Nadine Fulbright

NADINE BADGLEY-FULBRIGHT OBITUARY

On August 15th, 2018 we lost our beloved Nadine Badgley-Fulbright (Mammaw) to a short illness. However at 94, and having never lived far from Cimarron County Oklahoma, we can hardly call her ours. She was a beloved member of so many families that would gladly call her their own - not by blood, but certainly in love.

Nadine was born February 25th, 1924 on the family homestead just outside of Keyes, Oklahoma. The youngest of six, Nadine would share stories of how her family survived the dust bowl and the great depression. Through story, she painted a picture of how her parents struggled to make a home for their family under the harshest of circumstances. While so many others left Oklahoma to head west, the Harriman’s stayed put in the town they loved, and planted roots for their children. It was this determination, commitment to community and pursuit of a better life in spite of circumstances that gave Nadine the foundation to become the person she remained to her death.

It wasn't all hardship and sacrifice. Through her school years, Nadine excelled at basketball and often whiled away the summer evenings dancing on the dock of the Railroad building downtown. Old photographs revealed her mischievous smile and sharp wit, which she would so readily deploy throughout her life. Nadine was a spark-plug.

After graduating High School in 1942, Nadine went to work first as a book keeper at Burrows Oil Company and then for the Cactus Ordnance Works, a company that made munitions for the War effort. It was during her time working in Cactus that she began dating a handsome young man from Keyes named Bernie Badgley (Papaw) while he was on leave from the Army. Her quick laugh, his warm charm and their shared love of their community made these two a perfect fit. They were married on September 18th, 1946 after Bernie returned from fighting in the South Pacific.

Nadine & Bernie began building a life for the family they would raise together. While Bernie went to work for Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG), Nadine stayed home as a full time mom raising their three children. In addition to being involved with the kids school and church activities, Nadine was also a Girl Scout Leader.

In 1965, change was in the air. Right around the time that their oldest, Norma Jean, went off to college, Bernie left his job at CIG seizing on an opportunity to buy a little restaurant in downtown Keyes, which they named the B & N Cafe. It was at their cafe that the town would gather for shared meals, and wayward travelers would stop in for a much-needed cup of ten-cent coffee.

Running the cafe was perfect for Nadine and Bernie, who were social butterflies. Nadine's ability to remember details of the lives of people throughout the region was nothing short of amazing. Quick with a smile and a hug, she would make you feel like the most precious gift that God had created, and it made you want to be in her presence. She was certainly not a forgettable person, and the food she cooked in that kitchen was so famous that radio personality Paul Harvey once talked about it on his national broadcast.

After Bernie’s death in 1985, Nadine continued to run the cafe, although it was never quite the same without him. On the weekends she and some girlfriends would go to Senior Dances in nearby communities. Dancing always made her happy and it was at these dances that she was able to find happiness through her grief, and boy could she dance.

It was at one of these dances that she met Marshall Fulbright of Kim, Colorado. His endearing smile caught her attention first, but it was his eagerness to dance as much as her that convinced her that he might be a keeper. Not long after meeting Marshall, Nadine decided it was time for a new chapter in her life so, after getting married on July 28th, 1987 she sold the Cafe and moved to Springfield, Colorado where she and Marshall lived until Marshall’s death in 2015. She loved the community of Springfield and rarely missed a chance to have some fried chicken (her second favorite thing after dancing) at the Longhorn - the closest thing to her B & N Cafe.

Nadine never stopped dancing even putting aside her walker on her 94th birthday last February to show all the youngsters how it was done.

We will miss her with all of our hearts. Although our worlds will never be the same without her, we know that she is surrounded by loved ones who have gone before her. We also know that heaven is a better place with her in it and that St. Peter finally got a chance to dance with the spark-plug of Cimarron County, Oklahoma.

Nadine is survived by her daughter, Norma Jean Clifton of Flagstaff, AZ, her Grandsons Michael Clifton (Amy) & Justin Clifton of Flagstaff, four Great Grand Children, who were her everything, Abbey, Caleb, Mason and Molly Ann - Mike & Amy’s children and her Daughter-in-Law Linda Badgley. She is also survived by countless nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends who she adored including her Fulbright family.

She was preceded in death by her parents William and Frances Harriman her first husband Bernie Dale Badgley, son Benson Dale Badgley, son Dennis Ray Badgley, second husband Marshall Lee Fulbright, son-in-law Michael Guion Clifton, brothers Carl, John, Leo (Bud) and sisters Verdella Fry and Nina Elms Harris

Nadine’s family would like to thank all her family and friends who came to visit her at the Legacy in Lamar. It meant so much to her when a friendly face would pop in to say hello and sit down for a chat.

A Celebration of Nadine’s life will be held at 10 am (MST), on Saturday, November 10th, at Maltbie Funeral Services, 265 W. 8th Ave., Springfield, CO, 81703.

Burial will take place following the service at the Willowbar Cemetery in Keyes, Oklahoma, followed by a reception at fellowship hall generously provided by Keyes United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions in Nadine’s memory may be given to the following.

Springfield Church of God

900 Tipton

Springfield, CO 81073

Keyes United Methodist Church

PO Box 74

Keyes, OK 73947