Toby Boothe

Toby Chaezell Boothe November 29, 1951, to January 21, 2025

If you know Toby, then you know what it means to be adopted into her love. She was a woman of honest words and immense action. We lost Toby Chaezell Martin Boothe (73 of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), to a three and half year battle with ovarian cancer on January 21, 2025. Toby was born in Tulsa Oklahoma in 1951 to Marvin and Eula Martin, who taught her the importance of education, encouraged her to read, and allowed her the freedom to make her own path in life. Toby graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1973, where she pursued her love of dance. Toby met the love of her life, Rick, in college, and their first meeting was filled with amusing mishaps, though it turned out to be the perfect “meet-cute.” Rick was driving a car full of nuns to a meeting while attending a friend’s wedding. Toby, a bridesmaid at the wedding, was assigned to Rick, who had a reputation as quite the ladies’ man with a car full of women. When Rick asked Toby out, she rebuffed him. However, Rick knew this was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he persisted. Toby eventually learned the truth of who was actually in his car, and from that moment on they were inseparable. Her most prized possession was her wedding band that signified their 50 years of marriage with her beloved Rick. Toby and Rick began their family in 1978 with the birth of their first daughter, Ashley Chaezell Jarroush. Two years later, in 1980, their second daughter, Brooke Nicole Henderson was born. And they finalized their family in 1985 with their last daughter, Chelsea Kathleen Boothe Hicks. Toby considered her children the stars of her life. She told everyone they are all amazing Catholic women with abounding love, and she adored them. The “core 5” as they

became once her children grew up, have remained connected to each other and they all recognize the significant loss of their #1-member, Toby, who is the glue and heart of them. Toby has three son-in-laws who have brought her peace by the way they love their wives, her precious girls. She has 13 amazing grandchildren and 6 bonus grandchildren who are each wonderful and unique and see life so differently. She knows they will forge incredible lives filled with love, creativity and hard work. Throughout her life, Toby had many careers, but her true passion lay in service. She was a dance teacher, PE teacher, and special events coordinator for both Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. However, being a volunteer was her true passion. Toby’s commitment to volunteer work was evident as she served on numerous committees, including Catholic Charities, BMCHS, and Saint Anthony Hospital galas. Toby also served on the Catholic Charities board in the 1990s, including a term as board president in 1995. Toby maintained lifelong connections with those she met over the decades. She remained close with two of her sorority sisters until the day she died. Her dear friends the “Wildcats” were dining and laughing together for over 30 years. She considered both of her sister-in-laws to be true friends she was blessed to know. She had a remarkable ability to remember important moments in others' lives and offered a steady presence through both joyful and difficult times. Toby was a faithful member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. She was an active member in the Catholic community of Oklahoma City since the early 1990s. Her ACTS sisters from Christ the King were an incredible salve to her heart throughout her entire journey with cancer. Her faith gave her the strength to live each day fully, and to also accept her death with humility and grace. Toby was a beautiful woman who loved to read. Her greatest hobby was adopting people who needed love. Sometimes they were long term relationships that developed into beautiful friendships. Other times they were brief moments in time when she shared a Christmas meal with a stranger or welcomed a stray dog into her home. Toby will always be remembered for her calmness in a storm. She showed up for the hard moments. She sacrificed for those she loved, and she had the best one liner jokes of anyone in the family. She was a witty and courageous woman of God. We couldn’t have asked for a better wife, mother, grandmother or friend. We will miss her everyday, and Toby’s memory will live forever in our hearts. Toby was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Eula Martin and her older brother, Douglas Martin. She is survived by her husband, Rick, their three daughters, Ashley, Brooke, and Chelsea, 13 grandchildren: Michael, Tobi, Ashton, John Paul, Chaezell, Xavier, Jolie, Francesca, Violet, Amelia, Charles, Blaise, and Hazel, and 6 bonus grandchildren: Zeandra, Trysten, Ella, Lilly, Kayliegh, and Luke.

Visitation for Toby will be Sunday January 26, 2025, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and an Evening Prayer service will also be Sunday January 26, 2025, both will be at Smith and Kernke, 14624 N. May Ave. OKC, OK 73134.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 pm, Monday January 27, 2025, at Our Lady’s Cathedral of Perpetual Help 3214 N Lake Ave OKC, OK 73118

In lieu of flowers please donate to The Toby C. Boothe In His Image Scholarship Endowment. Donations can be made through the Catholic Foundation of Oklahoma, Inc. http://cfook.org/inhisimagescholarship