Birdie Lou Tatum passed peacefully at the age of 96 on December 11, 2025.

Lou, as she was known to all who loved her, was a woman of unending love and devotion. She poured herself into her family, and had a way of connecting with people that could make anyone feel seen. As a woman of great integrity, she believed in making the world a better place with little fanfare, and sought no recognition for her work. Yet, of all her many wonderful attributes, it is her sly sense of humor that many remember most of all.

Born to Philip Lee Briscoe and Birdie Rice Ashford Briscoe in Cushing, Oklahoma on February 23, 1929, Lou Tatum's life spanned nearly a century and much of the globe, leaving an indelible mark wherever she went. Lou's formative years were spent on the Briscoe family farm in Ponca City, Oklahoma with her parents and three brothers, Paul, Carl, and Maurice. There, she learned to read using the "funnies," single-handedly broke a horse at age seven, and taught herself to ride a bike within a day.

True to her independent spirit, Lou hired a pilot to fly her to Tulsa in search of employment after graduating from high school and attaining self-sufficiency as the office manager at Dairyland Creamery. That one act of courage led to a wellspring of life. After excelling in night courses teaching new mechanical computation methods, Lou received her first taste of teaching when she was asked to take over instruction of the course. Soon after, she met her husband Lloyd Arthur Tatum at a church picnic. Lloyd proposed atop Reservoir Hill in Tulsa after six dates on April 1, 1953 and the two were married on August 1, 1953 at Denver Avenue Nazarene Church. Together, they raised four devoted and loving sons, Harvey Arthur, Tommy Lee, Dennis Lloyd, and Jimmy Alan.

After sampling five states it became clear that no single state could contain the Tatum clan and the family moved to Guam in 1970. Island life provided adventures that live on in the compendium of Tatum family legends from wrangling a sun bear to Lou's BB gun shot heard round the Pacific. A picture of perseverance with the ability to bloom wherever she was planted, Lou quietly acquired college credits in each location she resided, citing geology and theology as her favorite courses. After 25 years of unwavering determination, she graduated from the University of Guam with a Bachelor of Science in education in 1971 at age 42. From there, Lou spent ten years teaching elementary school and forming her oft-repeated philosophy that "education is the one thing that no one can ever take from you."

Lou and Lloyd retired in Tyler, Texas in 1980 where they built a home that echoed their commitment to and love for their family. Welcoming a revolving door of grandchildren, Lou spent her days gardening, painting ceramics, playing cards, fishing, and creating memories. She continued these traditions upon moving to Owasso, Oklahoma in 1997. Throughout her years, Lou remained a committed student of life, scripture, culture, and travel. She traversed the globe, visiting Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Spain, and the Philippines, and in each case she fearlessly ventured into the culture and navigated situations that would cause trepidation in the most seasoned of travelers.

To the very end, Lou's sense of humor, belief in God, and tender care for her family never wavered. In her final weeks, she was surrounded by family, friends and neighbors who each had dozens of stories to tell about this tough, kind, and loving woman. Her legacy will live on through the family she raised and the lives she touched both near and far. Though 96 years is considered a long life, most of us could live twice as long and yet only do half as much good.

Lou is survived by her four sons, Harvey Arthur (Cheri), Tommy Lee (Maureen), Dennis Lloyd (Melanie), Jimmy Alan, ten grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Arthur Tatum, her daughter-in-law, Rhonda Faye Tatum, and her granddaughter, Alexandra Catherine Tatum.

A celebration of Lou's life will be held in the Founder's Room at Inverness Village at 2:00pm Saturday December 20th, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following:

The Owasso Bouquet of Gardeners please send donations to this address:
Owasso Garden Club
PMB116
8703-RN Owasso Expressway
Owasso, OK 74055

Samaritan's Purse at < https://samaritanspurse.org/ >.
Adopt a Classroom at < https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/ >.
The Covenant Living Benevolent Care Fund at < https://covliving.org/giving/donation/ >.
The Tulsa Garden Club at < https://tulsagardenclub.org/donate >.
Suncrest Cares Foundation at < https://www.suncrestcare.com/suncrestcares-foundation/ >.