Mary Herring

Mary Elizabeth DeGeer Herring was born June 4, 1934. She passed away October 24, 2017. Mom was born in Pratt, Kansas and the family moved to Tulsa when she was 4 years old. She graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1954 and attended the University of Tulsa for one year. She married De J. Herring April 17, 1954. They had three children, Dana Lee, Erik Todd and Marsha Anne. The family joined East Side Christian Church September 23, 1962, and Mom quickly became involved in church activities, including Nursery Mother, Christian Women's Fellowship and a women's bowling league. As we grew up, she supported us by being our homeroom mom, Girl Scout leader, cheerleading sponsor, baseball scorekeeper; her & Dad were in the band parents association and youth group sponsors. They were both very involved and were "there". Mom helped form a Tulsa chapter of the Oklahoma National Guard Women's Association to support the wives of National Guardsmen. She worked various places over the years, memorably her and Norma Hughes did all of the cooking at East Side, which included serving weekly Rotary lunches, monthly Elder's meetings, and lots of youth football, basketball and wrestling banquets, sometimes every night of the week. We remember lots of chicken, yummy rolls and pies and many dishes to wash. Mom worked at the University of Tulsa library and became one of several "Mary's" working there, so her family nickname, Mary Beth, became her work name. She enjoyed 13 years of fun and friendships there. During this time, Dad & her also traveled, taking cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal and the Transatlantic, and also a trip to the Holy Land. After Dad's passing, Mom went to work part-time at Tulsa City-County Library for 10 years. She retired for a second time and enjoyed spending time playing Bunco, going to lunch and running errands daily with Norma. She is survived by her children, Dana & Robert, Erik, Marsha, her grandchildren, Angela, Brad and Alex and great-grandchild-to-be, Emma; her niece, Marguerite and husband, Don Devore, her cousins, Charlie & Louise DeGeer, Katherine Ann DeGeer, Mary Jean & Bill Benefiel and Jim & Terri Sue DeGeer. The family would like to thank all of the wonderful caregivers at Broken Arrow Assisted Living and Evergreen Hospice for their loving care of Mom. We were indeed fortunate to have a loving, nurturing Mother who was always there for us and supported us all of our lives. Memorial donations made be made in care of East Side Christian Church or Evergreen Hospice. Visitation 6-8PM, Thursday, October 26, 2017 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. Memorial service will be 11:00 A.M., Saturday, October 28, 2017 at East Side Christian Church, 1438 S. Indianapolis, Tulsa, OK. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233

Mary Herring

June 4, 1934 - October 24, 2017