Mary "Maureen" P. Egan

Mary "Maureen" P. Egan, 95, passed away Saturday, September 2, 2017. She was born on February 27, 1922 to James and Annie Corr in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The second of eight children, she grew up in a country with constant religious strife, where your community was part of your identity. Always up for a challenge, her first job was at Short and Harland Aircraft Manufacturers, a heavily segregated company in Northern Ireland. It was nationalized by Britain for World War II and with that came hiring guidelines that required only so many Catholics and so many women in the work force. At the age of 20 after the war got rolling Maureen was recruited to work for the OSS in London as a clerk; this was more exciting than dealing with prejudice and grumpy engineers, and definitely more lucrative working for the Americans. London was where she met her future husband Tim Egan from County Mayo, Ireland. The war was the setting for Maureen and Tim's romance, a couple of twenty year olds out to conquer the world. She told stories of dances, parties, dog races, bombs, and rockets with the pomp and circumstance and all of the nuances that go with a large city during a war. Fun for all until it was over and the world took another turn. When it was obvious that returning soldiers were taking the good jobs, Maureen decided to visit her sister in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who had married an American on duty in Belfast. In Tulsa she took a position as a switchboard operator for Streets Department Stores, once again venturing into the unknown, Indian country in 1948 Oklahoma. Tim Egan, deciding to go to Australia with his cousins, thought he might stop by Tulsa and catch up on his wartime sweetheart. They were married on February 16,1949 their life in Tulsa began. She and Tim had six children, and 22 years after the first was born she decided to return to work. She began a career with St. John's Hospital first as a house mother at the School of Nursing and after its closure as a Central Services Technician. She retired after 33 years with St. John's. She started traveling, she would return to Ireland many times mainly for the Clan Egan reunions occurring every two years and with the alternate two years held in different parts of the world. Advancing in age she slowed down a bit and went back to work at St. John's part-time. Then her miracle happened; Catholic Charities built its new headquarters a block behind her house with a chapel. Mom had always wanted to live close to a church so she could walk to Mass, as she did not drive a car. For the next five years she volunteered as a receptionist for Catholic Charities every Monday and Friday afternoon, she loved it. She made many new friends and reconnected with many old ones and she could attend Mass anytime. In 2015 she had a slight illness that ended her volunteer work. Maureen was a member of the Legion of Mary, the Irish American Club and the English Speaking Union. Her husband Tim died in 1983, she is survived by her six children, 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Maureen is survived by her children, James Timothy Egan of Tulsa; Brian Joseph Egan and his wife Sandi of Tulsa; Patricia Ann Stokes of Tulsa; Michael John Egan and his wife Cecilia of Tulsa; Mary Bridget Egan Davis and her husband Jimmy of Tulsa; Patrick Francis Egan and his wife Janell of Broken Arrow; 12 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; her sister, Mairead Branningan and her husband Barney of Belfast, Ireland. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Timothy Egan and 7 siblings. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities. Rosary 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 7th, 2017 Moore's Eastlawn Chapel, 1908 S. Memorial Dr. Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 8th, 2017 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2515 E. 1st St., Tulsa There will be no viewing of Mary "Maureen" P. Egan. Moore's Eastlawn Chapel 918-622-1155

Mary "Maureen" P. Egan

February 27, 1922 - September 2, 2017