Grace Jane (Scott) Thorn

Grace grew up around Barber and Bunch, Oklahoma. She attended school in Dry Creek, Oklahoma. She didn’t finish high school; however, in her 30’s she decided she wanted her high school diploma, so she attended night classes and received her GED in 1968.

Grace traveled to California on her own at 18 to work and to see the world; but that was short lived when her mother needed her back home less than a year later to help work on the farm.

Grace met Harley Thorn shortly after he came home from the Korean War where he had served honorably in the Army. They married on April 9, 1960 in Stillwell, Oklahoma at the court house.

They moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma where Harley worked at the Mill and Elevator while Grace kept their tiny home and in January of 1961 they welcomed their first child, Daisy.

Soon after that, they returned once again to the Bunch, Oklahoma area to help with the farm. In March of 1962 their second child was born. They named him Roger. Then in February of 1965 a third child was born. Another little boy, that they called Dale.

Eventually, they made their home in 1967 in Cookson, Oklahoma. Harley worked in construction, farming, cutting wood, mowing yards, and numerous other labors while Grace took care of her small bred along with countless little cousins coming and going. The little house was always full of small children.

In later years, Grace took on several jobs; including housekeeping, custodial work at Keys School, taking care of boat docks on Lake Tenkiller, and of course, mowing tons of yards.

In November of 1976 a fourth child was born to the delight of the entire family. He was named Elliott.

In the spring of 2000, Grace was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and had surgery in Tulsa to remove four large masses.

Harley died on July 25, 2001 of a massive heart attack.

Grace became active with her church and the Senior Citizen Center at Cookson. She could be seen along with her sister Rosie, busy with tons of activities. They made gobs of beautiful quilts, and spent many days making people at the Center laugh. Grace loved to laugh and truly enjoyed being ornery with her family and friends.

Grace had a stroke in 2014 that slowed her down a tad bit, but it didn’t stop her from her stubborn orneriness. She still had a yard full of gorgeous flowers and a full garden of vegetables every Spring.

In 2017, Grace was diagnosed with Lymphedema which made her legs look like elephant legs and was extremely painful. She had bone on bone in both knees and severe arthritis which did slow her down eventually to a wheelchair. Her stubborn, ornery spirit never left her, which was a great blessing to her family.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband and her parents and five siblings: Freeman, Leeman, Bill, Robert “Short”, and her sister whom she loved dearly, Rosie.

Grace is survived by her children: Daisy Rogers of Bartlesville; Roger and Dale Thorn of Cookson; and Elliott Thorn and Tammy Sparks of Tahlequah; 5 grandchildren: Brandi Avery and her husband Jim of Coffeyville, Kansas; Bryan and Ben Rogers of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; CJ Sparks and his wife Sophia of Tahlequah; and Dathan Sparks of Tahlequah; 4 great-grandchildren: Ethan and Abby Avery; and Faye and Carly Sparks. Grace is also survived by one sister, Evelyn Garoutte, of Independence, Missouri.

She is also survived by her nephew Larry Glory, whom she always thought of as her real first child, along with nephews and nieces: Mabel Hagan, Connie Smith, John and Mark Glory; Susie and Mary Scott; George, Willie, Greg, and Sheila Scott; Jim and Robert Scott; as well as countless numbers of great nephews and nieces and numerous life-long friends.

Funeral services will be 11:00am, Monday, December 13, 2021 at Reed and Culver Funeral Home in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Burial will be in Barber Cemetery beside her husband Harley, and next to her parents. Visitation will take place Sunday, December 12, 2021 from 2:00pm until 5:00pm at Reed Culver Funeral Home.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Roger Thorn, Dale Thorn, Elliott Thorn, Jim Avery, Ethan Avery, CJ Sparks, Dathan Sparks and Larry Glory.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Thorn family.