Velma (Cottle) Musick

September 20, 1906 – May 14, 1997

Velma Musick, age 90, died Wednesday, May 14, 1997 in Kingfisher Regional Hospital, Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

Born in Roff, Oklahoma on September 20, 1906, she was the daughter of Lorenzo Warren and Laura (Book) Cottle. She attended Tulsa schools to the 8th grade, and then attended and graduated from Perry High School in 1924. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and took her Master’s work at Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma.

She taught at Lawn View school Sumner high school, before her marriage to Benjamin Watson Musick on May 17, 1929, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The couple was blessed a son and a daughter and adopted their niece.

Velma taught school for 18 years, serving as Kingfisher County Superintendent of Schools for four years. Her husband, Ben, owned Musick Oil Co. and Kingfisher Lumber Co. Later, she was owner-manager of a children’s clothing shop, The Golden Raintree, in Oklahoma City.

Her memberships include: Daughters of the American Revolution for 48 years, serving as manager of the national offices in Washington DC prior to her retirement; the United Methodist Church; P.E.O.; Eastern Star; Zeta Tau Alpha; Mayflower Society (through Gov. Wm. Bradford); Huguenot Society; and Colonial Dames of America.

She wrote a book on family history, in three editions, and a book on the history of her church. Mrs. Musick was a Panel Judge, Valley Forge Historical Society, and Editor of Kingfisher County History. She received Mother of the Year in Kingfisher, and with her family, Outstanding Family of the Year.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, a brother, and two sisters.

Survivors include: a son, Jack Lorenzo Musick, Kingfisher; two daughters, Kathleen Ann (Musick) (Beeby) Gancer of Clinton, South Carolina, and Marilyn Lee (High) (Musick) Vaughn of Davis, California; two sisters, Arlisle Boles of Oceanside, California and Laura Ellen Wet of Clovis, New Mexico; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Kingfisher Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Kingfisher Regional Hospital and Methodist Church.