Holly Hefton

Holly Hefton, attorney, lover of all Italian and Egyptian things, animals, Oklahoma Sooners, motorcycles, Mexico and the underdog, passed away peacefully at the age of 60, on May 25, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family, in her beautiful home, after succumbing to an 18-month battle with cancer. The middle of three children, Holly was born February 18, 1964, to Richard R. Hefton and Anne Turner Hefton in McAlester, OK.

At age 9, Holly moved to Alexandria, VA, with her mother, stepfather and brother, Sam. Shortly after, the family moved to Rome, Italy and then Naples, where Holly attended Naples Middle/High School (formerly known as Naples American High School) within the Department of Defense Education Activity system. While living in Italy, she had the opportunity to fly on the Concorde and visit many countries such as England for her surprise 12th birthday, France, Africa, staying at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club, Greece, skiing in Austria, Germany and more. During high school, they settled in Austin, Texas, where she graduated from Westlake High School. Holly’s love of Egypt and Italy, with all of its flavor, stayed with her throughout her life and she delighted in her knowledge of the language, food and expertise in authentic Italian pizza!

Holly attended the University of Oklahoma in 1988-1992 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Letters. Being an entrepreneur at heart, Holly became a licensed nail technician and worked her way through law school owning a nail and tanning salon on Campus Corner in Norman, Oklahoma. Her greatest accomplishment was earning her Juris Doctor in 1995 from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Holly was admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern, Western Districts of Oklahoma and Courts of the Chickasaw Nation. She served a Municipal Judge of the Town of Dickson from 2006-2008.

Her professional career focused on family law and litigation in which she received many recognitions and awards of distinction, including the 2017 Mona Salyer Lambird Award, as Volunteer of the Year from Oklahoma Lawyers for Children and the 2022 Oklahoma County Bar Association Leadership Service Award. She is slated as a 2025 Board of Director of the Oklahoma County Bar Association. Holly joined two small law firms, but then moved in to office share with Burch & George & Germany, P.C., where she had the utmost respect for one mentor, Kelly George. As her law practice grew, she needed more space and for years has officed with her longtime friend, John Hunsucker. Holly will forever be grateful to her decade long and loyal legal assistant, Lea Boston, who has helped her valiantly during this difficult time. Holly loved Cleo, her favorite friend at the OK County Courthouse and Judge James Siderias, who was by her side until the end. She will miss her best friend from law school, Robert Hart, of Tulsa.

In addition to the above, Holly had a passion for life and helping others. She played an instrumental role in forming the Downed Bikers Association. She also served on the board of Second Chance Animal Rescue in Norman, Oklahoma as well as Lawyers for Children. She loved riding her motorcycle and her friends that came along with her on poker runs, to Sturgis and Daytona. Her caring heart and free spirit were evident by her vast circle of friends, some of who gave her the childhood nickname of “farfalla,” which means butterfly in Italian. This aptly describes her beautiful spirit and the life she lived.

Holly enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She traveled back to Italy on several occasions and ranks Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as two of her favorite destinations. She spent many weekends in Frisco, Texas, with her companion, Christian Wilson, and is forever grateful for his love and support. She will greatly miss her beautiful yard and pool, along with her dogs Willie and Nelson.

Holly had so many friends that have stayed by her side for her over the past seven months, Annexie, Lisa, Mundee, Jacqui, Nikki, Kellie, favorite cousin Susan McConnell, Rhonda Hefton and many more who have given their nights and days to help her fight this disease. Drs. Camille G. Jackson and Michael Keffer were kind and compassionate while helping Holly be cured of this disease.

Holly is preceded in death by her mother, Anne Cowles Turner, grandparents Thomas M. and Erlynne R. Hefton, Lowell S. and Lucile C. Turner.

She is survived by her father, Richard Ramsey Hefton, and his wife Rhonda, sister, Hilarie H. Blaney and brother-in-law Kevin, brother Sam, and sister-in-law Kathy, her niece, Jordan E. Dean, stepsisters Ali Justus, Abby Lawrence and husband Andy, children of Ali and Abby, the Blaney children, the Bradley and Turner cousins.

A memorial service honoring Holly’s life will be held 3:00 pm, Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel Ave., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Holly’s memory may be made to OK Lawyers for Children, 5900 N. Classen Blvd, OKC, OK 73118 or OK Humane 4301 Will Rogers Parkway, OKC, OK, 73108.