Towanda Yvonne Mallory

Memorial Service for Towanda Yvonne Mallory will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 9, 2025 at the Alva First United Methodist Church with Reverend Taylor Anderson, officiating. Arrangements under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. “Well the long and the short of it is...” Towanda “Nammie” Yvonne Mallory was born on June 27, 1931, to William “Bill” and Molleta “Molly” Augusta (Eggleston) Brickman in Alva. She passed away on July 30, 2025, at the age of 94 years, 1 month, and 3 days. Towanda was truly a unique and wonderful woman known for long stories and one-of-a-kind sayings such as, “Yippee-Dees” and “Fliddy-Diddies.” A second generation American, education was important to Towanda’s family and she proudly graduated from Alva High School in 1949. She met her future husband, Charles “Bumpa” Wesley Mallory as a young girl. What started as a childhood friendship resulted in a life-long love of 70 amazing years of wedded bliss beginning on December 23, 1950 at the Alva First United Methodist Church. Towanda was an accomplished baker and loved to create and decorate cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other special events complete with multiple tiers, columns, and even glowing fountains! Nammie was an avid seamstress who could repair just about any garment, no matter its tattered condition and could create the most elaborate costumes for her grandchildren’s Halloween parties, theatre productions at Alva High School, and the annual Nativity Story at church. In fact, the FUMC of Alva still uses her animal costumes each Advent Season! In addition to which, she also made a set of nativity costumes which are used during the Christmas season in Prague, Oklahoma. When she wasn’t running after her children and grandchildren, baking, sewing, or helping Wesley on the family farm by cooking lunch for all the hired hands, you would find Nammie tending to whatever helpless creature that had crossed her path. From her beloved cats to a storm orphaned baby oriole Bridget that she raised and had living in their home for years, and countless cottontails that Wesley would bring in from the fields, there was not an animal that Nammie wouldn’t help. In fact, she was the caretaker for a set of Caiman reptiles that were once left behind by a hired farm hand! While living in Alva, she was a member of the Priscilla Circle in the United Methodist Women, 20th Century Club, her classmates Lunch Bunch, and PEO. She was also part of a drama duo in the Buffalo UMC that traveled to the surrounding area churches and performed dramatic duos, as well as member of the choir and children's Sunday school teacher. Towanda was preceded in death by her parents (Bill & Mollie); her husband (Wesley) ; and grandparents, Rosie Kruse and Eliphalet Eggleston, Peter and Katie Brickman, Son-In-Law, Myron Bradt, and her beloved cats, Tuffy and Grayboy. Towanda is survived by her daughters, Barbara Holman and husband Robert of Prague, Charlene Bradt-Rohrer and husband Lynn of Buffalo; grandchildren, Lana Rainwater and husband Robbie of Guthrie, Jerad Bradt and wife JoDe of Alva, Nicholas Bradt and wife Cara of Alva, Brinae Holman of Telluride, Colorado, Lisa Bradt and partner Jason Guzman of New York City, New York, Joseph Holman and wife Lindsay of Prague; great-grandchildren, Braylon Bradt, Brickman Bradt, Hailey Rainwater, Jace Rainwater, Joplin Bradt, Finn Holman, Breaker Bradt, Memphis Bradt, Thatcher Holman, Abbott Holman, Jac Rainwater, Murphy Holman, and a set of twin babies who will make their appearance in early spring. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to The Alva High Speech and Debate Team.

Towanda Yvonne Mallory

June 27, 1931 - July 30, 2025