Thelma Evelyn Bryan was born October 24, 1922, and died June 13, 2014, at the age of 91. She was the third of five daughters born to Arthur Frederick Nagel and Sarah Klassen Cornelsen Nagel. She lived with her family on their farm north of Optima until she graduated from high school. Her mother died when she was 13 and her aunts who lived on neighboring land helped her father with raising his daughters. Thelma attended Locust Grove school, Friendship (now Straight) school, Optima school, and graduated from Hooker High School in 1940. After her high school graduation she moved to Guymon. She first worked for the Selective Service office and then went to work for attorney Grester LaMar. She was a legal secretary for over 40 years and also did tax work for many clients. She was an excellent business woman. While working for the Selective Service she said she sent Johney Raymon Bryan, her future husband, off to war. They were not dating at the time but did correspond during the war and dated when he was home on leave. They married on May 5, 1946, two months after he returned home from the war. They had four children, Priscilla, Jonette, Fred, and Richard (Dicky). After several years of marriage, while both were working fulltime jobs, Johney and Thelma began their farming operation. She was the farm advisor, bookkeeper, tax person, encourager and harvest cook. Even these past years she reviewed the farm books and tax returns and her children still sought her advice. Her sharp mind and clear memory were exceeded only by her quick wit up to the very end. She was an active member of the Guymon First Church of the Nazarene and served on the church board for many years. The music ministry of the church was dear to her heart. She was involved in playing piano and organ, directing and singing in the choir, and any other area where she could be of help. She loved decorating the church for Christmas. She taught the first grade Sunday School class for many years. She is survived by her children: Priscilla and husband David Johnson of Boise City, Oklahoma; Jonette and husband Jess Anderson of Wichita, Kansas; Fred Bryan and wife Robyn of Optima, Oklahoma; and Richard Bryan and wife Suzanne of Guymon, Oklahoma; she was Granny to 10 grandchildren: Mendi White and husband Troy White of Boise City, Oklahoma; Kyle Johnson and wife Lori of Forty Fort, Pennsylvania; Julie Moynihan and husband Mike of Fort Worth, Texas; Jay Anderson of Enid, Oklahoma; Jennifer Anderson and husband Kevin of Wichita, Kansas; Emily Meek and husband Adam of Yukon, Oklahoma; Allison Long of Guymon, Oklahoma; Riley Bryan of Austin, Texas; Cris Ming of Goodwell, Oklahoma, and Aron Ming of Guymon, Oklahoma. She was also loved by 15 great-grandchildren: Kanon and Kolby White, Johney Johnson, Palmer and Jessica Moynihan, Jackson, Jett, Jayci, and Jake Anderson, Robert and Jay Anderson, Macy Meek, and Kamron, Carsen and William Ming. She is also survived by one sister, Delores Smith of Tulsa, Oklahoma and many other special relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Johney in 2006, her sisters Rozella Forbes, Gladys (Jeanne) Ferguson, and Mildred Griffin, and one great-grandson Boston Ray Anderson. Services will be Tuesday, June 18, at 2:00 pm, at the First Church of the Nazarene, 2214 N Sunset, Guymon with Pastor Wayne Dawson and Rev. Terry Armstrong, officiating. Interment will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Guymon First Church of the Nazarene or a favorite charity, c/o Henson-Novak Funeral Directors, P.O. Box 1306, Guymon, OK 73942.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 09:34:31 +0000
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