Lorna Mae Geist

Lorna Mae Geist, of McLoud, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at home on August 24, 2025, at the age of 78. She was born on August 20, 1947, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the daughter of Alfred LaVaughn Straw and Marguerite (Kennedy) Straw. After the loss of her mother at a young age, her beloved aunt, Florence Frazier, stepped in to help raise her with love and guidance.

On July 20, 1968, Lorna married the love of her life, Brian J. Geist, in Olathe, Kansas. They shared nearly 47 years of marriage until his passing on January 15, 2015. Together they raised three daughters, who were the joy and pride of her life: Deanna, Shawn, and Danielle.

Lorna’s life was rich in love, service, and faith. For nearly 40 years, she was a faithful member of Faith Community Church of God in Shawnee, where she also taught Sunday School. She worked many years at Meeker Nursing Home, where she was known for staying long after her shift ended, simply to sit with and comfort the residents. She later ran her own home daycare, where countless children fondly called her “Nanny,” and she kept track of their lives long after they were grown.

Her home and heart were always full. She loved decorating for every holiday—especially Christmas—when her house would sparkle with as many as five trees and her treasured snowman collection. One of her favorite traditions was the “grandkid tree,” lovingly adorned with ornaments commemorating her grandchildren’s milestones. She was also a gifted cook, making everything from scratch, and a devoted shopper with a special fondness for “GW”—her affectionate name for Goodwill.

Lorna was preceded in death by her parents, her aunt Florence Frazier, her husband Brian Geist, her sister Wava Fern Guinn and Wava’s husband Jacky. She leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness in her family: three daughters, Deanna Moore and husband Kevin, Shawn Sprouse and husband Shane, and Danielle Morphew and husband Robert; eight grandchildren, Nicole Collins and husband Tim, Dale Moore and wife Shai, Kyle Moore, Shane Tackett and wife Amariah, Joel Tackett, Chad Tackett and wife Katelyn, Shelby Beal and husband Bo, and Brielle Cook and husband Aaron; twenty great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; her brother, Jimmie Straw; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends.

Lorna was one of a kind—full of goodness, always counseling and caring for others, and deeply devoted to her family. If she knew you, she loved you. She had a gift for expressing her love in unique ways, often saying, “A hug is with two arms, one is just a lean.” She was known for being able to remove any stain from any piece of clothing, for her love of reading and travel—especially the mountains of Alaska—and for her tireless devotion as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Above all, Lorna’s family was her world. She often referred to her beloved late husband as “My Brian,” and the bond they shared continues in the family they built together.