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EDNA GIVENS CHEATHAM
Edna Givens Cheatham, 92, of Tulsa, Okla., died Saturday morning, Sept. 15, 2012, at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa. Edna Givens Cheatham was born in Fort Scott, Kan., on March 10, 1920, the daughter of Thomas Moss and Alice Morgan Givens.
When she was 8 years old, her father purchased a violin at a farm sale. After three months of violin lessons, her teacher asked her to bring her Mother to her next lesson. After the lesson, her teacher told her mother, "I have taught Edna ALL that I know. You have to take her to a violin teacher in Kansas City named Markwood Holmes." At the age of 11, Edna played a concert in Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. Edna's religion was a great part of her life. She played in a different church almost every Sunday and it was most meaningful for her.
She attended the University of Kansas and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was also a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Lambda and three honorary societies. She majored in music and minored in psychology. Edna and her violin went on several tours for the University.
Edna married George Marvin Cheatham on June 14, 1942, in Fort Scott. Their daughter, Mary Ann, was born in Rockford in June, 1944. When George moved to Tulsa, Okla., to work for Maloney Crawford Tank Co., Edna went back to Fort Scott where Aileen was born in May 1946. George transferred to Artesia, N.M., and Mary Ann, Aileen and Edna joined him there. He was later transferred to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 1949 where the family lived for four years before moving to Calgary, Alberta. During this time, Edna's violin was a "best friend" and she played many concerts. Her violin opened many friendships for Edna.
After moving to Tulsa in 1963, the family joined First Presbyterian Church, where Edna was a Deacon and member of the Guild of Intercessors for over 40 years. At one time, she served on nine boards and was a director at Citizens Bank in Fort Scott. She was president of the Tulsa Boys Home, Tulsa Opera Guild and PEO Reciprocity. She was an honorary life member of Tulsa Speech and Hearing. Edna LOVED the Tulsa Ballet, was a member of their Founder's Society and served on their board for over 40 years. She loved sports, especially basketball and baseball.
She is survived by her husband, George, Tulsa, and two daughters, Mary Ann Cheatham of Chicago, Ill., and Aileen Pollock and husband, Bill of Fort Scott, as well as two granddaughters, Penny Pollock-Barnes and husband Chris Barnes, Fort Scott and Heather Pollock of Baltimore, Md., one great-granddaughter, Caroline Riley Barnes, and two nieces, Jane Woodburn, of Estes Park, Colo., and Sue Trast of Topeka, Kan. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Jane Stone.
Rev. Jared Witt will conduct graveside services 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be sent to Helping Hands at First Presbyterian Church, Tulsa, or to Tulsa Ballet, and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701. Online condolences may be emailed to expressions@konantz-cheney.com.