Katherine Thompson Darby

Katherine Ann Thompson Darby, 70, Duke, won her battle on November 5, 2011, and is now home with our Lord and Savior. Along with her husband of 49 ½ years, she has had a blessed and fulfilled life. The Darby family will host a visitation from 6:00 – 7:00 PM Monday, November 7, 2011 at the Duke First Baptist Church. Graveside services for family and friends will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at the Altus City Cemetery with Rev. Ralph Chapman and Rev. Scott Gramling officiating. A Celebration of Life memorial service will follow at the Duke First Baptist Church at 11:00 am. Services are under the direction of the Kincannon Funeral Home. Kathy was born in Duncan, Oklahoma August 29, 1941 to Robert G. “R.G.” and Zoel (Wheeler) Thompson. She was joined 14 months later with her lifetime partner in crime, a sister, Sharon. She grew up in Duncan, going to Emerson & Plato Elementary, through graduation at Duncan High School. Kathy started golfing with her daddy at a young age and was a varsity member of the State Duncan Demons Golf team which was all boys until she joined. In high school, she was active in Las Renitas (Little Queens) Sorority, tennis, swimming, and drama. R.G. and Zoel loved to dance and they taught the girls how to dance. The Thompson household was the hot spot for the kids to hang out, where there was always great food, pretty girls and good music to dance. After graduation Kathy attended the University of Oklahoma, where she was a Gamma Phi Beta. She met the love of her life on a blind date. Jon Darby and she were married on June 1, 1962. The couple finished their schooling at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she received a degree in Elementary Education. They lived in Altus and Eldorado before settling down in Quanah, Texas, where Jon was a banker and Kathy taught 1st grade. After a year they started a family and had 3 kids. In 1970, Jon and Kathy moved to Duke, Oklahoma to join the family business. She taught in Duke, Mangum and then spent 28 years teaching in Altus. She not only was a trail blazer on the golf course but helped start the first special education program in Altus Public Schools. Her heart was huge. She loved teaching all kids but had a very special gift for taking kids that needed some extra attention and helped them to strive and reach their potential, not only in academics but in life. Kathy was always found on the sidelines of the Duke Tigers, rooting them on while watching her 3 children compete. Nothing brought her more joy than watching them. She was very active in all aspects of the Duke community. She was a very active member of the First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Towne and Country Club and the Duke Chamber of Commerce. Kathy was blessed with 6 grandchildren and loved being a grandma. Kathy loved to shop for them and to bake cookies with them as all grandmothers do. Kathy is survived by her husband, Jon David Darby, of the home; a daughter, Kristin Darby Medders and husband, Darren, of Altus; two sons, Blake Darby and wife, Kathy, of Altus, and David K. Darby of Oklahoma City; her grandchildren, Darby Allyson Medders of Norman, and Raegan Katherine Medders, Katherine Elizabeth “Katie Beth”, Mary Margaret “Maggie”, Isabella Grace, and Jon Henry Darby, all of Altus; a sister, Sharon Sue Quick and husband, Art, of Nashville, TN; a nephew, Kevin Gardner of Kingston, Ok; nieces, Marieca Pilcher and husband, Troy, of Moore, OK, and Jane Marie Broil and husband, Kurt, of Jacksonville Beach, FL; and many cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be given to the Duke First Baptist Church Youth, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, P. O. Box 650309 Dallas, TX 75265-0309, Alzheimer’s Association, 6465 South Yale, Suite 312,
Tulsa, OK 74136-7810, or any local charity of your choice.