Shawn Whitman's Obituary
Shawn Keys Whitman, known to many as "Birdie," passed away peacefully Friday evening, August 1, 2025, surrounded by family, at her Tulsa residence on her 71st birthday.
Born August 1, 1954, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Shawn was the daughter of William and Rose Mary (Blackshear) Keys. She grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she graduated from King High School, Class of 1972. One of five children, Shawn had two older sisters, Alice and Sharon, an older brother, Bill, and a younger brother, John. She loved her family deeply, enjoyed her social life and was an active member of her high school tennis team. Shawn continued her education and tennis career at Mary Baldwin College, an all-women's university in Virginia. Shawn especially loved attending college with her sister Sharon.
On New Year's Eve 1982, in Dallas, Texas, Shawn met Scott Whitman at a mutual friend's wedding. Their romance blossomed quickly, and they became engaged just three months later while on vacation in Hawaii. The couple married on July 30, 1983, in Dallas, Texas, and were blessed with their daughters, Katherine Jaye and Rebecca Leigh, in 1986 and 1988, respectively. The Whitman family lived in Dallas for a few years before Scott's work in aeronautics brought them to Tulsa in 1990. Shawn and Scott joyfully welcomed their son, Grayson Alexander, in 1992. Shawn and her family joined Meadowbrook Country Club and remained longtime members, enjoying family golf cart rides after dinner and spending summers at the pool. Shawn and her family were also devoted members of Asbury Church. Tennis remained a lifelong passion for Shawn, and she continued to play actively throughout her life at Shadow Mountain and The Grand tennis clubs in Tulsa.
Shawn was deeply committed to her community and loved volunteering at the Philbrook Museum through the years; though nothing made her as proud or filled her heart as much as being a mother to her children, and a loving wife to her husband. Those who knew her best described her as selfless, genuine, lighthearted, and charismatic, with an unconditional love for her family.
Shawn was preceded in death by her parents, William and Rose Mary Keys, and her brother, Bill. She is survived by her siblings Alice, Sharon, and John; her beloved husband of 42 years, Scott; her children Kat Perkins and husband Jordan, Becca Whitman and fianc Jace Robertson, and Gray Whitman and wife Stephanie; as well as her cherished grandchildren Parker, Campbell, Riley, and Sophia.
In lieu of flowers, the Whitman family kindly asks that donations instead be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America: www.alzfdn.org .
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