Betty Vivian Best-LeGate

Born Oklahoma in 1921 and one of three daughters and three sons born to Derris Everett Tompkins and Cornelia Belle Brinkley, Betty Vivian Tompkins LeGate lived in Lawton, Oklahoma and Edmond, Oklahoma for much of her early life. She married Barnerd Clifton Best in 1937, and bore two sons, James Loewen and Gary Clifton. During at least part of their time living in Lawton, their home was on Summit St. She and Barnerd divorced. In 1965 she married Cecil Earl LeGate in Edmond, Oklahoma. Cecil was an ex-serviceman of World War Two and a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars and a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. Cecil helped her complete the rearing of her two sons in Edmond, after which, they moved their home to Carson City, Nevada. After a long career working for USPS for 28 years, Cecil retired in 1983, and they settled into a quiet but active lifestyle in a nearby mobile home park. Some years after Cecil's passing on March 7, 1991, Betty met a fellow named Lyle Hedrick, whom she dated for awhile. She eventually aged into her early eighties. Sometime during this time she suffered a bad fall which resulted in a broken bone. After this point her health began to deteriorate more and more. She became increasing unable to live independently. Her deteriorating condition greatly concerned her son Loewen so he, consequently, moved her to Edmond, Oklahoma, to be near him, so he would be able to care for her. She died in Edmond not very long after moving there.
She is survived by her youngest sister Cornelia Imogene "Gene" Tompkins Bridges, of Lawton, Oklahoma, many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and numerous friends. She was preceded in death by her first and second husbands, Barnerd Clifton Best (December 9, 2003) and Cecil Earl LeGate (March 7, 1991) and her son Gary Clifton Best (June 7, 2002). At the time of her passing her son Loewen was still living. I'm very sad to include that Loewen has since passed away as well on April 30, 2015.