Mrs. Alyene Lillard Hathaway Treas passed away in Allen, Texas on Sunday, February 23, 2014. Alyene was born June 22, 1918, in Lula, Oklahoma to Paul Lewis and Mable Jessie (Baker) Lillard. She graduated from Stonewall Oklahoma High School in 1936; attended East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma; and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from West Texas State College in Canyon, Texas.
Alyene married Norman Hathaway in 1940. Mr. Hathaway was killed at the age of 39 while working in Borger, Texas. Ten years later, Alyene married Ralph Treas in Fullerton, California. She and Ralph had grown up together during their younger years in Lula, Oklahoma. In 1989 they moved to Ada, Oklahoma and enjoyed four years of retirement together.
Alyene taught elementary school for one year in Amarillo, Texas. She then taught for 22 years in the same 5th grade classroom in Fullerton, California. She was named “Outstanding Elementary Teacher” in 1972. She also received a “Teacher of the Year” award before retiring in 1981. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Associations in California and Texas.
Alyene was an accomplished pianist, having taught piano for 20 years before beginning her public school career. She was a featured pianist during the Stamps-Baxter era, accompanying a male quartet of her East Central classmates, called The Harmony Four. Alyene stayed active in piano throughout her years, wherever she lived. She played regularly for civic, church, and retirement group audiences. In recent years, she was the beloved resident pianist of the Parkview Retirement Community and First Baptist Church of Parkview in Allen, Texas.
Alyene was a light in each of the communities where she lived, making impressions everywhere she went. She was also a devoted member of churches in each of the cities where she lived: Sunny Hills Church in Fullerton, California; Central Church in Ada, Oklahoma; Highland Church in Abilene, Texas; and Greenville Oaks Church in Allen, Texas.
Alyene was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Hathaway and her second husband, Ralph Treas; son, Terry Lynn Hathaway; daughter, Sue Hathaway; and sisters Nova Jarvis and Nola Treas.
She is survived by her daughter: Martha O’Rear of Allen, Texas; grandchildren: Jesse Robinson and Melody Willis, Rose Hathaway and Russell Worthy; Kristin O’Rear; Kelly Heida and husband, Allan; great-grandchildren: Mahayla and Koa; and brother: Bencie Lillard and wife, Alma and their family.
She is also survived by her beloved step-son: Donald Treas and wife, Lyndi of Pagosa Springs, Colorado; grandchildren: Coby Roberts and husband, Ronnie; Amy McClelland; Kevin Treas; Karen Geraghty and husband, James; great-grandchildren: Jennifer Treas; Colleen Jeffer and husband, Cory; John Treas and wife, Jade; and great-great-grandchildren: Ricky, Tara, Ryder, and Finn.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30am, Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at Greenville Oaks Church of Christ in Allen, Texas. A committal service will be held at 10:30am, Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Central Church of Christ, 820 Stadium Drive, Ada, Oklahoma, 74820. Alyene will be buried beside her husband, Ralph Treas in the Swan Hill Cemetery in Ada, Oklahoma.