Mary Anne McMurry, 89, passed away from this earth on July 27, 2022, at the Grisell Memorial Hospital in Ransom, Kansas. Mary Anne was born October 10, 1932, to Clyde and Martha (Jaehde) Willour. She was named after her mother's twin sister Mary and her mother's other sister Ann.
She had an eye for beautiful things and she worked for many years as an interior decorator. She was an accomplished seamstress and it should be noted that during her college years she was the fastest typist in the state of Kansas! She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. On July 25, 1951 she married the handsome Dr. Charles Stewart McMurry, Jr. The McMurry family was known in that area during that era because of Dr C.S. McMurry, Sr. who according to Mary Anne delivered upwards of 2,500 babies. Sadly, on April 1, 1961, Mary Anne's young husband died. She was bereft, a widow with three young children. Mary Anne chose to channel her grief into a willingness to move forward and be positive and because of her faith in Jesus Christ, the love & support of friends and family and her own resilience she endorsed the idea that a good attitude in spite of sorrow was the way to live. In 1965 Mary Anne established the New Haven Methodist Daycare in Tulsa and it is still in operation today. As a single Mother she raised her three children lovingly during the tumultuous 1960s-1970s and did her best to steer a safe course for her children. She lived for 50 years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before returning home to Ransom in 2006. It is worthy of thought that Mary Anne's first and final chapters of life took place in Ransom, Kansas. She enjoyed reconnecting with her hometown community and living closer to her younger brother Randy and his wife Kathy.
She was known affectionately as "Mimi" by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Among her many fine qualities she was a wonderful cook and talented gardener. Mimi always put her heart into the things she enjoyed and she was a family historian who made many detailed scrapbooks outlining what she had observed and learned. She was a wealth of information. Additionally, Mary Anne's family and friends all enjoyed her handwritten letters, she wrote beautifully from the heart with lovely handwriting. In later years her eyesight didn't allow for continued correspondence or letter writing and her family saw that a joyful part of life was gone, Mary Anne; however, never complained and instead redoubled her efforts to petition the Lord in prayer for her family and friends. She was indeed a prayer warrior: a happy warrior at that! She had a distinct and beautiful singing voice and a large vocabulary, enjoyed reading books and was never timid about sharing her opinion or viewpoint but did so with dignity and grace. From time to time she would get a smile on her face and let you know she had a "Bee in her bonnet" about some project she wanted to pursue. Mimi is remembered for a habit of "humming" and it was always a cheerful tune.
Our loving and lovely Mimi & Mary Anne has gone on to be with her savior whom she so loved and while we will miss her and her many wonderful qualities we are assured of her salvation and look forward to seeing her again. "Au Revoir" translated as "We'll see you again" is fitting for her departure.
Special thanks to: Jolene Gable, A.J. Willour, Grisell Memorial Hospital staff and the community of Ransom.
Survivors include 2 sons, Charles Stewart McMurry III (Carol) of Guymon, OK, Brent McMurry (Marcy) of Tulsa, OK; daughter, Michelle Marie McMurry (Kelly) of Guymon, OK; brother, Randy Willour (Kathy) of Ransom, KS; 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Stewart McMurry, Jr; brother, Byron "Jim" Willour and grandson, Patrick Kelly McMurry.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be on August 27, 2022, at Praise Fellowship Church.
Memorial Contributions may be given to Praise Fellowship Church.