Happy Birthday, Theda!

Born in 1921, Theda was the eldest of three daughters to Cloie & Thea Bonner. The Bonners settled in Coalgate, Oklahoma where Thea was a coal miner and the Coal county Sherriff while Cloie tended to any stranger he brought home.

 Married on Feb. 3, 1940 to James Colburn Naylor, Theda had her first two children Dene and James in 1941 and 1944, respectively. Theda loved family life, especially the moments when she and James could go dancing.

Already blessed with two wonderful children and a grandson, David, Theda learned that she was expecting her third child to be born on her 40th birthday. D'Ann Naylor, BA, JD was born on September 5, 1961 at the stroke of midnight.

With two children married off and settled, Theda focused on raising D'Ann, spoiling her grandchildren and styling the neighborhood's various heads of hair. Still living in the house she and James resided in until James's passing in 1994, Theda continued to make the home warm and filled it with love for all to enjoy.

 But life had not really begun for Theda yet. Mother's day trips with Dene and D'Ann would occur every year. Life was full of great grandchildren, gardening, cats, butterflies around the yard, visits from family and the arrival of her serenading, dance partner Pete and his girls Red Bean & Jambalaya to whom she was never allowed to give treats.

At 96, with three grown children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren, Theda was blessed with her first great-great grandchild, Cutter Brian Lacy, born August 10, 2018 to Cody & Nicole Lacy. A family of two in 1940 had grown to include over 20 lives for Theda to enjoy.

Outside Theda's house lives a witness; a witness to a happy home, a loving couple and a good marriage. This witness can attest to laughter, to skinned knees, to a mother's curative arms, to report cards ,to graduations, weddings and a growing family constantly coming to see the woman they adore - Theda.

The Roaring' 20s. The 21st Century. The Swingin' 40s. Bell bottoms. Boys becoming men. A mother becoming a great, great grandmother. The 60s. Y2K. 80s big hair. Theda has seen it all and you can too. Just click above and enjoy.