Mary Lois Cunningham Gasser
January 23, 1925 - August 28, 2018

Mary was the second child of three children, born in Francis, Oklahoma to Jesse Thomas & Lucy Fenn Cunningham. Soon after her birth the family moved to Mangum, Oklahoma and eventually Hollis, Oklahoma where her parents opened an appliance & music store. Mary's mom was the First United Methodist organist for 29 years & taught private piano lessons as well.

Music was at the center of Mary's life at an early age. Mary devoted so much of herself, her career & past time studying, working, supporting musical endeavors as a career, & the arts community wherever she lived.

After graduating from Hollis High School in 1942, Mary went to the University of Oklahoma & earned a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music in just 3 1/2 years. Mary promised her folks she'd finish college before she married William V. "Bill" Gasser on August 25, 1945.

Mary's sister Margaret fixed up the first date with Bill at the Army Air Corps base in Frederick, Oklahoma. It was love at first sight.

Bill went to engineering school in Norman at OU while Mary took the trolley each day to an Oklahoma City elementary school where she taught music. After Bill graduated they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Bill got a job as an engineer & Mary taught at a small County elementary school.

Bill & Mary had their first daughter, Carol Amelia November 28, 1950 born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their second daughter, Marilyn Ruth was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma November 3, 1953 as Bill's job brought the family back to Oklahoma.

Along with raising their two daughters, Mary worked as a Tulsa Public School music teacher & teaching private piano to many students along the way. Her last teaching assignment was at Carnegie Elementary School which she loved.

Mary also supported Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Ballet & Tulsa Philharmonic, helped organize & direct an annual 12 Piano Recital, along with years of directing children's choirs at both First United Methodist Church & Southminster Presbyterian Church where she & Bill were longtime members. Mary served as Deacon & President & lifetime member of the local chapter of Presbyterian Women Association.

Mary served as President of Tulsa Boys Home, President of Chi Omega Alumni Chapter, Honorary Lifetime member of both PEO & Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity.

After 63 years of marriage, Bill passed away in 2009. Mary moved in 2011 close to her daughters in Georgia. Mary continued her interest in the arts with subscription tickets joining the auxiliary organization to the Atlanta Symphony. She also joined Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia and served as a deacon, & played piano at her retirement community.

Mary moved one more time to Greensboro, Georgia close to her daughter Marilyn. She joined First United Methodist Church of Greensboro where she was a member until her passing at St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, Georgia at the age of 93.

Mary is survived by her daughters Carol Moore of Lakeland, Georgia, Marilyn Dunn Davino & her husband Mike Davino of Greensboro, Georgia, Mary's brother William T. Cunningham & his wife Meredith of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Mary's sister Margaret M. Williamson of West Lafayette, Indiana. Mary's pride and joy included her 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was beloved by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers your donation in her name will be warmly received. Suggested donations: Southminster Presbyterian Church, Tulsa OK, Tulsa Boys Home, Eastminster Prebyterian Church, Stone Mountain GA, First United Methodist Church, Greensboro GA, or a charity of your own heart.

The Memorial Service will be 11 AM, Monday, October 8, 2018 at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 3500 S. Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK.