Zella Jane Osborn

Zella Jane (Mabon) Osborn, 90, of Miami, Oklahoma, died on April 25th, 2025. She was born in Miami, Oklahoma on December 9, 1934 to Erben Casil Mabon and Joy Ellen (Taylor) Mabon. Jane spent most of her childhood in Miami, Oklahoma and graduated from Miami High School in 1952. After one year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Jane attended the University of Tulsa where she was active in the University of Tulsa Radio Choir and earned her degree in Psychology. After graduation Jane married William E “Willie” Osborn, her high school sweetheart, and they began a life-long partnership committed to their family, faith, profession, and the City of Miami. Jane and Willie lived in Vinita, Oklahoma, where Jane taught school in Big Cabin, and in Joplin, Missouri before moving home to Miami in 1958. Jane and Willie were blessed with five children and Jane spent years managing the family home, caring for and supporting their children. During those years Jane was actively involved in her children’s education participating in Parent Teacher Associations, Booster Clubs and always ensuring the entire family supported their siblings attending sporting events, band concerts, dance recitals and many other activities. Jane and Willie worked together as owners of Osborn Drugs. They passionately supported their community, independent pharmacy, the Miami Public School System, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College as well as youth, education, sports, music, drama, and art programs throughout the community. Jane served as a member and leader of the Miami Public Library Board, the Friends of the Coleman Theatre Beautiful, the Ottawa County Historical Society, both of Miami’s 75th and 100th Anniversary celebrations, and the Community Crisis Center. Jane was also a lifelong member in the First United Methodist Church of Miami where she sang in the church choir with Willie and served in leadership positions throughout the church. Jane was known to many in the community for her rich soprano voice and heartfelt performances. She regularly performed solos in church and for community celebrations, weddings and funerals. She also loved participating in community choirs particularly many years of singing Handel’s Messiah and other classic chorales. Jane was preceded in death by her husband, William E “Willie” Osborn, and by her parents, brother, Dale Mabon and his wife Norma, sister Fannie Lou (Mabon) Elliot and her husband Earl, nephew Earl Sanders Elliott, and nephew David Taylor Mabon. She is survived by her children Mark Osborn and his wife, Elaine Mader, Clark Osborn and his wife Sara, Bill Osborn and his wife Jane, Matt Osborn and his wife Lauri, all of Miami, Oklahoma and Amy Osborn of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Allison, Kabeth, Katie, Maggie, Kelley, Madeline, Christopher, Paige, Ben, Hannah, Mollie, Jack, and Abby as well as great-grandchildren Kirah, Carter, Kalen, Jacklynn, Elliott, Elena, Clara, and Theodore. A memorial service celebrating Osborn’s life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Miami, Oklahoma at 2:00 pm on Friday May 2, 2025 officiated by Reverend Robert Rose, immediately followed by interment at the G.A.R. Cemetery in Miami, Oklahoma under the direction of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service. A reception and visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 1st, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church in Miami, Oklahoma. The family suggests donations to the First United Methodist Church in Miami, Oklahoma, the Ottawa County Historical Society, the Friends of the Coleman Theatre or any other charity where it will “do the most good.”

Zella Jane Osborn

December 9, 1934 - April 25, 2025