Mary Elizabeth Criswell

Mary Elizabeth Criswell, 101, of Stillwater passed from this life on March 27, 2015 with her family by her side. Services have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home and a service celebrating her life will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, April 2nd at the First Christian Church in Stillwater. Interment will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery. Public visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 1st from 12:00pm to 8:00pm at the funeral home.
Mary Elizabeth Brown was born on June 25, 1913 in Claremore, OK to Henry Harvey and Flora Madeline (Nicholes) Brown 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 Marys 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 Criswell and the two began dating. Mary graduated from OSU with a degree in education and shortly after, she married Gilbert at a ceremony in Claremore, OK.
Mary and Gilbert 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 US 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 Gilberts 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+ yr member of the 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. Mary was a skilled seamstress and even made her daughter Gays wedding dress. She also enjoyed painting, quilting, and before Gilberts 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 grand children 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 Myers Criswell, 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, OK, and Charlene Gay Kinkaid of Ponca City, OK. She is also survived by her grandchildren: David Fox, Jenny Ives and Husband Mike, and Megan Fox, all of St. Louis, MO, David Kinkaid and wife Kelly of Bixby, OK, Krista Hughey and husband Eric of Vonore, TN, and Amy Whisenhunt and husband Jesse of Tyler, TX and Steve Criswell of Tyler, TX. Great Grandchildren: Ben and Chloe Kinkaid and Sean and Cheyenne Whisenhunt. She is also survived by 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.
Donations can be made to the First Christian Church in Stillwater or to a charity of your choice.