Mary Ann Childers

Mary Ann Childers passed away on Friday, September 10, 2021 at Texarkana, TX.

Mary Ann was born August 7, 1940 in Paris, TX to Wayland and Doris (Thomas) Childers. By the time that Mary Ann was 8 years old she had listened to Fireside Chats with FDR on the radio that followed the action of World War II, (she still owned her food rationing stamps); survived a tornado that left her family with nothing; and experienced the great sorrow of losing her loving father.

Mary Ann spent 12 years in Idabel Public Schools. Just before her senior year, the principal discovered that she would lack enough credits to graduate with her class. In order to graduate with them, she studied Spanish II in school and took Spanish I by mail from the OU School of Correspondence. She graduated with the Class of 1958 but received an empty diploma cover because OU failed to send her grade by graduation time. In late June of the same year, Mr. Gimlin, IHS Principal, called and advised her that her grade finally arrived, and she was thrilled to learn that she had finally graduated. She loved band and served as HIS Majorette for 3 years, marching in front of the band during parade and football season and playing as a drummer in the concert band. Mary Ann was chosen by American Legion George Oakley Post #8 to represent Idabel at Girls State held at (then) Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, OK, and was a member of Student Council and National Honor Society.

After High School, Mary Ann attended Oklahoma State University for 3 years where she pledged Alpha Delta Pi sorority and was a member of Choral Club. Later she married, and with her husband began a family. They settled in Idabel where Mary Ann remained most of her life. Although originally baptized in the First Baptist Church of Idabel, Mary Ann joined her husband-to-be’s church and was married in the First United Methodist Church in April of 1960, where she later became a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She served as a Pink Lady for McCurtain Memorial Hospital, and was also a member of the 20th Century Study Club and Red Cross, leaving the latter due to health problems.

Mary Ann was a proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Her maternal grandmother Florence Alice (McAlvain) Thomas was an Original Enrollee in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, having been counted in the Indian Census about 1905. Mrs. Thomas and her husband (maternal grandfather) Sam Thomas preceded Mary Ann in death, as did her paternal grandparents, Judge and Mrs. George R. Childers.

Over the years, Mary Ann was employed by First State Bank, Huffman Lumber Co., and the Department of Human Services in Idabel. She was also employed by Houston Light and Power at the South Texas Nuclear Power Plant at Bay City, TX and Manufactured Housing Association of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.

She loved to read and was well read in many different subjects. She was once an accomplished classical pianist, having studied 5 years each with Elizabeth Deahl and Raymond List. She also enjoyed playing bridge, travel and shopping. She loved art and the works of Renoir, Van Gogh, and Monet as well as latter day artist Klimt, Klee, and Chagall, and hoped to visit the Louvre and D’Orsay Museums in Paris.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her father, Wayland Childers: her mother, Doris (Thomas) Childers Loftin; her step-father, Bill Loftin, Jr.; brother, Billy Sam Loftin; sister, Cathy (Loftin) Davis; brother-in-law, Warren Davis; niece, Susan (Weaver) Shelley; and special aunt Lucille Blackard of Valliant.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Robert Bradley and Robie LeeAnn (Thomas) Coleman, and grandson Robert Levi Coleman of Piedmont, OK; sister Nancy Childers of Idabel, OK; other relatives, and a lifetime of friends.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Mary Ann Childers will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 17, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Idabel, OK with Rev. Mark Polson officiating.

 Friends are encouraged to attend the service and afterwards visit with the family. In lieu of flowers honorariums can be made to the Methodist Church.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.whitefamilyfh.com.

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