On December 13, 1921, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, the world was blessed by the arrival of Mary Carolyn Aular. She was born to her loving parents, Percy William Aular and Viola Gertrude Hively Aular. She attended school through her junior year in Titusville. In 1938, her family moved to Tulsa, where she graduated from Central High School in 1939. Throughout school, Mary was a bright and eager student and received high marks. She also received training in piano and became a very accomplished pianist in her early years.
She attended Hill's Business College in Oklahoma City, and worked as private and executive secretaries until meeting Victor Lewis Gunn. They were married in 1942, shortly after which Mr. Gunn entered the Army Airforce and was stationed in the China-Burma-India Theater in Agra, India.
After Mr. Gunn returned from his service during World War II, they resided in Tulsa where two daughters were born: Dianne in 1946 and Carolyn in 1949. Mary had always wanted to be a wife and mother and fulfilled these roles with patience, careful guidance, and love.
After the death of Mr. Gunn, Mary was married to Jim Collins Chase and Mary was half owner and Office Manager for the Jim C. Chase Company.
Mary's life revolved around family, friends and her church. She tended to the needs of individuals in need of support with friendship and practical assistance. Over the years, she was involved in many church organizations: Circles, Bible studies, small groups, and choirs. She was lay staff for Campus Crusade for Christ International during the 1970's and Prayer Chairman for Here's Life, Tulsa, 1974. She was a mentor to three young girls at Eugene Field School. She was a volunteer for many years in the FUMC library and a member of the Joyner and Builders Sunday School Classes, playing piano each Sunday and for special activities. She participated in a Walk to Emmaus and traveled to the Far East to help distribute Bibles to persons behind China's Iron Curtain.
Mary loved music and was an excellent classical pianist and took seven years of organ lessons at FUMC. She also enjoyed reading poetry and classics, painting in oils and on porcelain, and listening to opera and orchestral music.
Mary lived the life of a true and faithful Christian, spreading love, generosity, kindness, compassion, grace, and mirth. She passed from this world October 2, 2018, in Tulsa. She is survived by her daughters Carolyn Gunn of Dolores, Colorado, and Dianne Gunn of Wickenburg, Arizona.
Her "life" verse comes from Proverbs 17:22 - "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine".
A celebration of Mary's long and fulfilling life will be held October 25, 2018, at 10:30am at the First United Methodist Church, 1115 South Boulder Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233