Wanda C. Groom

WANDA GROOM February 12, 1929 - December 9,2017 Wanda was born the only child to Walt and Delia (Sis) Parrish in Cleveland, OK. They owned and operated the Arlington Hotel in Cleveland and Wanda spent most of her younger years playing in the hotel and helping with chores. In those days, traveling salesmen and businessmen became regulars at hotels along their way, and the Arlington was no exception. Wanda benefited from that as the doting guests encouraged her riding through the large group dining room on her tricycle, much to the dismay of her parents. They had a small short haired Fox Terrier named Punk that was also a fixture at the hotel. Wanda would tell the story of when the hotel had a fire in the middle of the night while everyone was asleep. Punk recognized the danger and barked at Wanda waking her from a sound sleep. She and Punk proceeded to wake Walt and Sis and the hotel guests. The fire was extinguished with minimal damage and no one was hurt thanks to Punk and Wanda. Wanda became very ill during her 8th grade year in Cleveland with Meningitis. At the time, there was no cure and the illness was often fatal. She was treated at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa where she often commented that seeing the nuns in their habits walk past her room was very comforting because they were always so kind to her. She was in a coma for days not responding to traditional treatment. At one point, she was sent to the morgue where the doctors decided to try a new experimental medication as a last resort. After giving her the drugs, they could only wait and hope it worked. Suddenly, she woke up from her coma, moving and talking, much to the surprise of a hospital employee who had visited the morgue as part of his normal routine. To clarify, she was sent to the morgue because the cold would help with her fever, and because meningitis was highly contagious, this would isolate her from others. She was one of the first patients to be saved by this new medication. She would have meningitis again in the 10th grade and as a freshman in college, but not nearly as severe. She attended Cleveland High School as a sophomore, but moved to Sayre, Oklahoma and attended Sayre High School her Junior year. They moved back to Cleveland where Wanda finished her senior year in 1946. She was active in chorus and band and also played on the girls' basketball team. Wanda attended Oklahoma A&M, as Oklahoma State was once called, and graduated in 1950 with a degree in English and psychology. She was a member of the chorus and was part of the cast performing the famous Japanese opera, Mikado. She met Buford (Buff) Groom at a college mixer and they were married in 1949. After graduating in 1950, they moved to Muskogee where they started their family. In addition to her BS degrees, she obtained her Master's degree in special education from Central State University in Edmond, and her Masters in counseling from Northeastern in Tahlequah. She also earned credits in continuing education from the University of Tulsa. Wanda helped many of "her kids" while working in the Muskogee education system during the 60's and 70's. She was the first teacher dedicated to special education classes when very little funding or accommodations were made for children with special needs. She was counselor at West Junior High School during the 70's and at Alice Robinson Junior High from 1980 until retiring in 1982 after the death of her husband. Wanda was always concerned about the welfare of others, and only weeks ago, was more concerned about the other patients than herself. Employees always commented about how she fed, helped dress, and held the hands of others even while she was suffering from cancer. This is how she will be remembered. She is survived by her children, Mikelyn Deann (Groom) Ragan and husband Pete of Carlsbad, CA, Terry Kitt Groom and wife Theresa of Muskogee, OK, and Garry Parrish Groom and wife Robbie of Tulsa, OK; grandchildren, Kristi Groom of Coweta, OK, Jennifer (Groom) Thigpen and husband Bryan of Coweta, OK, Garry Groom Jr. of Tulsa, OK, Lindsey (Groom) Torres and husband Michael of Texas, and Carlye (Groom) Katz and husband Tal of Henderson, NV; great-grandchildren, Phillip and Tyler Henson, Lev Katz and Theodore Torres; and many other family members and friends. In lieu of flowers Wanda’s family would like memorials to be made to Muskogee First United Methodist Church Mission’s Fund at www.fumcmuskogee.org or 600 E Okmulgee St Muskogee, OK 74401. A celebration of Wanda’s life will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, December 14, 2017 at Memorial Park Mausoleum with Dr. Jack Kemper officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren Kristi Groom, Carlye Katz, Jennifer Thigpen, Lindsey Torres, Garry Groom, Jr.; and her great-grandchildren, Phillip Henson, Tyler Henson, Lev Katz and Theodore Torres. Funeral services are under the direction of Cornerstone Funeral Home and Crematory, 1830 N. York St, Muskogee, OK. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.cornerstoneofmuskogee.com.

Wanda C. Groom

February 12, 1929 - December 9, 2017