Thadda Clare Groom
March 5, 1929 – November 25, 2024
Thadda Clare Hutchison Groom left this life on November 25, 2024, after 95 years of making our world a brighter place by her presence. Thadda walked through this life with a sweet and gentle nature that she shared with friends, family, and new acquaintances all the same. She lived for her home, her family, and the adventures she shared with her beloved husband, Sid Groom, who was waiting to welcome her to their eternal life together.
Born Thadda Clare Hutchison in Paul’s Valley, OK on March 5, 1929, she was the daughter of Velma Jean Short of Kentucky and Clarence Hutchison of Oklahoma. Thadda lived much of her young life with her grandparents Lillis P. and Thad Hutchison, police chief of Paul’s Valley and later detective with the Oklahoma City Police Department. She grew up very close with her aunt, Frankie Rae Hutchison. “Aunt Frankie” saw a great future for Thadda and made sure she could attend the University of Oklahoma in 1948. As fate (or Aunt Frankie) would have it, Thadda met her lifelong love and partner at OU, Sidney Marshall Groom, Jr. Their meeting is a favorite family tale, and one for the romantics. Sid and Thadda participated in the White Rose Parade at OU. They rode in the same convertible during the parade, but with different dates. They each decided they liked someone else in that car more than the date they came with! Sid tracked down Thadda after the event, asked her out, and so began their love story.
Sid and Thadda were wed on Sept. 4, 1949, at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. Sid went on to attend the University of Oklahoma School of Law graduating in 1951. His work as an oil and gas attorney took them all over the US -Washington DC (Falls Church, VA), New Orleans, Houston, and eventually back to their beloved Oklahoma, where they settled with their 4 children in Oklahoma City and later Edmond. Thadda spent her life caring for her husband, their children, and their home. Thadda was an active member of the PEO Sisterhood, and Sid and Thadda were active members of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Edmond since 1961. Thadda was a talented and prolific painter for many years. Her children and grandchildren have all proudly displayed her artwork to decorate their homes. She kept the growing Groom family knitted together through what everyone lovingly called the “Thadda Hotline.” She made a point to talk to her children daily and her grandchildren often. She gathered and disseminated updates on everyone’s activities and major life events!
Perhaps Thadda’s greatest passion after caring for her family was the extensive travel planned by Sid and beautifully documented by Thadda in a vast collection of scrapbooks. In all, Sid and Thadda took more than 72 trips all over the world, visited every continent, nearly every country in Europe, and most of the United States. In 2007, they traveled around the world on the Queen Mary 2, re-visiting many destinations and exploring a few new ones. They especially loved Egypt, China, and England. They made great friends all over the world and took their children and grandchildren on a few adventures, imparting their love of travel to generations of their family. Thadda was an avid cook, preparing delicious meals for her family and often passed on her recipes on lovingly handwritten index cards. But ahead of many of her travels she professed, “Just think, I won’t have to cook for weeks!”
Thadda blessedly rejoined much of her family in their heavenly home including her husband Sid, their oldest daughter Cynthia Vogler-Henry, their youngest daughter Terra Lee Conlin, and their son Marshall “Thad” Groom. Thadda is survived by her daughter Susan Groom O’Neal of Dallas, Texas, beloved former daughter in law, Liz Groom, and seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Her family will forever be reminded of her smile, her beautiful and benevolent spirit, and the love she shared with all.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org/oklahoma, in Thadda’s name.
The family has had to make the difficult decision to cancel the services.
Thadda was always a welcoming presence
And good friend (sister) to me. What a great shopping and traveling buddy (along with our Lambda Chi husbands) and confidant! Sharing our families was a common joy.
She was so loved and will be greatly missed.