Kathryn Louise Bradbury Calvert
Born September 13, 1924, in Hollow, OK, Craig County to George Edward Bradbury and Mabel Bell Davis Bradbury. She was welcomed home by her brothers Wayne and Warren.
They lived in Parsons, Kansas then Coffeyville, Kansas where she attended school in the McKinley school system. She was a girl scout in the Sunflower Troop and became lifelong friends with her scout leader, Marie Livingston, where she learned to sew.
In high school she was a drum major in the marching band. She was a soda jerk and an usher at the local movie theater. She attended many dances at the USO as the Army Air base and Training facility was nearby at McGugin Field. Her first love, Army pilot, Don Kennedy was shot down over the pacific in 1944. She supported the USO and was thrilled when her Grandon Chris utilized the USO while in his Amy training in 2017.
During high school she studied office and secretarial classes and held many secretarial positions. Kathryn was the PTA president at Mark Twain and Pershing Elementary. She served as the Girl Scout leader for Janet's troop and Cheryl's. She was a member of the TCAL Society. She was a member of Osage Hills Christian Church from its early days.
In 1944 she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and stayed in the downtown YWCA until she was able to find an affordable apartment for her and her mother Mabel Bradbury. One of her first jobs in Tulsa was at Stanolind Oil.
On a blind lunch date with her church friend Doris Greer, she met her great love and husband Lavern Rex Calvert, a native of Tulsa, and combat Marine having returned the previous year from the Pacific Theater. Three months later June 8, 1946, they married at the University United Methodist Church on the Tulsa University campus. They built their first home on 46th West Ave in Tulsa. They welcomed their first child, Janet in 1950, Cheryl in 1954 and Terry in 1956. They celebrated their 74th Wedding anniversary in 2020. Kathryn celebrated her 100th birthday in September 2024, with over 100 guests.
She was an excellent seamstress, making many of her children's clothing, even a suit for Terry. Her masterpiece was a period costume for Terry's wife, Vikki, a teacher at Monte Casino, for a Medieval banquet, including an underskirt with boning and an Elizabethan neck ruffle.
She began her Legal Secretarial career in 1980 in the offices of criminal attorney, John J Tanner. She was an excellent typist, stenographer and used shorthand. It was the highlight of her career.
She still found time to become a scout leader once again for granddaughter, Elizabeth, imparting songs, sewing, and camping out skills. She was recognized with a 30-year pin.
They traveled all over the county from Washington state to South Carolina attending Rex's combat marine reunions hosting 2 here in Tulsa. She loved the serenity of the cabin on Grand Lake and her chocolate labs, Cocoa, Pretty Girl, and PePe her Jack Russell.
She was proud of her Cherokee heritage and was a member of the First Families as her great grandmother, Sabra Beck, traveled on the Trail of Tears.
Kathryn was predeceased in death by her husband Rex Calvert and grandson, Gregory Scott Palmer. Kathryn is survived by son Terry Rex Calvert (Vikki), daughters Cheryl DeChaine (Ed) and Janet Palmer (Terry), six grandchildren, Michael Palmer (Becky), Matthew DeChaine (Sara), Christopher DeChaine and Elizabeth Vaughan (Scooter) and Lee Calvert, Seven Great Grandchildren, Joshua Palmer, Traci Bowman (Trey), Kelsey, Kinsey and Lucas DeChaine, Alexander DeChaine, and Lottie Vaughan.
Visitation 4-8PM, Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at Moore Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Funeral Service will be 1:00 P.M., Thursday, November 21, 2024 at Osage Hills Christian Church, Tulsa. Moore Southlawn 918-663-2233