Obituary for Dorothy Osborn

"Miss Dorothy" Osborn

Born: January 22, 1918

Death: November 12, 2013

Dorothy (Miss Dorothy) Christy Osborn; A Life of Service. Miss Dorothy was born to Dolly and Gabe Christy on January 22, 1918 in Dardanelle Arkansas. There were nine children in the family and she was third youngest. At age three, she and her family moved, by train, to Ponca City. She joined Sunday school at First Baptist during pre-school. The Pastor, Cornelius Boles, encouraged her and she credits that encouragement with her dedication to teaching two year olds.

During the Depression the family lived on a farm near Binger and all the children picked cotton. Although she as quite young she picked about 185 pounds per day.

At age sixteen she married Wayne Osborn on February 7, 1934 in the Baptist Church in Chickasha and moved back to Ponca where they worked in the Liberty Mission. That began her long career of service to the education of two year olds. That career spanned five and one-half decades; earning her the recognition of “Miss Dorothy” of which she was justifiably proud. At First Baptist Church she managed the staffing of volunteers for the nursery, Vacation Bible School, Mother’s Day Out and every other activity that came along. She contributed her pay to teaching materials for “her Kids”. All this while nurturing her own four children through Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTA, band and intramural sports. She and Wayne were a team of the first order, managing with little in economic ability, but with love, affection and commitment to the future of their children.

After retirement from First Baptist, she continued her love for small children and collected and delivered over five hundred stuffed animals to children in need. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe recognized her for her contribution to Native American children.

She delivered four children, Rondel, Eileen, Dale and Sherri. As parents they emphasized the importance of education as the path to a better life. At their insistence, all graduated college and became productive professionals.

Miss Dorothy passed on November 12, 2013 and is survived by her brother, Ralph Harold Christy and wife Hazel, Arkansas City, Kansas; her children, Ron Osborn and wife Margaret Ann, Queen Creek Arizona; Dale Osborn and wife Connie, of Evergreen, Colorado and Sherri Garner and husband Kyle, of Chatham, Virginia.; her grandchildren, Terry Osborn, of Arlington Texas; Barry Osborn of Granbury Texas; Angela Osborn of Littleton Colorado, Scott Osborn of Highlands Ranch Colorado, Alison Osborn of Atlanta Georgia, Erin Zalesky of Littleton Colorado, David Groppa and Julie Barros of Lancaster California,; her great grandchildren Ashley Osborn of Arlington, Texas, Laura Mosley of Cranford, New Jersey, Cindy Garza of Fort Worth, Texas; Owen and Camden Zalesky of Littleton, Colorado; Gage and Alexis Modal of Littleton Colorado; Dominic Barros of Lancaster California, and great-great grandchild Madison Osborn of Arlington Texas and Braxton Mosley Cranford New Jersey.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Wayne, on August 3, 1982; her daughter Eileen, on April 24, 1993; her siblings, Geneva Stuart, Jack Christy, Roy Christy, Ray Christy, Floy Stuart, Lillian Schaffer and Nita Ball; and two infant siblings.

The casket will be closed at the service. The family will receive friends for visitation and viewing from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, November 17, 2013 at Grace Memorial Chapel.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2013 in the Chapel of the First Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Heslip, Minister of Education and Administration, Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston, Texas presiding. Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers are Scott Osborn, Terry Wayne Osborn, Barry Gene Osborn, Derrick Fugaro, John Maddox and Tom Morris.