Thelma Dillard

Thelma JoAnn Dillard, 92, retired dentist was born in a little shot gun house in Waurika, Oklahoma on a snowy day to Thelma Jay Roden Dillard and Boyce Dillard on January 24, 1930. They moved to Duncan in 1939 her dad working for Public Service of Oklahoma. She went to Emerson Elementary School and graduated from the Duncan high School in 1948. She attended Cameron University where she was voted most likely to succeed with a degree in Chemistry. She went on to Edmond, Oklahoma to Central State. She was accepted to Oklahoma College of Medicine but decided to go to Kansas City Dental School where her brother Hayden Dillard was going to be a Dentist. She was the only girl in the class with 114 boys. All went well she made good friends and had lots of fun. She took her State Boards in several States and passed them all. She was going to settle in Colorado Springs, Colorado but decided to come back to Oklahoma and practice with her brother where she practiced for 63 years. When she broke her hip, she had to retire. She loved her patients and friends and always took time for them.

Her greatest love was her horse and God. He blessed her with many great horses. First, she had Appaloosa horses owning two world champions Dusty Warrior her first horse and Du Bonnet her favorite. Many more were very successful in the show ring. Then she decided to raise Quarter horses that were also very successful in the show ring and racetrack. Her last adventure was Thoroughbred which were her favorite. She loved to go watch them run at the racetrack where they won many races and she had fun. She always said, "God has been good to me" and she wouldn't change a thing. She said she had a good life and it's been fun. She loved Duncan and the people are the finest in the world. They have been good to me and I love them all.

She was preceded in death by her father Boyce Dillard, mother Thelma Dillard, brother Hayden Dillard and sister-in-law Jean Dillard.

She is survived by her extended family Cindy and Kelly Johnson; Cortney and Shane Claborn and Connor and Colton Claborn; Suttle family, Christy Dillard family, Strecker Family, Bowden family; her loving dog Bullette of the home, many friends especially the ones that have helped her the last stretch of her life. She so much appreciated Dr. Mary Newman and her family and Linda Gardenhire Andrews.

She reached the home stretch to the finish line saying, "Its been a good ride going to see Jesus and hope everyone finds Jesus". She was a member of the Open Range Cowboy Church and loved her church family and pastor "Snip" Richard Allen.

Services will be11:00 AM Tuesday, December 27, 2022 in the Bailes-Polk Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend "Snip" Richard Allen officiating. Interment will follow in the Duncan Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Manday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Kelly Johnson, Shane Claborn, Connor Claborn, Colton Claburn, Shawn Johnson and Chandler Johnson.

Online condolences may be made at www.bailespolk.com