Minnie Fern Horton

Graveside Services for Minnie Horton, 96, Thomas resident will be held 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in the Mound Valley Cemetery in Thomas, officiated by Larry Harlan. Burial will follow, under the direction of Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Minnie Fern (Yoder) Horton was born on January 21, 1921 in Thomas to Levi and Jennie (Showalter) Yoder and passed away on Saturday April 22, 2017, in the Corn Heritage in Weatherford with caring people by her side. She attended school at Thomas High School graduating in 1941. On April 11, 1946, Minnie married Frank Horton at the Methodist Church in Watonga. Frank and Minnie purchased the Hess place northwest of Thomas. Their son, Dwaine was born in 1956, he was about a year old when they purchased land south of Thomas on Highway 54. Minnie and Frank worked side by side on the farm throughout their marriage, milking cows and commercially baling hay with his brother, Edgar. Minnie would prepare the meals for the threshing crew during harvest with food raised on the farm, freshly baked bread and home churned butter. In the early 70's they opened The Country Store, growing most of the produce that they sold. They won many first place ribbons on their watermelons at county fairs. Minnie enjoyed visiting with the people that came to their store. They closed the store in 1976 when Dwaine went to college. After closing the store Minnie started hosting painting classes, where the ladies would meet at least once a week. She made several quilts out of blocks that she painted. One of Dwaine's favorites is the Mickey & Minnie Mouse quilts that she painted for him. After Frank's death in 1982, she started traveling with special friends Beulah Hooper and Juanita Patton. They made several trips together, visiting Juanita's family in Alaska, Connecticut, and Texas. Their families never knew what to expect from the stories about their travels. They rode camels, didn't wait for assistance at O'Hare airport that their family had arranged and many other numerous escapades were laughed about. Minnie continued to live on the farm south of Thomas until after Christmas on 2013, when she moved to Weatherford Assisted Living in Weatherford, and later moving to Corn Heritage in Weatherford. Her niece Joyce Currell and husband Calvin helped take care of her after moving back from Bartlesville. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank, and all her brothers David, Herbert, R.L., Paul, and C.L.; sister-in-laws Thelma and Bonnie. She is survived by her son Dwaine and his wife Eldora; sister-in-laws Donna Lee, Nan, and Joanne, along with numerous nieces and nephews.