Mary Elizabeth Garvin

Her life started in Memphis Tennessee. Her grade school years were Columbus Ohio, Detroit Michigan and high school she attended in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Mary graduated top 10% of her 300 plus class. Mary scored the highest score on the Arkansas Civil Service Clerical exam her senior year. Mary attended Bethany Nazarene College 4 years and earned a psychology degree in 1962. She was a state champion on the Bethany Nazarene College debate team. Joe, her husband, grew up 5 miles away form her in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He did not know Mary and he also started Bethany Nazarene College one year after Mary. Joe says Mary was very popular and that he got his nerve up to ask her for a date the summer before Mary's senior year. He said his heart failed when Mary answered the phone and said, "Joe who?"

Mary and Joe were married March 30, 1962. Their son, Joseph Mark, was born April 18th, 1963 and their daughter, Karen Elizabeth was born November 8th, 1968. Mary was very proud of her Eagle Scout son, and her track star daughter. Mary was initially employed by the Federal Aviation Agency, in Oklahoma City. She quit work to raise her children. Mary went to Oscar Rose at age 40 and earned a court reporter degree and was the only one from her class to pass the state exam test. Mary worked nearly 30 years for the Federal Bankruptcy court, in Oklahoma City. Mary parked her car in the Murrah Building parking garage ten minutes before the explosion of the Federal Building in 1995.

Mary and Joe took international ballroom lessons from Charles MacDonald and Kathleen Brown for 15 years. They belonged to various dance clubs and danced for the 1996 Heart Ball attended by Governor Keating. Mary was an accomplished charcoal artist and received honorable mention for her bald eagle she drew. She was a member of the Oklahoma Art Guild. Another thing Mary did that enhanced her marriage, she taught herself to play the banjo to accompany her husband, who played guitar since age 10. Mary and Joe belonged many years to the Oklahoma City Traditional Music Club. Mary loved to donate to Veteran's groups, Animal organizations, and the Rescue Mission. Donations to the Rescue mission in memory of Mary Garvin would make her very happy. Mary was very proud of her wonderful 7 year old grandson, Keegan Earl Garvin and her beautiful 7 year old granddaughter, Skye Elizabeth Elliott.

Mary is survived by her husband Joe N. Garvin, her son Joseph Mark Garvin and daughter-in-law Linda Sue Garvin (who was like a daughter to Mary), of Los Alamos, New Mexico, daughter Karen Elizabeth Elliott of Piedmont, Oklahoma, and Mary's brothers Charles Tobey and Patrick Tobey, niece Beth George, and nephew Timothy Tobey.

Saint Ann's maintenance, kitchen, nursing staff and Sister Maria Francesca, provided so much love and care, especially those on hall D.

Connie was a great protector and roommate for 9 months to Mary. Evora, a 98 year old resident, rode her wheelchair daily to Mary's side in the dining room to tell Mary how much she loved her. Other dinner table residents and family members became a part of Mary's family too.

Our unending gratitude for Choice Hospice where Mary was home and Mercy Hospice (Becky and others) during Mary's care at St. Ann's.

A memorial service for Mary will be held at St. Ann's Nursing Home Chapel located at, 9400 St. Ann Drive in Oklahoma City, OK on Thursday 07-24-14 at 3:30pm. St. Ann's phone number is 728-7888.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Oklahoma City, OK.