Lenora E Broadhead

Lenora Broadhead was born October 5, 1929, at New Allison, a small community outside of Durant, Oklahoma, to Arnold and Alice Evans. She was named Betty Martha Lenora after her two grandmothers, Betty and Martha, and a neighbor lady, Lenora, who assisted during her birth.

At the age of four, Lenora and her brother, Thomas, went to live with their grandparents John and Martha “Mattie” Evans.

Lenora began first grade at Rock Creek, a two-room country school in Atoka County. When she was in second grade, her family moved to Caddo, Oklahoma in Bryan County. Lenora completed her primary and secondary education at Caddo schools and graduated as valedictorian of her senior class.

At the age of eighteen, Lenora married James Broadhead, Superintendent of Caddo Public Schools, on December 30, 1947. The next December, daughter Marsha was born.

When Marsha was eighteen months old, Lenora entered Southeastern State College as a freshman. She graduated three years later with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.

Lenora’s family moved to Morris, Oklahoma in 1955, where James became superintendent of Morris Public Schools.

Lenora did not begin teaching school until Marsha was ten years old, after which she taught for seven years in Okmulgee County schools.

In 1967 Lenora’s family moved to Edmond to be closer to James’s new job with the State Department of Education. Lenora began teaching first grade at Orvis Risner Elementary School and attending night school at Central State College from which she received her Master of Teaching degree the next summer. Lenora taught first grade at Orvis Risner for nineteen years before retiring in 1986.

Lenora enjoyed sewing and in 1977 she was awarded the Golden Thimble from the Daily Oklahoman for the Easter clothes she had made for her grandchildren, Tracy and Travis.

Another hobby she enjoyed was traveling. When James was alive, they visited all the fifty United States. They also visited parts of the countries of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Italy, England, France, Holland, and Germany.

Lenora enjoyed other hobbies such as reading and gardening, but her greatest enjoyment came from babysitting her grandchildren and great grandchildren when they were small.

Lenora has been a member of Henderson Hills Baptist Church since 1967 when she first moved to Edmond.

Lenora was preceded in death by her husband James Broadhead, parents Arnold and Alice Evans, and brother Thomas Evans. She is survived by her daughter Marsha Casto and husband John; two grandchildren Tracy Woolever and husband Mike, Travis Casto and wife Judy; two great -grandsons John Woolever and wife Paige, Shawn Woolever; and one great-great-granddaughter Stevie Woolever.

Although she was given many names, her favorite was given to her by her great-grandson John. As a toddler he called her Cutie Pie. The name stuck so when great-grandson Shawn came along, she was Cutie Pie to him also. She was especially thrilled when her great-great-granddaughter Stevie started calling her Cutie Pie too.

A graveside service for Lenora will be held Friday, August 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Gracelawn Cemetery.