quilting. She made quilts for family members throughout her life, especially her children and grand/great grandchildren. She also made quilts for residents and their family members while she was a resident. All of her fellow residents enjoyed the quilts she made for each of them. She also won awards for some of her quilts.
In recent years, Treda spent much of her free time reflecting on her life and used her writing talents to leave a legacy for her children to read and treasure. She will be missed by family, caregivers and residents alike and especially by her long McMahon resident friends Donelda Lindsey and Vicky Rackler.
Besides her beloved husband and parents, Treda was preceded in death by her daughter Sharon, son Ed Furness, daughter-in-law Suki Reese, son-in-law David Owens, daughter-in-law Gloria Furness, grandson Steven Furness, great grandson Ricky Reese, sisters Goldie Waldrop, Fannie Mae Adams, brothers Luther Harris and Larry Harris.
She is survived by sons Ricky Reese, Billy (Toni) Reese, Bennie (Doreen) Reese, Allen (Dana) Reese, Mark (Renae) Furness, daughters Brenda (Dick) Papkey, Lorena Shelton, Doreen Furness Owens and daughter-in-law Traci Furness, brothers Marcus Harris and Donal Harris, sisters Lovetta Wright and Lovatta Jones, 36 grandchildren and numerous great- grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 26 at the Criswell Funeral Home in Ada, Oklahoma. Friends and family are welcome to share time together in Treda’s memory at the Highland Cemetery, Stonewall, Oklahoma, on Thursday, June 27 at 2pm; Mark and David Harris will officiate.
The family wishes to thank McMahon Tomlinson Nursing Home for their years of loving care and Comanche Memorial Hospice for their loving support. We’ve entrusted her final care in Criswell Funeral Home and thank them for their caring service. Family and friends may send online condolences and view tributes at criswellfh@gmail.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
