Lodema Estelle Beeby

A celebration honoring the life of Lodema Beeby will be held on Monday, December 20, 2010 at 10:00 am at the Alumni Building (former First Christian Church) in Marshall. Max Rudd, minister of Lost Creek United Methodist Church will officiate. Palmer Marler Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements with burial in the Marshall Lions North Cemetery. Lodema Estelle Gouch was born on November 4, 1919, at Truax Switch in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, and departed this life on December 16, 2010, at her home in Stillwater. She was the youngest of five girls born to Albert Washington Gouch and Addie Gray Gouch. After her graduation from Horace Mann High School in Ada in 1938, she moved to Marshall where she lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Mamie and J.A. Buster Rubrecht. While working in their movie theater, she met the young man who would become her husband. She married Clyde McLain Beeby on October 1, 1939. They bought ownership in the family grocery business in 1940, becoming the third generation of Beebys to own the business. While Clyde was in the army during the war, it fell on Lodema to operate the family business at Marshall. In 1948 the Beebys sold out of the grocery business and moved to the farm. They returned to the grocery business for a time during the 1950s but continued their farming operation until retirement. During her years in Marshall, Lodema was an active member of the First Christian Church and involved in its many activities working in CWF projects, singing in the choir, and serving funeral dinners. She was one of the last active members of the church before declining attendance forced its closure. She and Clyde supported their sons in their many school activities-band, FFA, football, and basketball. She was a good Christian, a devoted wife, a hardworking business partner, a loving mother, and doting grandmother and great grandmother, and a selfless neighbor. Lodema lived in the Marshall community thoughout her adult life until health issues required changes in 2008. It was at that time that she moved to Fairview, then to Stillwater, living with her son and daughter in law. She is survived by her son, Larry and wife, Beth of Stillwater; six grandchildren; Lain Beeby and wife, Mindy of Bixby; Lee Ann Howard of Clinton, NC; Adam Beeby of Goldsboro, NC; Meredith Shafer and husband, George of Oklahoma City; Matt Beeby and wife Joyelle of Fort Worth; and Melody Johnson and husband Andre of Oklahoma City; ten great-grandchildren; Claire, Rhire, and Brandt Beeby; Finn and Rhett Howard; Jack and Tate Edmison; Vivian Beeby; and Dominic and Darien Johnson. Lodema was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, her husband Clyde in 2003, and her son Jerry in 1994. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Marshall Lions Cemeteries, Box 4, Marshall, OK 73056 or Judith Karman Hospice, Box 818, Stillwater, OK 74076. Condolences may be sent online at pmcfh.com.