Elizabeth Ann Thomason

Elizabeth (Betty) Thomason grew up in Mobile, Alabama and graduated from Murphy High School at the age of 15 in 1938. Unable to attend college due to the depression, she began working immediately to help support her family. She would often talk about life during that time and seeing, first hand, the struggles of so many Americans, some of whom would come to the back door of her home, seeking food. Those images left her keenly aware of the importance and value of hard work and humility--traits that helped define and shape her throughout her life.

Betty married Frank Cooper Thomason Jr. in 1944. He was an officer in the Army Air Corp during WWII and Betty followed him to many bases in the United States. After the war, Frank and Betty lived in New Orleans until 1960 when they moved to Tulsa, settling in south Tulsa. During her years here, Betty worked in Medical Records, first at St. Francis Hospital, then at Hillcrest Medical Center where she became Assistant Director. She attended school at night as a single parent to get her Medical Records Technician Certificate. One of the things Betty was most proud of was the fact that during her 20+ years at St. Francis and Hillcrest, she did not miss a single day of work.

After retiring, Betty later “unretired” to work for Dr. Myra Peters, the first female orthopedic surgeon in Tulsa. They formed a lasting friendship that transcended their employer-employee relationship. Most recently, Betty, fiercely independent, had to sell her home of 53 years due to failing health. Since that time she had been a resident of The Villages at Southern Hills.

Betty was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Langan Britton, father Oscar Rocheleau, brother William Ching, and sisters Patricia Ching, and Mary Murphy. She is survived by her children, Frank Cooper Thomason III (Donna; Sand Springs) and Scott Thomason (American Canyon, California), granddaughters Jennifer Canzoneri (Mike) and Rachel Elizabeth Thomason, and grandson Adam Thomason, great grandchildren Kyle Canzoneri and Noah Morfee, her sister Patsy Fedor, nieces Tish Murphy Lawing, Martee Murphy, Dawn Murphy, Susan Hanstine, Donna Twichell and Elizabeth Scott and nephews Jim Fedor, John Fedor and Todd Murphy.

Visitation will be held 10:00 a.m. to noon Friday at Ninde Brookside Funeral Home, 3841 South Peoria, Tulsa, OK followed by a graveside service 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Morris Cemetery in Morris, OK.