Constance Mercedes Birdwell

Constance Mercedes Roberson was gifted to this world on October 18, 1937, as a third generation Oklahoman to Mercedes (Noah) Roberson and Cloyd G. Roberson. She was born at the family’s home in Oklahoma City. Raised as an only child by an energetic family that split their time between church, work and play. The family were long time members of Northwest Baptist and later First Baptist Churches of Oklahoma City. Work involved running the family venetian blind manufacturing company while play ran the gamut from spending time on the lake in boats her father built to square dancing.

Connie’s parents were avid square dancers, and little did she know at the time, she met the love of her life, Donald J. Birdwell at age 6, memorialized in a family photo of the two square dancing as children. Both families attended the same church and social gatherings but the two did not actually start dating until Connie’s junior year of high school. Connie and Don both attended Classen High School where she was a drum majorette.

Soon after high school Don and Connie were wed and began a family. Married for 67 years, they raised David and Terri. Connie was a great mom and a true companion to Don. The two were seldomly seen apart. They loved life together. Cooking, music, dancing and watersports were common themes throughout their marriage and family time. You could say: the couple danced 67 years through life; first with square dancing, then the rock and roll era of late 50’s, 60’s and into the swing dancing, line dancing and the two-stepping country craze of the 80’s. She could be heard telling the care team at Epworth Villa, she could still “shake a leg”! The love of the lake was transferred to Don by Connie’s father and the two spent their weekends camping and boating with their children. They continued spending time on their boat at Lake Texhoma and traveling the British Virgin Islands well into their later years as long as health allowed. Connie loved to collect seashells and other nautical memorabilia.

Connie was a very organized homemaker and excellent cook. Her lasagna, spaghetti, and cheesecake were always family favorites. She and Don cooked together often for groups of the Power Squadron and Corvette clubs.

Connie was a dedicated employee and worked as a bookkeeper in a handful of oil and gas as well as accounting firms through her long career. She was the right-hand gal and highly valued for her accounting skills.

Connie was preceded in death by Don and the past three years her recurring desire was to be reunited. They are again, together dancing.

She leaves a legacy of a loving family who still love to cook and love the lake. She is survived by her children, David J. Birdwell and wife, Amy (Edmond), Terri D. Coleman and husband, Jerry (Oklahoma City), grandchildren; Michael D. Coleman and wife Brandy (Tuttle), Maury S. Birdwell (Boulder, CO), Adam J. Birdwell and wife, Maggie (Oklahoma City), Benjamin D. Birdwell (Oklahoma City) and great grandchildren; Brynlee Coleman and Oliver Birdwell.

In Lieu of Flowers, the family requests donations to Hearts for Hearing or Alzheimer’s Foundation.