Former Quanah resident Katherine Ann Thompson Darby, 70, of Duke, Okla., died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Graveside services were held Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Altus City Cemetery with the Rev. Ralph Chapman and the Rev. Scott Gramling officiating. A memorial service followed in Duke First Baptist Church. Services were under the direction of Kincannon Funeral Home.

She was born Aug. 29, 1941, in Duncan, Okla., a daughter of the late Robert G. (R.G.) and Zoel Wheeler Thompson. She was a graduate of Duncan High School and attended the University of Oklahoma, where she met and married Jon David Darby on June 1, 1962. The couple finished their schooling at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where she received a degree in elementary education. They lived in Altus and Eldorado before moving to Quanah, where she taught first grade. In 1970, they moved to Duke to join the family business. She taught in Duke and Mangum and then spent 28 years teaching in Altus, helping to start the first special education program there. She was a member of the Duke First Baptist Church, the Towne and Country Club, and the Duke Chamber of Commerce.

Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Kristin Medders of Altus, Okla.; two sons, Blake Darby of Altus and David K. Darby of Oklahoma City; a sister, Sharon Sue Quick of Nashville, Tenn.; and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Duke First Baptist Church Youth; to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265-0309; the Alzheimer’s Association, 6465 South Yale, Suite 312, Tulsa, Okla. 74136-7810; or to a favorite charity.
Online tributes may be made at kincannonfuneralhome.com.