Obituary for Myrle Brown
Funeral Services will be at 10 am on Monday Jan 3, 2022 at the South Colonial Chapel with burial following at 2 pm in Cordell, OK at Lawnview Cemetery.
On Wednesday December 29, 2021, Myrle (Shrum) Crider- Brown, was welcomed into the gates of Heaven by a large host of family and friends at the age of 100 Years, 3 Months, and 25 days.
She was born on September 4, 1921 in Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto, TX to her parents James Henderson Shrum & Lou Rena (House) Shrum. Myrle and her twin brother Earl were the youngest of 6 children. Her older siblings were James, Hulon, Dewitte, and Rena Faye.
When Myrle was 3 years old, the family packed into a train car and even loaded livestock for the move to Oklahoma. When they arrived, they began renting the south half section 5 miles West of Cordell off of Highway 152. After many years of renting, her father finally purchased the east half of that area. After her father passed away her mother built a bungalow on the southwest corner of that section. The family had cattle, horses, chickens, turkeys, and hogs. They were taught how to farm cotton, wheat, maize, and corn. All of the children attended school in Dill City, OK which discontinued classes in 1993. During School Myrle was active in school dramatics, the business club, and was a member of the basketball team. The family did their shopping, selling of their farming products, attending church and church activities, movies, and being a part of other community activities in Cordell along with the school activities of Dill City.
After their father James passing, the family remained farming until the children were all grown. Thereafter, Lou Rena sold their property and moved into Cordell, where she spent the remainder of her years. In 1939 after high school graduation, Myrle moved to Oklahoma City where she had room and board at an attorney’s home where she acted as a caretaker to their daughter. During this time she was also attending business school in OKC, which was a difficult schedule to maintain, but she gracefully did so and it helped to prepare her for motherhood.
In 1943 she married Moyne Crider in Reno, NV and they were blessed with two children Myrlena, and Darwin. She married Kenneth L. Brown in December of 1954, in Oklahoma City. Myrle & Kenneth enjoyed 34 years of marriage and together they enjoyed family vacations, and participating in field dog trials and training events, and were both members of the Order of The Eastern Star.
In the 1950’s she became involved in the Order of The Eastern Star Siloam Chapter. She served as the Grand Martha of OES, Lamplighters, and Grand Family from 75-76 & Ambassador to Vancouver BC 1990’s. She enjoyed socializing with co-members, and giving back to her community through the organization. She has been a member of Rancho Village Baptist Church since 1955 where she was a faithful member of the congregation.
Myrle’s work ethic is evident in her years of service. She worked for Federal AAA in Arnett, OK in 1941; the Oklahoma State Department of Health in 1950; OKC Water Department in 1952; and she worked for almost 20 years as a civilian for Tinker Field Payroll as a Supervisor until her “retirement” in 1982. Myrle loved to stay busy, and to socialize with others. She worked for many years as a sales associate at SEARS on 44th and Western where she made new friends and became a familiar face of the store. In 2002 at the age 81, she officially retired from SEARS, but she still offered her time as a volunteer at Southwest Medical Center.
She will be remembered as a wonderful mother and grandmother, a faithful Christian, a hardworking woman, and a helping hand to anyone in need. She is no longer in our presence, but will be forever in our hearts.
Myrle was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings James Lamar Shrum, Hulon Birdwell Shrum, Dewitt Henderson Shrum, Rena Fay McGraw (Shrum), and her twin brother Earl Shrum who passed on March 17, 1944 in Hot Springs Arkansas, and one granddaughter Kylie Andrews who passed trying to save another during an electrical fire.
She is survived by her two children, Myrlena Fay Savolainen, and Darwin Earl Crider & Vicky Lee. Grandchildren Suzanne & husband Chris Ford, Johnny Randall White & wife Jeannine Rita White. Great grandchildren: Phoebe Ford; Jessica and husband Jeff Martin; Bobby Brecken Martin; Johnny Randall White Jr. & wife Courtney; Collin Daniel Andrews, Colton Rick White, Cassie White, Kaya White, Liam White, Gunner Lee White, Whitney Brooke White, as well as a large number of cousins, nieces and nephews, extended family and close friends.