Mildred Lucille (Thurman) Atkinson, a former Yale resident, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at the Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee, Oklahoma at the age of 94. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 4, 2015 at the Lawson Cemetery in Yale, Oklahoma. Pastor Mich Dershem will officiate.
Arrangements are entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Yale, Ok.
Mildred was born on January 23, 1921 in Olive, Oklahoma to the late Oscar E. and Arminta (Rusco) Thurman. She grew up in Yale and graduated from Yale High School in 1940. Soon after high school she met the love of her life Cecil (Blackie) Atkinson and they married in 1942. To this union four sons were born Cecil Jr. Jimmie, Jack, and Jerry. Together they traveled for Cecil’s work on the Railroad, but Yale was always home. They moved to California in 1948 and for a short time they lived in Chatsworth before purchasing property in Canoga Park in 1949 where the family lived in a tent while building their home that still stands to this day. Mildred had the opportunity to celebrate her 90th birthday in this home before moving to North Carolina to be near her son Jimmie and her grandchildren. She then moved to Colorado to be near here oldest son Cecil before finally settling in Olive, Oklahoma with her son Jack on the property that her granddaddy Rusco once farmed. Her life having made a complete circle.
Mildred enjoyed gardening, planting flowers, and taking long rides, in so much that together she and Cecil and their four boys would take rides until half their money was spent and then turn around and head back home. They were able to visit various places of interest during these drives.
Mildred is survived by her three sons: Cecil Atkinson and wife Barbara of Colorado, Jimmie Lee Atkinson and wife Sheena of North Carolina, Jack Atkinson and wife Valerie of Olive, grandchildren: Tim Atkinson, Jessi Stevens, Kimberly Pearson, Les Atkinson, Jeremy Frantz, Jamie Emmons, Jason Atkinson, Jennifer Schmidt, Janine Atkinson, numerous great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and family.
She was preceded in death by her parents Oscar E. And Arminta (Rusco) Thurman, her husband Cecil Atkinson Sr., one son: Jerry Atkinson, four sisters: Levina “Faye” Wilson, Geneva Wilson, Delores Craven, and Loretta Lickliter, two brothers: Jack Thurman, and Kenneth Thurman.
Condolences and online guest book are available at www.palmermarlerfh.com.
