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THYRA FOREMAN Obituary

January 21, 1927 - April 17, 2014 EDMOND Thyra (known by her closest friends as Lea or Theo) is survived by her husband of 37 years, Russell J. Foreman; her beloved daughter, best friend, and daily care giver - Jill Blue, Edmond, OK; a son-in-law she loved beyond reproach, Michael M. Blue; and a son, Danny J. Harrison. Thyra gained three stepchildren when she married Russ Foreman, all of whom she loved greatly, Rusty D. Foreman, Houston, TX, Frank Foreman, Tulsa, OK, and Angela Foreman Chase, Denton, TX. Thyra inherited four grandchildren from her daughter, all of whom she simply adored - Nicholas Edson, Jared Edson, Oklahoma City, OK, Kamron Blue and J.J. Blue, Edmond, OK; Houston Harrison - son of Danny J. Harrison; and three grandchildren born from her (step)children, Amber Foreman, Jasper Foreman, Dallas, TX, and Andrew Foreman, Tulsa, OK. Thyra was blessed to also have grandchildren who came along through marriage, Scott and Steven Burrington; and Chris, Josh and Kiley Chase. In her later years, three great-granddaughters were born, Ne'vaeh Edson, Emily Edson and Nicole Edson. Thyra was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel J. and Thyra L. Holleyman, Kilgore, Texas; older brother, Dannie Joe Holleyman, killed in WWII; and Gerald Gilbert ("Gibo") Holleyman, her baby brother, whose surviving children, Deborah Holleyman Ellis, Chris and Mark Holleyman, she loved without reserve. Thyra was born in Vernon, Texas, on January 21, 1927. She grew up in the oil fields and churches of east Texas and began attending college at the ripe age of 17 years old. Thyra attended both the University of North Texas, Denton, TX, and the University of Texas, Austin, Texas, subsequently graduating from the University of North Texas on both Dean's and President's Honor Roll, served as campus queen, professor's assistant and student body officer. She graduated with both a BS and BA after four short years. Carpe diem. Thyra became a young professor of home economics at the age of 21 while attending the master's business program at North Texas, graduating with an MBA. College was a challenging time, a time when the U.S. was at war, many of the students in class drafted or enrolled prior to graduation into the U.S. Armed Services, where they would defend our country in WWII. These were days that were of great significance to Thyra. She was part of what would eventually become known as the Greatest Generation. Thyra was part of the U.S.O. show throughout the entire war and volunteered substantial hours to "the cause." Always comfortable with an operational knowledge of the oil and gas industry, Thyra landed a legal career in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she went to work in 1960 at the law firm of Connor, Winters, Ballaine, Barry & McGown, for a young associate attorney, Barry J. Galt (now deceased). When Barry Galt moved to The Williams Companies to serve as Senior Vice President and General Counsel in 1976, he took Thyra with him as his administrative assistant. Galt's peers laughingly called Thyra his work wife, pushing him forward with determination and haste. Barry Galt advanced in The Williams Companies in 1979 to President and Chief Operating Officer, Thyra right beside him. Though Galt moved on from TWC, Thyra remained there until her retirement in 1992. During her tenure at TWC, Thyra became involved with Exective Women International (EWI) and was also known for speaking to women at conferences and meetings regarding opportunity(ies) in the corporate world and the future for women in a new era. Upon retirement in 1992, Thyra followed husband Russ to Wichita, KS, where Russ had obtained a position with Boeing and the couple purchased a magnificent lake home - with boat slip just 15 yards from the door. The couple built their final dream home in 2001, and in January of 2002, upon Russ' retirement, Thyra and Russ moved from Wichita to Edmond to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Michael Blue, as well as grandchildren and eventually, great-grandchildren. It was family time all the time. For several years and through several of her octogenarian years, Thyra volunteered at the Mercy Hospital gift shop and medical lab. It was to be the service that satisfied her hunger to help and love others. A Celebration of Life memorial service for Thyra L. Foreman will be held at 2 p.m. on May 2, 2014, at Smith-Kernke North Chapel, located at 14624 North May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73134, (405) 302-0021. Please feel free, in lieu of flowers, to make donations to the Oklahoma Hospice & Palliative Care Association (OHPCA), 16307 Sonoma Park Dr, Ste 2, Edmond, OK 73013; University of Texas (Southwestern), Willed Body Program, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-9143, 214-648-2221; or to the Autism Speaks Foundation, 1060 State Rd, 2nd Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540, Tax ID #:20-2329938, in honor of Thyra's charmed and beloved grandson, J. Daniel Blue "J.J.." - Jill Blue, c/o BLUE LAW, at THE WHITE HOUSE, 900 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, Office: (405) 239-7046 | Fax: (405) 418-0833, Email: [email protected]

Published by Oklahoman on Apr. 27, 2014.
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So sad to see that Thyra has passed away. She was such a fun person. I enjoyed doing her hair at Accent Beauty Salon in Wichita, she even drove back a few times after they moved to OK. She was just a dear person.

Marilyn Gray

April 27, 2014

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