Betty J. (Thomas) Selvidge

Betty June Selvidge was born March 4th, 1932 to Sam O. Thomas and Bonnie Katherine Honey in the house on her family farm 18 miles east of Hinton.  Doctor A.F. Hobbs drove out to the farm in his Model A Ford to make the delivery before Highway 37 was constructed.  She passed away Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Weatherford, Oklahoma at the age of 90.

Betty grew up on the family farm on the South Canadian River bottom.  She graduated from East Walnut High School in 1950.  She then graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in Education and a minor in English.  Upon graduation, she taught school in Custer, Oklahoma, and East Walnut as a second-grade teacher. She married Doyal Ben Selvidge, a former classmate and budding area farmer on May 26, 1953.  They moved to a farmhouse 9 miles east of Hinton where they raised two children.  She worked along-side Doyal to build Shel-Mar Farms and Shel-Mar Trucking.  She was the backbone of the family while Doyal traveled as a custom harvester. She managed and fed many hungry harvest crews, truck drivers and field hands from Texas to Canada helping to ensure all business was functioning orderly and in a timely manner for over 40 years. She was a sponsor for the Hinton 4-H club for a number of years where she attended many events with the kids, including trips to Washington DC and New Mexico.  She was a huge proponent of reading to children and served on the Hinton library board for several years. Betty was a member of the Hinton Church of Christ. 

She and Doyal moved into Hinton shortly before his death in 2003.  After his death she focused her attention on her granddaughter Katherine and continued to manage the family business well into her 80s and only recently (and reluctantly) surrendered that function. She also enjoyed spending time with some very special kids: Oliver, Kaleb, Raylynn and Tansleigh at every opportunity.

Betty is survived by son, Mark, daughter, Shelly Whitmire, granddaughter Katherine and husband Trevor Deuel, brother Joel Thomas and wife Donna, grandson Tim Frost and Wife Brooke and their daughter Addilynn, Amanda Creason and her children Kaleb and Raylynn Jackson; William Whitmire and daughter Tansleigh; Sister-in-law Wanda Jean (Selvidge) Baxter, nieces Susie Moore and husband, Bob, and Allyssa McCollom. She was blessed with bonus family: Reyna Ramming, Hallie Andes, Sue Ellen Majors, Denice Whitebead, and her granddaughters Julie and Peaches, Bill, Jeannie, Ami and Emma Whitmire, and Juliana Chavez and Connor May.

Those welcoming Betty home are her husband, her parents, father and mother-in-law, Benjamin David and Mary (Blankenship) Selvidge, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marcella (Selvidge) and Glen Melton, Wilomet (Selvidge) and Judson Young, Ruth Selvidge, Donald Selvidge, Francis Baxter, niece Mary Janice Young, great niece Lucy Marcella McCollom, and son-in-law Robert Whitmire.

The family would like to thank the staff of Homestead with a special shout out to Emilio, Lanie, Michaela, JD, Abbie, Veronica, Morgan and Jerri; Dr. Trey Thomason and his staff, as well as the staff at Russell Murray, Tori, Allie, Terri, Betty, Jamie and Amber for the outstanding care provided to Betty.  Also, a huge thank you to Phyllis, Colleen, Nita, Janice, and Montana, who always made her feel special and kept her in the loop.  Words cannot express our appreciation. 

Betty’s family requests memorial donations be made to the Hinton Public Library, 123 E Main St, Hinton, OK 73047

 Viewing times: Friday and Saturday, 9AM-9PM, Sunday 11AM-2PM, Turner Funeral Home, Hinton, OK

Memorial Services: 11AM, Monday, May 30, 2022, Church of Christ, Hinton, OK

Officiating: Mr. Jimie-Wray Mead and Mr. James Cudd 

 Services entrusted to Turner Funeral Home, Hinton, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, turnerfh.net, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes).

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