Mary Alice Blakely was born April 16, 1928 to Chloe and Tom Arnold in Drumright, Oklahoma. Mary was one of six daughters. After the death of Mary's mother, she moved to Cassville, Missouri to live with her Aunt Reta and Uncle Bert. Later, they had children of their own, Anna Belle and Neta Sue, whom Mary loved very much; to them they were sisters.
After graduating from Cassville High School, Mary moved to Tulsa where she went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She met and married Andy Perkins. They had a wonderful life together, traveling and fishing. He died in 1972. Some years later, she met and married Donald Blakely. They had many good and happy years together, traveling in their motorhome, fishing and just being together. Mary and Don retired from the telephone company the same year, 1986. Don died in 2001.
Mary was an avid gardener, known for her pies. She loved to do things with hands. She volunteered at the hospital and sang in the choir at church. Mary loved her family so much. Her nieces and nephews meant so much to her and brought so much joy to her heart. Mary also loved her dogs Winnie and Jackie. She spoiled them rotten! She drove them around the neighborhood in her Cadillac!
Mary was preceded in death by Andy Perkins, Don Blakely, her mother and father, her aunt and uncle who raised her, her sisters, Loraine Sample, Joanne Danner, Sarah Herring and Margaret when she was only 4 years old, and Irene Childress. Also, a nephew, Karl Heiss and a niece, Katherine Bickley.
Mary is survived by her sisters she was raised with, Anna Belle Heiss of Malibu, California and Neta Sue Melton of Phoenix Arizona, their children Maia Heiss, Jennifer Melton and Stephen Melton, wife Lisa and sons Jack and Zach; also, nieces Carolyn Sewell, Judy Choals and nephews Preston Sample, Billy Childress, Clark Danner, Russell Danner, and Jeffrey Danner.
Mary passed peacefully into heaven on October 25, 2023.
Viewing: 12 noon - 5:00 pm, Sunday, October 29, 2023 Moore's Eastlawn Chapel, 1908 S. Memorial Dr. Tulsa, OK
Funeral: 2:00 pm, Monday, October 30, 2023 Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel, 5100 S. Memorial Dr. Tulsa, OK