Rites held for Daphne Art & Frame Gallery owner Daphne Loyd, 100
BY TIM STANLEY World Staff Writer
Saturday, February 09, 2013
2/09/13 at 6:08 AM
If you were looking for memorable scenes from Daphne Loyd's life to frame and hang, a good place to start would be her early days as a vocalist.
The Tulsan in her teens and 20s enjoyed a singing career that, although brief, proved exciting. Appearing in shows at the Mayo Hotel's Crystal Ballroom, she later told stories about accompanying the likes of Gene Autry and Charlie Barnet.
From there, the adventures kept coming.
During World War II, Loyd volunteered and served in an American Red Cross air ambulance unit. Later, she made her mark in business and on the state art scene.
Loyd, who became one of the best framers in the business, at one time owned six Daphne Art & Frame Gallery shops in the Tulsa area and used them to help promote Oklahoma artists.
Loyd, who closed her last shop in 1993 after more than two decades, died Feb. 1. She was 100.
A graveside service was held Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Heath-Griffith Funeral Home.
Loyd was pushing 60 when she opened her first frame shop after working for years as a bookkeeper.
The business was sparked unexpectedly by a trip to Italy to visit her son, who was stationed there in the Navy. While there, she bought several oil paintings. When she returned home, she discovered how quickly people grabbed them up, and she decided to go into business.
"She started out with nothing. Just the idea and a few paintings. She worked out of her car for a while, then opened the first shop," said her son, Bill Loyd, who later joined her in running their Cherry Street location.
"Mom was a go-getter," he added. "She knew what she wanted to do, and she wasn't afraid to do it. I wasn't surprised how good she did with it."
One of Daphne Loyd's hallmarks was promoting Oklahoma artists, both in the state and beyond.
In 1982, she organized a show of Indian and Western art in Washington, D.C., that featured mostly artists from Oklahoma.
She helped found the Tulsa Chapter of the Professional Picture Framers Association, and later the national group recognized her with its President's Club Award.
She also took up painting herself.
A native of Arapaho in western Oklahoma, the former Daphne White graduated from Tulsa's Central High School in 1930.
Moving later to California with her husband, Francis Loyd, she served in an Air Ambulance unit during the war, transporting wounded service members between the coastal cities.
Loyd was still active until recently and was excited to celebrate her 100th birthday in May, her son said.
"She had two parties, one at Heatheridge (Assisted Living Center), where she lived, and one with her family," he added.
Loyd's survivors include her son, Bill Loyd; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Original Print Headline: Gallery owner was intent on framing state's artists
Tim Stanley 918-581-8385
tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Daphne Loyd: "She started out with nothing. Just the idea and a few paintings. She worked out of her car for a while, then opened the first shop," said her son, Bill Loyd. "Mom was a go-getter. She knew what she wanted to do, and she wasn't afraid to do it. I wasn't surprised how good she did with it."
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