LaHoma Golden, age 80, passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in Independence, Missouri. She was born January 11, 1945 in Richmond, California, to Adell M. Scott and IJ Wilson. Her roots were in Oklahoma, where both her parents were from, and this family unit moved back home when she was a young girl. She graduated in 1964 from Rattan High School in Rattan, Oklahoma. She then attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma.
She moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1965 to pursue flight attendant school. She went on to work at Midwest Motor Freight as a stenographer and it was during this time that she met James R. Golden on a blind date. The two were married on January 22, 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The young couple hoped for children of their own, but had their struggles. In the meantime, they took their roles as Uncle Jimmy and Aunt LaHoma to heart, spending lots of time with James’ extended family. The young couple had looked into adoption as a path to parenthood when they received the news that LaHoma was expecting. They became loving parents first to a daughter, LaDonna, and then three years later a second daughter, Shari. They built a life together and raised their girls in Independence, Missouri and nearly every summer and winter break in Oklahoma with LaHomas’ family. In December of 2000 LaHoma lost her beloved “Jimmy”, having been married just shy one month of 35 years.
LaHoma was preceded in death by her cherished mother, Adell, and her father IJ, as well as her husband James R. Golden. Surviving are her daughters LaDonna Golden of Kansas City, Missouri and Shari Golden of Independence, Missouri; grandchildren Kavan Brewer, Braxton Kanagawa, Kyonia Kanagawa, Islem Golden-Tubby, and Soleil Golden-Tubby; great grandson Koen Gillian; sister-in-law Patty Anderson; cousins, numerous nephews and nieces as well as great and great-great nephews and nieces, and her grand dog Homa Golden.
LaHoma was so many things to so many people. She was a proud Choctaw woman with her roots deeply planted in the place she always called home, Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. She worked for many years at Norfleet Elementary School and impacted countless lives by just being the caring and compassionate person she was to those kids as she was to her own children. She made many friends throughout her lifetime, from childhood ones that she kept in touch with, co-workers and even employees at the grocery store she saw on a regular basis. She didn’t go many places without someone knowing who she was. She became very close to her husband’s best friend and their spouse, George and Cathy, who were like family to LaHoma and her daughters.
LaHoma will be remembered for her unwavering love and acceptance, dedication to her family, being a storyteller, her ornery streak, her love of jigsaw puzzles and word searches, music, traveling, and creating a home where all were welcome and could find sanctuary. She loved being a mother, but more than anything she adored her grandchildren, the title of Mamaw and getting to be a great-grandma.
Obituary provided by Dignity Memorial.