In Memoriam : Mary Sipes

Mary Sipes Mary Alice Sipes - age: 80
(February 27, 1930 to May 20, 2010 )
Resident of Idabel, Oklahoma

Obituary:
Mary Alice Sipes was the first child of James Carl Alexander Sipes and Fannie Dockey Girdner Sipes, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister, Sue Ann Lawson, brother-in-law Robert Lawson of Idabel, Oklahoma, a niece, Rebecca Sue Steiner of Atlanta, Georgia and a nephew, Robert Sipes Lawson of Jonesboro, Georgia. She was born February 27, 1930 in St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend, Kansas. She grew up on a wheat and cattle farm 8 miles south and 1 mile east of Great Bend in Stafford County Kansas, She attended Prairie Home School (District 81) in Stafford County through the eight grade and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1948. She was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Brethern Church. Mary Alice attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Oklahoma and received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech in 1952. Her first job and teaching position was in Winfield, Kansas High School in 1952-1953. She taught in Hobbs, New Mexico Houston Junior High School from 1953-1960. During the summers she attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas. She graduated from Texas Woman's University in 1958 with a Masters Degree.

The summer of 1960 Mary Alice was employed as a professional staff member of the New Mexico Education Association in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She worked for the New Mexico Education Association later known as National Education Association of New Mexico from 1960-1985. She held the position of Field Representative uniserve and Director and Deputy Executive Secretary. She retied in 1985.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church Santa Fe, New Mexico. After she retired in 1985 and moved to Idabel, Oklahoma and became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Idabel. She moved to Idabel, OK to be near her sister Sue and Family. She loved to travel and made trips to Europe (Germany, Switzerland and Austria). She spent time traveling in Mexico and Hawaii. She made cruises to Alaska, Panama Canal, Bahamas, Northeast Coast of the united States, Nova Scotia and Canada.

She belonged to the University Women association and Pioneer Reading Club. She had an active part in the Idabel Arts and Humanities Council which served all of McCurtain County Oklahoma with concerts, plays and musicals. She served as a Commissioned Lay Preacher fo the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery and contimued to serve when she was invited by church sessions to preach. She served in the choir, was an Elder, Deacon, and President of the Presbyterian Women of the Idabel Presbyterian Church. She most recently was active in the Presbyterian Women and member of the First Presbyterin Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma with Rev. Joyce Ludwig officiation. Graveside services will be at a later date in Great Bend, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity.

Online messages may be sent to the family @norwood-nation.com.

Professional servies provided by Norwood-Nation Funeral Home, Idabel, OK.





Trilla Frazier - May 26, 2010Contact this person Contact this person
Sue and Bob, Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. She truly was a gracious lady and an admirable person. I know you will miss her tremendously.