Mary Ellen Thomas

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City, 1232 N. Classen Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73106, or the charitable cause of your choice.

Mary Ellen Thomas was born August 4, 1925, in Clyman, Wisconsin and was the daughter of Chester and Hedwig Stanton.  She died on July 16, 2019, at the age of 93, in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

Mary Ellen attended Wilson Public School for primary grades and graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1943 at Juneau High School in Juneau, Wisconsin.  Mary Ellen attended the University of Detroit, worked in the business office of the Ford Motor Plant during WWII, and graduated, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin.  After graduation Mary Ellen returned to Juneau High School joining the science department teaching chemistry.

In 1951, Mary Ellen married J. Harper Thomas, and they resided in Norman, Oklahoma.  Mary Ellen entered graduate school at the University of Oklahoma and in 1954 was awarded a Masters of Science in Bacteriology and Biochemistry.  In 1957 Mary Ellen and Harper moved to Chickasha where they resided for the remainder of their lives.

While living in Chickasha, Mary Ellen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from USAO, and in 1973 she joined the USAO faculty teaching Foundations of Science.  Mary Ellen was also a member of the USAO Alumni Advisory Council.

Mary Ellen enjoyed playing tennis and bridge, but her real passions of interest, after attending to her family, were making pottery, growing flowers, and reading.  Over the years, it was not out of the ordinary for her to be reading a dozen or more books at the same time.  The passion for reading was instiller in her five children.  She cherished education, and was profoundly proud of the many accomplishments of her children.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, a son, and a grandson.  Her survivors include her children: G.W., Hazel, E., John and Chet, along with their spouses, children and grandchildren.