1938
Mary
2021
Mary Elizabeth Mcpherson
June 10, 1938 — January 8, 2021
On January 8th we lost our beautiful mother, grandmother and sister Mary Elizabeth McPherson, 82 of Arlington, TX. Mary was born in El Paso, TX June 10, 1938 to JM Pat and Linda (Wright) Patrick.
She was raised in El Paso, attended Crockett and Loretta, then graduated from Austin High School. Mary’s childhood was full of family. Being a part of such a large extended family of aunts and uncles, mom was surrounded by love and affection all the time. Evenings and weekends were always spent in the midst of this love Picnics with her countless aunts, uncles and cousins filled the warm nights. Later in life, she would share memories of sitting in someone’s lap or under the dining room table while the adults sat playing cards and poker on Saturday nights. Laughter filled those memories and affection glued them together.
In high school, Mary joined it all. She was extremely active in school and found strength even more in those countless family and friends. In high school, the church established its place in her heart. Mary sang in the choir and gave her heart to a faith that would guide the direction of her life. One Sunday, while singing in that choir she was spotted by a young soldier from Nebraska. That first glance began a relationship that spanned five states, three children and 60 years. Mary was just 18 when she married Doug, much to the concern of her parents who politely told Doug they would not give her hand willingly. In the end, they did give in and the two were married in El Paso in August of 1956.
Throughout the next 60 years, the couple moved several times and established friendships that have endured. Mary, at 18 left her precious family, and moved to Nebraska and Mary attended the University of Nebraska. After, they moved to Chicago for Doug to attend seminary. Mary, just a girl herself, would daily go into Chicago for work to support Doug in his studies. After graduation, the two moved to England and enjoyed traveling Europe and expanding their knowledge of culture and love of people. The next phase of life took the couple to Oklahoma City for them to begin Doug’s service in ministry. The couple moved around through several churches, while raising Lora and Patrick. They moved to Crested Butte and had Meggan, then back to Oklahoma, then Nebraska, then Oklahoma again. They retired in Angel Fire, NM before moving in the last four years to Arlington, TX. Throughout these moves, countless friends were a part of their life. They loved adventures and embarked on countless ones through the years with their family, their grandsons and close friends.
As in her childhood, Mary surrounded everyone around her with love. She was a special kind of friend and parent, always listening with no judgement and a trusting ear. She gave love freely with no expectations, just a wonderful smile and a genuine interest. Not only was she an amazing mother, wife and friend, she was also a woman of action. Mary was firm in her values and made sure to live her life in action of those values. She volunteered her time and energy to countless organizations such as Skyline Urban Ministry, Oklahoma City Cooperative Urban Parish, the McKee Center, the Regional Aids Interfaith Network, and the Shared Table in Taos. Her strength in her values and her passion for action was an inspiration for those around her who watched her give freely of herself to causes that made a difference in our world.
In all things, the most important gift of Mary’s presence was that genuine, graceful love and easy affection that formed in her childhood, grew in her marriage, settled in her children and shined in her friendships and community. She was a blessing to anyone’s life she touched; a perfect dichotomy of strength and grace, the perfect example of God’s grace and presence in this world.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband Douglas McPherson, parents JM Pat and Linda Patrick, her granddaughter Lillian Elizabeth, and her brother in law Walter Stowe. She is survived by her daughter Lora (Robert) Wilkinson of Otoe, NE; son Patrick McPherson of Muskogee, OK and his girlfriend April Coates of Oklahoma City, daughter Meggan (Joey) Horne of Arlington, TX; grandchildren Benjamin, Matthew, Douglas and Colton; sisters Tricia Stowe of Dallas, TX; Dorothy Folk and her husband Larry of Colleyville, TX. Mary is also survived by eight nieces, one nephew and countless lifelong friends.
Memorials may be sent to:
Skyline Urban Ministry
500 SE 15th
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
OR
The Shared Table of El Pueblito United Methodist Church
PO Box 2047
Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557
Please note on your donations in memory of Mary McPherson
On Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 2:00 P.M a Live Stream of Mary's Celebration of Life will be viewable here:
https://video.ibm.com/channel/23847896/video/udv8vv
She was raised in El Paso, attended Crockett and Loretta, then graduated from Austin High School. Mary’s childhood was full of family. Being a part of such a large extended family of aunts and uncles, mom was surrounded by love and affection all the time. Evenings and weekends were always spent in the midst of this love Picnics with her countless aunts, uncles and cousins filled the warm nights. Later in life, she would share memories of sitting in someone’s lap or under the dining room table while the adults sat playing cards and poker on Saturday nights. Laughter filled those memories and affection glued them together.
In high school, Mary joined it all. She was extremely active in school and found strength even more in those countless family and friends. In high school, the church established its place in her heart. Mary sang in the choir and gave her heart to a faith that would guide the direction of her life. One Sunday, while singing in that choir she was spotted by a young soldier from Nebraska. That first glance began a relationship that spanned five states, three children and 60 years. Mary was just 18 when she married Doug, much to the concern of her parents who politely told Doug they would not give her hand willingly. In the end, they did give in and the two were married in El Paso in August of 1956.
Throughout the next 60 years, the couple moved several times and established friendships that have endured. Mary, at 18 left her precious family, and moved to Nebraska and Mary attended the University of Nebraska. After, they moved to Chicago for Doug to attend seminary. Mary, just a girl herself, would daily go into Chicago for work to support Doug in his studies. After graduation, the two moved to England and enjoyed traveling Europe and expanding their knowledge of culture and love of people. The next phase of life took the couple to Oklahoma City for them to begin Doug’s service in ministry. The couple moved around through several churches, while raising Lora and Patrick. They moved to Crested Butte and had Meggan, then back to Oklahoma, then Nebraska, then Oklahoma again. They retired in Angel Fire, NM before moving in the last four years to Arlington, TX. Throughout these moves, countless friends were a part of their life. They loved adventures and embarked on countless ones through the years with their family, their grandsons and close friends.
As in her childhood, Mary surrounded everyone around her with love. She was a special kind of friend and parent, always listening with no judgement and a trusting ear. She gave love freely with no expectations, just a wonderful smile and a genuine interest. Not only was she an amazing mother, wife and friend, she was also a woman of action. Mary was firm in her values and made sure to live her life in action of those values. She volunteered her time and energy to countless organizations such as Skyline Urban Ministry, Oklahoma City Cooperative Urban Parish, the McKee Center, the Regional Aids Interfaith Network, and the Shared Table in Taos. Her strength in her values and her passion for action was an inspiration for those around her who watched her give freely of herself to causes that made a difference in our world.
In all things, the most important gift of Mary’s presence was that genuine, graceful love and easy affection that formed in her childhood, grew in her marriage, settled in her children and shined in her friendships and community. She was a blessing to anyone’s life she touched; a perfect dichotomy of strength and grace, the perfect example of God’s grace and presence in this world.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband Douglas McPherson, parents JM Pat and Linda Patrick, her granddaughter Lillian Elizabeth, and her brother in law Walter Stowe. She is survived by her daughter Lora (Robert) Wilkinson of Otoe, NE; son Patrick McPherson of Muskogee, OK and his girlfriend April Coates of Oklahoma City, daughter Meggan (Joey) Horne of Arlington, TX; grandchildren Benjamin, Matthew, Douglas and Colton; sisters Tricia Stowe of Dallas, TX; Dorothy Folk and her husband Larry of Colleyville, TX. Mary is also survived by eight nieces, one nephew and countless lifelong friends.
Memorials may be sent to:
Skyline Urban Ministry
500 SE 15th
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
OR
The Shared Table of El Pueblito United Methodist Church
PO Box 2047
Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557
Please note on your donations in memory of Mary McPherson
On Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 2:00 P.M a Live Stream of Mary's Celebration of Life will be viewable here:
https://video.ibm.com/channel/23847896/video/udv8vv
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Elizabeth Mcpherson, please visit our flower store.
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