Kathryn Sue Young

Kathy Sue was born on June 25, 1942 in Fairfax, Oklahoma to Robert Dale Cole and Hazel A. Cole. She spent her early years in Fairfax before moving to Edmond in 1957. She graduated from Edmond High School in 1961. Upon graduation she attended then Central State College earning a B.S. in Education and M.S. in Education degrees. Kathy met the love of her life Jeff Young in the summer of 1960. She and Jeff saw each other every day of that summer. He was working at the “smokehouse” burger stand and she went there on his first day with full intent to meet him. It was love at first sight. At the end of the summer, Jeff returned to Ardmore to finish high school and Kathy completed her senior year at EHS. During this time, they wrote to each other every day and he called her on the phone every Friday from a phone booth across from Ardmore High School. On completion of high school, they both attended Central State College and married December 23, 1962 at FUMC Edmond.

She went on to teach at Choctaw where in 1976 she was selected Teacher of the year ad she was certainly deserving of this honor. After those few years at Choctaw/Nicoma Park, she came to teach in Edmond at Clegern Elementary and Cimarron Middle School where her teaching career ended with retirement in 1995. She then became a proud grandma and did what grandmas do.

Kathy loved the outdoors and she and Jeff walked all over Edmond and they became recognizable as the “Walkers.” They walked over 100 miles a month for many years. Kathy was a fan of hiking and backpacking and made numerous ventures with Jeff into many National Parks. She was most proud of having hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim and a difficult trek into West Grand Canyon. These ventures resulted in many funny stories to tell.

Kathy was also an avid quilter and was most proud that she did all of her quilting by hand. She would quilt while Jeff carved Santa’s. Also, for many years she enjoyed meeting, with the “61” girls on the first Friday of each month.

She loved her mama and along with Dalene was her caregiver for many years. It is quite ironic that Kathy’s departure from this life came on her mom’s birthday.

Kathy is preceded in death by her beloved grandma Susie Binkley, her father Robert Dale Cole, mom Hazel A. Cole.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years Jeff; sons Cole and Bruce and wife Jacque; grandchildren Clarissa and Benjamin; Sister Dalene Thomas and partner Diana Faulkner; Brother Robert Dale Cole and wife Jeanie; 4 nieces and 3 nephews.

The family extends thanks and appreciation to the staff at the Jasmine Memory Care: Savannah; JJ, Brandon, Clayton, DJ, Chris, Akin, Faith, Shiney, Tycie, “T,” Shirley, Frey, Sascha, Debbie, Carlita, Amber Honeycomb, as well as Seniors Helping Seniors Home Care: Kevin Richardson, Glenda, Tami, Patricia, Antoinette, Daphney and Gail. Special thanks to Accentra Hospice; amazing and caring individuals who helped us so much at all hours of day and night, Julia Brue, Christie Bennett, Susie McCoy, Summer, and Chaplain Nathan.

Finally, let us say:

Bless you sweet girl. We’ll love and miss and remember you forever. Thank you so much.

-Your loving Family

Memorial Donations in the honor of Kathy Sue may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association of Oklahoma https://www.alz.org/oklahoma oar the Accentra Hospice Foundation at 510 E. Memorial Rd. Suite D1, Oklahoma City, OK 73114 (405) 608-0555.

A come-and-go visitation for Kathy will be held Monday, January 29, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Baggerley Funeral Home, 930 South Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 10:00 AM at the Edmond First United Methodist Church, 305 E Hurd St, Edmond, OK 73034 with burial to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery in Edmond.