Mary Vonda Lingo Absher, was born in Bernice, Oklahoma to Roy and Elizabeth Lingo. She graduated from the last class of Cleora High School in 1957. She was the only daughter and her brothers John, Richard and Jerry adored her. They called her "Foochie" and teased her relentlessly but she always held her own and became a great athlete as a result. She attended Northeastern Oklahoma University in Miami, OK where she played basketball. She loved the game her whole life and was the biggest Oklahoma Thunder fan on the planet!

She married Harold Absher in 1961 and his job took them all over the world. She taught school in a number of locations but the most memorable was at the American School in Tehran when the family was on an expatriate assignment working in the oil industry. She and Harold owned and operated a bbq restaurant in Lake Charles, Louisiana called Smokey Joe's where she loved to visit with the customers.

Later the family returned to Oklahoma to be closer to the rest of the family. Vonda worked in retail at Saks Fifth Avenue for years before moving to Houston to be near her son Brad, his wife Amy and her only grandchild Madison. There she watched countless ballgames cheering on Maddy to many victories. She later retired back to Tulsa and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Vonda is preceded in death by her parents Roy & Elizabeth Lingo, her brothers Richard and John Lingo and her granddaughter Madison Elizabeth Absher. She is survived by her only child Bradley Wayne Absher, his wife Amy, her Brother Jerry Lingo and wife Janet and her sisters in law Jane Lingo and Carolyn Lingo and her cousin Les Miller and his wife Joyce.

She will be missed by everyone but knowing she is in the arms of her loving granddaughter gives us all comfort and brings a smile to our faces knowing they are shooting hoops and having a big time!

Graveside service will be 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233