Marshall Groom
EDMOND - Marshall THAD Groom, our beloved son, brother, uncle, husband and friend, went to our Lord on April 18, 2021, following a hard fought battle and lengthy illness. Thad lived his life with joy and enthusiasm and shared that remarkable spark with family and friends until his last moments.
Thad was born on September 16, 1960, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as the fourth child and only son to Sidney M. Groom, Jr. and Thadda Hutchison Groom. Sid, a lawyer for Mobil Oil Corporation at the time, and Thadda moved with Thad and his three older sisters to an acreage in Fisher Hills in Edmond, Oklahoma in 1960. The community was the perfect place for a young, rambunctious boy to grow. He shared a great love for the outdoors riding horses, playing golf, sailing on Lake Hefner and was active in Scouting, band and many other pursuits until his college years. The Grooms added beloved dogs and horses to their family and Thad began his life-long devotion to his four-legged friends. Thad was shaped by a kind mother, enthusiastic father, and three great friendships with his older sisters.
Thad graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in 1978 and headed to Oklahoma State University... he loved his Cowboys! Eventually following in his father’s footsteps, Thad began the practice of law after graduating from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1985. He practiced for more than a decade with McKinney, Stringer, & Webster, PC in Oklahoma City before opening his own law office in Oklahoma City, and later Edmond, doing business as The Groom Law Firm. In his more than 30 years as an attorney, Thad became a well-known and respected legal practitioner, particularly in the area of worker’s compensation and insurance defense.
Thad thoroughly enjoyed his career and the many other passions it allowed him to pursue. At different points in his life, Thad could be called an avid tennis player, hunter, sailor, horseman, dog trainer, grill master and golfer. He made trips around the world to hunt and sail, including captaining multiple sea voyages around the British Virgin Islands and also Greece. Thad always had a giving and joyous spirit, and he loved nothing more than sharing his time and passions with friends and teaching his many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews about what he loved. He was happiest when he could give something of himself and help others. Thad loved his family and his family loved him. He brought smiles and energy to every family gathering, and he provided a steady source of support, encouragement and advice as an uncle, brother, son and husband. In more recent years, Thad found and renewed his Christian faith and was a passionate advocate of AA.
Thad was preceded in death and welcomed to his everlasting home by his father Sid M. Groom, Jr. and his oldest sister Cynthia Vogler-Henry. He is survived by mother Thadda Hutchison Groom, of Edmond, sisters (and their husbands), Susan and Bob O’Neal of Dallas, Texas and Terra and Jim Conlin of Edmond, Oklahoma, seven nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, Sunni Groom and step-son Christopher, and dear friend and former spouse, Liz Groom, who lovingly cared for him in the last weeks of his life. He will be missed by so many wonderful friends, and by his beloved English Setter Daisie. We all adored him.
A memorial service will be held at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 2 p.m. (601 S. Kelly Ave., Edmond, OK). Special appreciation and heartfelt thanks to the caring, wonderful doctors and staff in the I.C.U. at Integris Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support the Edmond AA chapter, 3130 S Boulevard, Edmond, OK 73013, or the First Christian Church of Edmond, PO Box 3548, Edmond, OK 73083.