Aurie Neal Thrift's Obituary
Aurie Neal Thrift Aurie Neal Thrift was born on November 9, 1941 in Prague, Oklahoma to Aurie Thomas Thrift and Bessie Elder Thrift. Neal went through first grade in Red Oak, OK, the family then moved to Knoxville, IA where he graduated from high school in 1959. Neal graduated from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1964 with a Pre-Law Degree.Neal enjoyed traveling and reading, particularly history of the Civil War. One of his favorite vacations was a driving vacation through Iowa, Minnesota and Utah. He loved the mountains and particularly Angel Fire, NM. He was also in awe of the Swiss Alps in Austria.Neal worked for Medicare starting in 1965 and left many years later as a GS-14 (Under-Secretary). Following that, he joined the Federal government as a Federal Officer. He left that position in 1981 to become the Executive Director for the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality.Neal married Nancy Ann Thomson Thrift on April 22, 2000 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Together, they traveled the world and enjoyed big family get togethers in Red Oak, OK.In 1987, he and his wife Nancy, started their own business, Rustling Winds Behavioral Health Centers. Neal officially retired from Rustling Winds in 2007 (but actually it was 2005, he just forgot to tell Nancy).Neal was preceded in death by his parents, Aurie Thomas Thrift and Bessie Elder Thrift and his son, Ty Hiatt. He is survived by his wife Nancy Ann Thomson Thrift of Broken Arrow, OK, his two daughters, Andrea Dunn and her husband, BJ Dunn, of Oklahoma City, Kristal Wheeler and her husband Johnny Wheeler of Tulsa, OK. Also, by his sons Thomas Allen Graves and his wife Laurie Graves of Tulsa, OK and Joshua Graves and his wife Leah Graves of Broken Arrow, OK, and Smokey Lyons and his wife, Lisa Lyons of Tecumseh, OK. He had 14 grandchildren, Jamilyn and Rance Pride, Trey Dunn, Jacob Westfall, Zachary Westfall, Dylan Westfall, Joshua Wheeler, Kathryn Wheeler, Morgan Wheeler, Wyatt Wheeler, Jordan Graves, Jenna Graves, Ava Graves, Riley Lyons and Kilie Lyons; and his sister , Marilyn Grogan and husband, Wayne Grogan.He was a much beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather.Visitation – Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Floral Haven Funeral Home.Funeral Services – Monday, May 7, 2018 at 12:30 PM at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.
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