The final resting place of Mary Elizabeth Criswell is at the west side of Fairlawn Cemetery in Section 4A. She shares an upright gray marker with her husband Gilbert, who she met while at OSU. Their headstone has the following inscription:
Criswell
Mary Elizabeth
June 25, 1913
Mar. 27, 2015
Gilbert Myers
Aug. 11, 1912
May 9, 1996
Married Sept. 18, 1936
(back side)
Criswell
Parents of Kathleen Ann, Gilbert Michael, Charlene Gay
Gilbert Myers
Mary Elizabeth
Mary's obituary from her Find a Grave memorial: (
visit link)
Mary Elizabeth Criswell, 101, passed from this life on March 27, with her family by her side. Service has been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home and a service celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, at First Christian Church, Stillwater.
Burial will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery. Public visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 1, from 12-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mary was born on June 25, 1913, in Claremore.
She grew up and attended school in Claremore. While living in Claremore, she had the opportunity to meet Will Rogers, who was an acquaintance of Mary’s father Judge Henry Brown.
Following high school, Mary enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (OSU) in Stillwater and began working at Old Central.
During her time at OSU, she met a handsome young man, Gilbert Myers Criswell and the two began dating.
She graduated from OSU with a degree in education and shortly after, she married Gilbert at a ceremony in Claremore.
They continued living in Stillwater, where they began their family with the birth of a daughter Kathleen Ann and a son Gilbert Michael.
Soon after, Gilbert enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent several years away from the family while serving his country honorably.
Mary continued raising her children and taking care of the home until Gilbert's return in 1946 and soon after they were blessed with the birth of their daughter Charlene Gay.
Gilbert and Mary remained residents of Stillwater where Mary was an 80 plus year member of First Christian Church. She was a charter member of the Potpourri Book Club and taught Sunday school for many years.
She was blessed to be artistically talented and she made many signs and banners for her church. She was a skilled seamstress and even made her daughter Gay’s wedding dress.
She also enjoyed painting, quilting and before Gilbert’s passing in 1996, the couple loved to travel together.
Mary Elizabeth Criswell was a sweet, loving and generous woman who always made her family her priority. She loved to be around her friends and family and was never happier than when she was surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She packed a lot of memories into her 101 years and she will be missed by all who knew her.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gilbert and a sister, Amy Lee Brown.
She is survived by her three children, Kathleen Ann Fox and husband Frank, of St. Louis, Mo.; Gilbert Michael Criswell, of Stillwater and Charlene Gay Kinkaid, of Ponca City.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, David Fox, Jenny Ives and husband Mike and Megan Fox, all of St. Louis; David Kinkaid and wife Kelly, of Bixby; Krista Hughey and husband Eric, of Vonore, Tenn.; Amy Whisenhunt and husband Jesse, of Tyler, Texas and Steve Criswell, of Tyler, Texas;
great-grandchildren, Ben and Chloe Kinkaid and Sean and Cheyenne Whisenhunt; as well as her beloved cat Penny and her care taker who she loved like a daughter, Debra Shipman.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Arthur Hagan and his wife Shannon, as well as Debbie Shipman for the wonderful care and friendship they offered Mary over the years.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to First Christian Church in Stillwater or to a charity of your choice.