Marilyn Smelser Orr

Marilyn was born at St. Anthony Hospital on February 19, 1932 to A.L. and Blanche Christy. She attended Gatewood Elementary, Taft Middle School, and Classen High School. During her teen years, the family moved to Albuquerque, NM and her father and older brother, Leroy, started a car dealership. They eventually moved back to OKC where A.L. owned and operated the Christy Buick dealership for many years. Marilyn was teased by her friends for getting a new Buick convertible every year but that didn’t seem to bother her. The family was fortunate to frequently travel together as she grew up. Marilyn also enjoyed participating on the synchronized swimming team at Twin Hills C.C. where her father was president for a time. She even played a little golf with her brother and dad, who were both very accomplished players.

Marilyn attended the University of New Mexico before transferring to the University of Oklahoma when the family moved back. She was a proud member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. While attending OU, Marilyn met Carl Austin Smelser, and after graduating with a B.S. in Education in 1955, they were married in 1956 and soon moved to Roosevelt, OK. Carl worked there with his father at Security State Bank for a short time. They moved back to OKC when Carl accepted a Vice President position at First National Bank. This was a busy time for the newlyweds. Marilyn was president of the OC Bankers Wives and kept a busy social calendar. In 1957, they welcomed David Preston to the family followed by Scott Austin in 1960, both also born at St. Anthony Hospital.

Her marriage to Carl ended around 1970. With the boys in school, Marilyn worked part-time jobs to support the family, while going back to school to earn a Master’s Degree in Reading Education at Central State University. She went on to teach and would eventually be Headmistress of St. John’s Episcopal School for 18 years.

In 1980, mutual friends introduced her to William Orr. This was the relationship she had always wanted. They were married August 7, 1982 and had a wonderful life together until Bill’s death in 2010. They traveled the world and successfully blended their two families together with frequent gatherings. Bill and Marilyn purchased a weekend home at Lake Hiwassee where they would spend much of their time and were loved by many neighbors and friends.

After retiring, Marilyn enjoyed volunteering at church and tutoring. She also gave her time to Kappa Alumnae, OKC Orchestra League, Infant Crisis Services, the Symphony Show House, Integris Baptist Hospital, Mobile Meals, and other organizations. She loved living among wonderful friends at the Waterford Private Residences, which she was proud to call home for more than 20 years. The community she found there was a perfect fit, as she had no intentions of her social life ever slowing down.

Marilyn was a loyal supporter of her beloved Sooners her entire life and if she wasn’t in OU apparel, she was in pastels or pearls, always polished. She loved ice cream and all things sweet, tulips, dogs, handwritten cards and the Royal family, but there was nothing more important to her than faith, family and friends. She was passionate about God and she set the golden standard for every relationship in her life. She valued quality time and conversation. As a testament to this, Marilyn still regularly had contact and activities with friends she had made from kindergarten through college and beyond. She was a wonderful wife, mom, aunt, sister, mother-in-law, daughter and friend, but where she truly shined was as a grandmother. Nothing brought her more joy than sharing her love, laughter and wisdom with her grandchildren.

Marilyn truly modeled what it means to “love thy neighbor” and was always happy to support others any way she could. Marilyn, Mom, Mamo, Aunt Marilyn, Gigi and everyone’s friend will be terribly missed.

A service will be held on March 3 at 11:00 a.m. at All Souls’ Episcopal Church. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, All Souls’ Episcopal Church or Oklahoma Humane Society.