Edith Zelma Veith Honea was born in McAlester, OK, on July 18, 1915, the youngest of four girls. She excelled academically, first enrolling in college classes with her older sisters during the summer of her 14th year. Skipping two years of high school, she graduated Valedictorian of her class at age sixteen. By necessity, the four sisters all worked while attending college part-time. Edith graduated from Southeastern State College in 1938. Upon graduation, she secured a teaching position in Harrah and resided with her aunt and uncle, the Porters'.

It was her cousin, Felix Porter, who introduced her to his classmate and her future husband, S.M. Honea , Jr. of Harrah. Edith taught 3rd grade her first year at Harrah, and later math and history. A minister and friend of her family married Edith & S.M. on December 26, 1940 in Atoka. After honeymooning in Texas, the couple settled in Harrah where S.M. owned a trucking line. As WWII approached, S.M. waived his farm deferment and enlisted. Edith followed him to training camps in Fort Hood, Texas and Camp Forrest, Tennessee then returned to her family in McAlester while S.M. was shipped overseas. Upon returning from the war in December 1945, the couple settled in Harrah. They purchased a home from S.M.'s aunt & uncle and lived there for the remainder of their lives. Edith was a housewife and supporting partner in the couple's business dealings-farming, cattle ranching, and later operating Honea Implement Co. from 1968-1987. Three children were added to the family from 1946 to 1952. The couple always made time to take family vacations and traveled the U.S. extensively. They were active members of the Harrah First Baptist Church. Edith was recognized, during the church's centennial year, as the member with the longest continuous service. S.M. preceded her in death in January 1994. Edith will be remembered for, first, her endless supply of homemade chocolate "dot" cookies for Vacation Bible School, Falls Creek and school events and also her pecan pies and holiday-baked goodies.

Survivors include daughters, Linda and her husband Budd Parrish, Kathy Honea and her husband Bob Teas; son S.M. Honea III; and granddaughter, Anna Honea -Wyatt and her husband Blue Wyatt. Edith left us on Monday, March 3, 2008, after an extended recuperation following a hip fracture. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the administration and staff of Bellevue Health & Rehabilitation Center, who cared for our mother with dignity & kindness.

The funeral services will be held at Bill Eisenhour Northeast Funeral Home Chapel, 8805 NE 23rd, Oklahoma City, OK, Friday, March 7, 2008, at 1:00 pm with interment to follow at Harrah Memory Lane Cemetery. Visitation for Mrs. Honea will be Thursday from 12:00 noon - 9:00 pm at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home.

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
January 12, 1994

Sion Milton,  Honea Jr., died January 11, 1994 in Midwest City Hospital at the age of 77. He was born in Harrah, Oklahoma on April 11, 1916, the youngest of four sons of Sion Milton and Katie Mae Grimes Honea , Territorial pioneers. Mr. Honea graduated from Harrah High School and was a lifelong resident of Harrah. He operated a farm and raised cattle most of his life, and also owned and managed a farm implement business for many years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Harrah and the Jones Masonic Lodge No. 537, was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason at the Valley of Guthrie, and was a member of the James F. Smith Memorial Post No. 15 of the American Legion.

In addition to his wife of fifty-three years, Edith Veith Honea , he is survived by a son, Sion M. Honea III of Rochester, N.Y.; daughter and son-in-law, Budd and Linda Parrish of Harrah; daughter, Mary Kathleen Hart of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and a granddaughter, Anna Kathaleen Hart also of Ft. Wayne.

Services are under the direction of As a Smith and will be held at 2:00 p.m. on January 13 at the First Baptist Church of Harrah with interment in Memory Lane Cemetery in Harrah.