Loy Donna Markland

Loy Donna (Bridal) Markland was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma on June 16, 1935. She was the eldest child of John William and Mary Grace (Scott) Bridal.

Loy is predeceased by her husband, Ralph Richard Markland, her parents, her brother, Arthur, and her beloved aunts, Lela Maier and Alice Beck. She is survived by her children John Markland (Casey), Mary Gannon (John), and Donna Markland (Tam), as well as her grandchildren Jack (Erin), Nick (Kendall), and Lela (Simone), her great grandchildren, John and Zoe, her nieces Anita (Ron) and Lori (Thierry), and her sister-in-law, Bette.

Loy was raised on a farm outside of Cashion, OK where she rode her horse Tony two miles to the one-room Pawnee School as a young child. She was a 1953 graduate of Cashion High School. Following graduation, she attended Central State College in Edmond, OK.

Loy graduated from CSC with honors in 1956 with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and mathematics. Everyone expected that Loy would become a teacher, the most common career pathway for women college graduates at that time. However, Loy had other plans and was admitted to the OU Medical School Class of 1960.

Her father was thrilled and bought Loy the best microscope he could find to help her with her studies. The children of Loy’s friends borrowed that microscope to take to medical school well into the 1980s.

Following graduation, Loy was one of the first two women interns at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. One day, a young resident named Ralph Markland entered a room where Loy was chatting with several other interns and nurses and asked the group, “Who wants to go to Herman’s for seafood?” Loy said yes before anyone else, and that meal marked the start of their relationship. Ralph and Loy were married on December 30, 1961.

In 1961, Loy also started her pediatric residency at Children’s Memorial Hospital. Loy practiced as a pediatrician for over 50 years. Most of that time was spent working at The Child Study Center where she served Oklahoma children with special needs and their families for 39 years.

Loy was devoted to her Catholic faith and spent her early retirement years volunteering and participating in activities at Christ the King Church. She moved from her son John’s house into St. Ann’s Retirement Center in 2018, where she was known for her positivity and telling incredibly corny jokes to the other residents.

In 2020, Loy moved to live with her daughter Mary and son-in-law John in Southlake, TX. There she enjoyed extended visits with grandchildren and their spouses during the early days of the COVID pandemic. Loy’s family continued to make frequent trips to Texas to spend time with her.

Loy’s happiest place on earth was Walt Disney World, which she visited with her grandchildren and children annually for 24 years.

Loy will be deeply missed by her family and friends who are all blessed to have had her in their lives.

The family is grateful to the wonderful care givers (Gladys, Vickie, Jeanie, and Kim) who allowed Loy to remain in her home throughout her prolonged illness.

A funeral Mass will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City at 11AM on February 25th. Following a brief reception at the Cathedral, a graveside service will be held at the Cashion Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers. the family asks that donations be made in Loy’s honor to Catholic Charities or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.